The Ordinary has completely changed the game of skincare. It’s so affordable, accessible, and just amazing. So, I am dedicating my very first skincare blog post to the brand that has made me spend all of my money, and transformed my skin at the same time. I heard about The Ordinary in 2019 and slowly began working products into my routine. At first I had no idea what I was doing to my skin so then I began learning about the importance of each product and ingredient. Thats what brought me to sharing my love and knowledge of skincare on instagram, and now a blog.

One of the first and most important things when getting into skincare is determining your skin type. I will probably say this over and over again because it’s important when reading someone else’s skincare journey. Not every product will work for everyone. My skincare journey never began with severe acne or breakouts. I’m 22 now and the only acne I really dealt with was the acne most people get around puberty. I get a few breakouts here and there but my skincare routine now really has helped me prevent them. My skin type is normal to combination (depends on the season really). In the winter, I obviously would get dehydrated skin but after getting more into skincare I’ve learned to tackle winter skin. My skin also doesn’t get irritated easily, so thats another reason I am so willing to try new brands and products. I would recommend consulting a dermatologist if you have long term acne problems, or any other skin issues before introducing new products. Like I said, everyones skin is different and I have done a ton of research. Consulting a dermatologist is the safest bet when trying to help fight severe acne and other skincare concerns.

I probably have half of The Ordinary’s skincare products, I have my favorites and don’t really hate any of them but one (the vitamin c suspension + HA spheres, the texture I can’t get over). These are my top 3, and honestly all are great for most skin types. I recommend these to anyone who asks, and you’ll see exactly why… starting out with my favorite, of course.

1. Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5

I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve repurchased this product. 6 maybe? I’ve even upgraded to the 60mL size because I use it religiously. This is a STAPLE in my routine and I will never, ever, take hyaluronic acid out of my routine.

What it does: Hyaluronic acid helps retain moisture in your skin while the vitamin B5 helps with surface hydration. Great for all skin types.

When to use it: Can be used everyday in both your morning and nighttime routine. It’s a water based serum which means it should be applied after cleansing and toning. It’s recommended to use before other water based serums because hyaluronic acid can hold 1,000 times its weight in water. What this means is it can absorb the moisture from the other products as well, supposedly making it more effective.

Tips: Most people who don’t like using hyaluronic acid are probably using it wrong. People reach out to me and say they don’t like it because it “flakes off”. Well, I have a tip for that, and it will make you love hyaluronic acid even more. When applying hyaluronic acid, apply to a damp face or add a few drops of water into your palm when applying the product. Instead of aggressively rubbing in the product, try gently patting the product into your face. It may feel tight after applying so just make sure to seal it with a moisturizer when you’re finished your routine.

Conflicts: No conflicts at all. I use this product after my glycolic acid toning solution, after using the famous peeling solution, and even when using my retinoid. It’s amazing.

2. Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

This product is hit or miss for some people. Personally, my experience has been great. I think people get the wrong idea of what this is supposed to do. It’s not going to help active acne, meaning it won’t help get rid of the breakouts you have on your skin when applying. It helps prevent further breakouts and clogged pores. I used The Ordinary Niacinamide and loved it, I have switched to the Peach and Lilly shown above, but they have the same ingredient I love, niacinamide.

What it does: Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3. It helps reduces the appearance of large and congested pores, helps regulates oil production, and aids in reducing the appearance of blemishes. The zinc in The Ordinary’s niacinamide product is to help reduce the visible appearance of sebum build up. Great for all most skin types, works best with normal, oily, and combination skin. If you have dry skin but still have congested, large pores, it may work but it is a product that will regulate oil production, which you may not have a lot of.

When to use it: The Ordinary Niacinamide can be used in your morning and nighttime routine. It is a water based serum meaning it should be applied after cleansing and toning. It can be used all over your face or just in your more “oily” or breakout prone spots. Since I use the hyaluronic acid first, this is my next serum applied. I only use this product in my evening routine because it conflicts with vitamin C. Some research says niacinamide and vitamin C don’t have conflicts but if you are using both The Ordinary niacinamide and The Ordinary vitamin C, I wouldn’t use both in the same routine.

Tips: This product once again is known to “pill”. I don’t advise adding water to it, and I’ve never tried it so I wouldn’t know. The best bet is to also gently pat this product into your skin instead of rubbing it. It helps, a lot.

Conflicts: Vitamin C is the only conflict and some people will swear they are okay together. I still would advise against it because personally, I want to get the most out of all of my products. There’s no point in mixing products that don’t work well together.

3. 100% Cold-Pressed Organic Rose Hip Seed Oil

This one is newer in my routine, but I am obsessed. I am always asked how to get “glass skin”. Well, here you go, facial oils. There are certain facial oils for the different skin types. 100% cold-pressed organic rose hip seed oil is more for drier or dehydrated skin types. But, once again I have normal skin and I love it.

What it does: helps moisturize the skin, provides anti-aging benefits (because it’s high in antioxidants), helps improve skin texture, and aids in reducing the appearance of dark marks. The scent is a little strong, but thats good in this case, if it has no scent it’s most likely not as concentrated and it’s refined.

When to use it: Facial oils can be used in your morning and nighttime routine. Except, the step you will use them will be different. When using with your morning routine, facial oils should be used before or mixed in with moisturizer. This is because you should be using a SPF product and SPF should be your last step in skincare. In your nighttime routine, the facial oil will be applied after moisturizer. This will help create a barrier to protect or “lock in” your other products. You should apply only 2-3 drops per use for your whole face. Your skin should absorb the oil after a while.

Tips: If you want the “dewy” or “glass skin” look while wearing makeup, apply a few drops of the facial oil with your foundation. Facial oils should also be gently pressed into the skin. You’ll find pressing products into your skin will reduce the amount of pilling and will help you get the most of your product.

Conflicts: No conflicts, most facial oils won’t have conflicts.

I hope I have influenced you enough to buy at least one of these. I have tried so many The Ordinary products and love most of them. So look out for more of my favorites. These products are a great start for anyone newer to the skincare world. Checkout my instagram to see more about skincare!