The Ordinary is a brand that falls under the umbrella company Deciem. Deciem has multiple brands across the beauty spectrum, including skincare, makeup, haircare, and supplements. The Deciem team, offices, and manufacturing facilities are located in Toronto. The company mandate is to bring familiar and effective products to consumers but with a specific focus on bringing pricing integrity and transparency to beauty products.
“The Ordinary is born to disallow commodity to be disguised as ingenuity. The Ordinary is “Clinical formulations with integrity.”
All Deciem and The Ordinary products are free of parabens, sulphates, mineral oil and many other long names I can’t pronounce or spell. Deciem and its brands do not test on animals. Estee Lauder recently purchased a 28% stake in Deciem…we’ll see where that goes.
After I had done my research, I decided to test the products. I shared my skin concerns with a sales associate (more on that later), and she walked me through her recommendations.
Most recommendations aligned with products I had heard were their top sellers. Specifically, I bought the following:
Hyaluronic Acid – I use this morning and night after washing my face. I squeeze two to three drops on my hand and pat it all over my face and neck. It feels a bit sticky at first, but once it dries, that feeling goes away. It is clear, and there is no smell. I let it dry before I put anything else on top, but I was told that layering wet is fine.
This product has low, medium, and high molecular HA weight, which means it should moisturize my skin at multiple levels. When I’m done with this bottle of HA, I will try their HA formulation with 15 forms of HA, which is part of their NIOD line. That puppy will cost me $35, which is still a fraction of the cost of many mainstream skin care products. The price was $6.80. Drop the mic.
“Buffet + Copper Peptides 1% – I’m convinced they created this product for dummies. It’s one of their best sellers because it’s a multi-peptide serum. I splurged ($28.90) and bought the new and improved version (with copper peptides). They also sell a version called Buffet ($14.80).
I apply this after HA in the morning. This serum is blue and has a mild, unoffensive smell. I was told to wait 30 seconds until dry before applying anything on top of this serum. Again, the texture is a bit sticky, but that goes away after it dries.
Retinol – I went middle of the road in terms of Retinol strength. I have used Retinol before – doctor-prescribed and over-the-counter (Dermologica), so I knew I wouldn’t be hypersensitive. But I wanted to play it safe, knowing I would try multiple new products. It feels like a thin oil that, once applied, dries relatively quickly. It is clear, and there is no smell. After applying HA, I alternate between this product and the following product at night. The price was $5.80. Cheaper than a Starbucks latte.
Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) – this specific Vitamin C was recommended because it includes Alpha Arbutin, which has brightening agents to help with sun and aging spots. It feels oily to the skin. Because I apply it at night, that doesn’t bother me. By morning, the oiliness was gone, and my skin felt soft (could be from the facial shaving). I’ve read that this product turns some people’s skin orange. That has never happened to me. A faint smell is typical of Vitamin C products, and I don’t mind. This product was $10.00.
Moisturizer – I had not planned to buy a moisturizer because I like the ones I am currently using. But how could I resist not trying this large bottle for $10.00? I believe the smaller bottle is $7.00, so I went for value! The cream is white and has no smell. It’s not too thick and moisturizes well. This may not provide enough moisture if you have dry skin, but it’s OK for me, especially after the HA.
“B” Oil – I wanted to add oil to my regime but got overwhelmed by many options. I lost focus as the woman was describing them to me. Again, I think this is a no-brainer – a plethora of oils all captured in one shot. It feels oily on the skin (shocking) and has a smell that I don’t like. It also has a yucky colour.
Another thing I learned is that oil goes on very last. Who knew?
I think you’d be crazy not to try this product line. It’s been touted by top beauty specialists, and even Kim Kardashian (ugh) swears by Granactive Retinoid* 2% Emulsion, which is often sold out and has a waiting list. Even if something doesn’t agree with your skin, you only spent $10.
I have enjoyed using the products I purchased. My favourite is the Hylaronic acid, although it took me a while to get used to the consistency. I am pleased I have vitamin C and retinol to alternate at night. Using different products is essential to prevent your skin from getting complacent. I’ve always believed that sticking with one regime for too long isn’t the best option for your skin (opinion of one).
I will explore other options as we move through winter and get closer to summer. I keep hearing great things about their Caffeine eye solution, Marina Hyalorincs, and the Glycolic Acid Toner.