r/TheOrdinarySkincare

Hello, apologies for the long post, I am looking for some routine advice please!

I started my Ordinary skincare journey over two months ago in March and in the beginning I noticed a considerable difference in my skin. My skin was smoother, a more even tone and the redness had virtually disappeared. I got so many compliments on how I looked like I was glowing! I don’t wear makeup and work in a customer facing reception role so this meant a lot to me.

However in the last few weeks I feel as though it’s taken a huge step back. The redness is back, I have red, angry spots that just won’t go away and my pores are bigger than ever. I have always struggled with congested skin, especially on my forehead but I thought my new routine would magically make all of these problems go away.

My routine is as follows:

AM:
Simple moisturising face wash
Multi-Active Delivery Essence
Milky Toner
Niacinamide
Hyaluronic Acid
Simple light moisturiser

PM:
Simple moisturising face wash
(Occasionally glycolic toner here but I burnt my face with it once and am scared to use it again lol)
Milky Toner
Hyaluronic Acid
Simple light moisturiser

I would love to take onboard any suggestions anyone has, my main areas of concern are getting the congestion, redness and pores under control. Thank you!

Hi! I'm an 18 years old, I'm facing hyperpigmentation around my cheek, lips and jaw area, I've never used any chemical exfoliator, only basic care like a cleanser , a moisturizer and sunscreen. I've used skin1004 madagascar centella tone brightening capsule ampoule ,but I didn't see any result,

And tbh I have a very clear skin, no acne, no rough texture nothing but pigmentation.

I have medium to deep skin tone, slightly sensitive, dry to combination skin (actually I live in a very humid area, only when the temperature is above 30,my skin feel oily and otherwise my skin is always a bit dry even in summer)

Has any one else received a bottle of the new formulation of The Ordinary Hyaluronic acid B5 with ceramides and it is very clear in colour. No yellow colour whatsoever?

I recently got The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% from my auntie and I'm wondering how I should use this. Should I be cleansing before, should I be using moisturizer afterwards, stuff like that. I've tried so many other things and they've never worked so this is kind of my last hope.

Having a read online and speaking with a few people in cosmetic formulation, I’m trying to understand copper peptide percentages properly.

A lot of brands market products as “1% Copper Peptide Serum”, but from what I’ve learned this doesn’t necessarily mean 1% pure GHK-Cu active.

From my understanding, many formulas use a diluted copper peptide solution/raw material system, meaning the actual pure GHK-Cu content could be significantly lower, potentially around 0.01%–0.1% active depending on the raw material concentration used.

So when brands like The Ordinary state “1% Copper Peptides”, are they referring to:
- 1% pure GHK-Cu active
or
- 1% copper peptide complex/raw solution?

Am I understanding this correctly or completely wrong here?

Hi all,

I just thought I'd make you aware that the Salicylic Acid serum has changed formula. At least, the one available in the UK has changed.

I contacted The Ordinary after my last purchase of the serum, stating that the texture is entirely different and that my skin is showing signs of irritation (I've used it almost daily since Nov 2025 with no issues until the new bottle). After some back and forth with them, I finally got this email.

"Thank you for getting in touch with us. We recently chose to update our Salicylic Acid 2% solution to align with our commitment to the continuous improvement of our formulations. The formulation has been updated with an enhanced texture and now also uses a pure powder form of Salicylic Acid. 

We're so sorry to hear you did not have a good experience with Salicylic Acid 2% Solution. Please be assured that the happiness and safety of our customers are our top priorities and we're here to help you further.

Based on the information you have provided, we recommend that you discontinue the use of this product if you have not done so already. Should you have any concerns about healing the affected area, please contact a medical professional for advice on promoting the healing process."

okay so i decided about six months ago to build a routine using only the ordinary products partly bc of the price point and partly bc i wanted to understand the range properly, and i want to share an honest review of how that went.

my complete the ordinary routine:

morning: squalane cleanser, gentle enough for my sensitive skin and the oil based formula is genuinley effective at removing overnight products without stripping hyaluronic acid 2% + b5 on damp skin, the foundation of my hydration routine and genuinley one of the best products in the range natural moisturising factors + ha, lightweight moisturiser that absorbs quickly and does not pill under spf (third party spf as the ordinary does not make one)

evening: same cleanser hyaluronic acid 2% + b5 on damp skin niacinamide 10% + zinc, used this before the moisturiser after letting the ha absorb retinol 0.2% in squalane three nights per week natural moisturising factors + ha to seal everything in

six month honest review:

what worked really well: the ha + retinol combination genuinley delivered visible texture improvement by month four, the niacinamide genuinley reduced my pore appearance and skin tone evenness improved significantly
what i would change: the natural moisturising factors moisturiser is a bit too light for my skin in winter and i supplement with a richer third party cream on cold nights, i would also consider the buffet serum as an addition for additional peptide support

overall verdict: genuinley impressive for the price, the routine cost me under forty pounds for six months of products and delivered results i had not achieved with more expensive routines.

what is ur experience building a routine purely from the ordinary?

anyone using this with tret?

okay so i decided about six months ago to build a routine using only the ordinary products partly bc of the price point and partly bc i wanted to understand the range properly, and i want to share an honest review of how that went.

my complete the ordinary routine:

morning: squalane cleanser, gentle enough for my sensitive skin and the oil based formula is genuinley effective at removing overnight products without stripping hyaluronic acid 2% + b5 on damp skin, the foundation of my hydration routine and genuinley one of the best products in the range natural moisturising factors + ha, lightweight moisturiser that absorbs quickly and does not pill under spf (third party spf as the ordinary does not make one)

evening: same cleanser hyaluronic acid 2% + b5 on damp skin niacinamide 10% + zinc, used this before the moisturiser after letting the ha absorb retinol 0.2% in squalane three nights per week natural moisturising factors + ha to seal everything in

six month honest review:

what worked really well: the ha + retinol combination genuinley delivered visible texture improvement by month four, the niacinamide genuinley reduced my pore appearance and skin tone evenness improved significantly

what i would change: the natural moisturising factors moisturiser is a bit too light for my skin in winter and i supplement with a richer third party cream on cold nights, i would also consider the buffet serum as an addition for additional peptide support

overall verdict: genuinley impressive for the price, the routine cost me under forty pounds for six months of products and delivered results i had not achieved with more expensive routines.

what is ur experience building a routine purely from the ordinary?

Hi everyone,

I’m making this post to share a cautionary tale about The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG. I had been using it on and off for a while, and I want to warn those with sensitive under-eye areas.

My Experience:

• Initial reaction: I started noticing itching in my inner corners and a burning sensation.

• The Damage: Eventually, I saw red lines and what looked like tiny "cuts" or cracks in the skin under my eyes where I applied the serum.

• The Allergy: It gave me a nasty allergic reaction on the outer corner of one eye that just wouldn't go away.

The Realization:

Since I wasn't consistent with the product, I didn't realize it was the culprit at first. I thought it was just seasonal dryness. However, after stopping it for a few days, all the redness and itching vanished. I also came across others online who faced similar issues with breakouts or irritation from this specific serum.

Warning:

If you are using this, please be careful. It is very potent and can be extremely drying. If you feel even a slight sting, please stop immediately! My skin barrier is finally healing now that I’ve ditched it.

Has anyone used the ordinarys products specifically to target elasticity/ wrinkles etc. ? If so, what products did you see results with? I’d also like to hear anyone’s experience with the ordinary Retinol serums

Why does my skin start peeling, as in a whole lot of white residue comes off when rubbed. Even when I put just water and hylaronic acid.

First time ordering directly from Ordinary and I’m going back and forth with DHL and USPS as they’re both saying each other has the package and called Ordinary several times just to get an automated response saying high volume and get disconnected. Sent Ordinary a message yesterday still waiting for a response. Package was shipped on 4/27 should’ve arrived this week and it’s been a horrible experience as a first time order. I could’ve ordered from Ulta which I regret. I’m in NJ anyone else has had shipping delay issues and is this typical with ordering directly from Ordinary?