Trying out 'The Ordinary'. How on earth...

[bakedbeansandtuna]

Do you decipher what regimen to buy?!

I see they have a little bit of advice depending on what results you want but its not very in-depth.

So, I've ordered the buffet as that seems to be the 'to go to' item. For those of you who use this range, how did you work out your regimen? I'm in my thirties, combo-oily skin. Always stressed out and it shows on my face argh.

Help!

I want to try it, but I literally don't have the attention span at the moment to work out what I need/want...

I recently bought a anti ageing set from QVC, Buffet, Lactic Acid 10%, 2% retinal, caffeine eye and oil. Its fantastic, my skin looks amazing. I have now been using it for about 6 weeks so I am going to see what I can add to the regime.

Soooo, if you had combo skin, what appears to be proper melasma (as opposed to 'pigmentation') and pores the size of moon craters, coupled with the 30-something fine lines and overall droopiness... what would you get? Apart from a paper bag...

I love the vitamin C stuff (on wet skin in the bath) - stings but is amazing for complexion. The Squalane is the best moisturiser I have used and the caffeine for eyes is excellent too! Have loads of other bits but these stand out for me.

Just bought another six things

I think its the price ...i get a bit over excited

I got retinoid in squalane for night time...I think that's what was recommended as being the thing but I got a bit confused...excited for it all to come though! I look haggard at the moment!

Oh my god the hadalabo hyuralinic is AMAZING! I Amazon primed it off the back of this thread and my skin looks better already. As does dd's and dh's because I attacked them with it too.

Following the great interest as have just bought a few products from this range

Blimey I used the retinol in squalane last night for thee first time. Had a terrible nights sleep for various reasons. Have woken up wth skin looking great! Have been told I look really well by three separate people... it's like some magical elixir!

@IdentityRequest1, you’ve described me (except add on 10+ years).

I’ve been using TO, but it doesn’t seem to be doing a massive amount of anything. For the past three months I’ve been using the zinc/niacinamide and the argireline in the morning after hot cloth cleansing. In the evening I double cleanse and then alternate the 1% retinol with the 2% retinoid (my skin can take it). Once a week I do the AHA & BHA as a mask. I follow it with the Mag Phos. I’ve been trying the 30% vit C in silicon but it’s giving me spots.

I will keep up the regime until the bottles are empty, but the only thing I will repurchase is one of the retinoids, and the azelaic acid which I use morning and night before sunscreen. I had high hopes for TO, but I’m slightly disappointed. I much prefer LRP (for my skin) so will go back to that. It’s good to see that so many people have such good results though given how reasonably priced it is.

My The Ordinary parcel came today. tell me if I've done this right! Tonight I've washed my face with my usual La Roche Posay cleanser, then put a drop of the following on and rubbed in; Niacinamide 10% with Zinc, Ascobyl Glucoside 12%, Hyaluronic Acid 2% plus finished off with a drop of Granactive Retinoid 2%.

Any advice? Should I put my usual (La Roche Posay) moisturiser on top? Anything else I should buy to add? My skin used to suffer from rosacea and hormonal acne but is much better since using LRP. I ahve fine lines on my fore head, but no real eye wrinkles etc. I'm 49 and would love my skin to be a bit more "glowy" and even or am I asking too much at my age??

Gosh, I've just seen this brilliant thread - I've been stuck in the same routine for years with no idea what to buy. Shamelessly placemarking too.

Hi,
Cool thread. Can I ask for the link to the Hada Labo hyaluronic acid - there seems to be a few similar products on Amazon.

Also, I've been using ordinary products for a while and I like but find that if I use the HA and then the niacidimide, I get pilling. Can anyone shed any light on this?

Thanks you

I'm putting the HA on last and feeling my face is a bit sticky and mask like. It never felt like this with the Nip Fab HA I used. Any ideas?

@UtahGirl12 HA goes on before your moisturising products, as it draws them deeper into the skin. If you put it on last you are drawing moisture away from the skin (that’s the theory anyway). Retinoid/al goes on first after cleansing so it gets to work directly on the clean skin (unless you can’t tolerate it and need a buffer).

I use LRP too, so my routine is: first cleanse with oil, second cleanse with LRP Effeclar gel or lotion, wash off with hot cloth. Dry face. Apply retinoid product, then the water based serums like the Zinc or Salycilic, with a few drops of HA mixed in. Next is the Vitamin C product, which in your case would be the Ascorbyl Glucoside. (Note: don’t use the zinc/niacinamide at the same time as any of the stronger concentrations of Vit C). I then use a moisturiser of some sort. At the moment I’m alternating between Astral and Cerave at night, with a few drops of either rosehip seed or marula oil mixed in. In the morning I use the TO Azelaic Acid as a moisturiser which I love.

Always make sure you use a sunscreen last. I’m using LRP Anthelios gel cream at the moment (which I hate because it’s sticky) but I’m going to try Biore watery essence next.

@Casualsmartlady, I mix my HA and Zinc in my hand before I apply it. I find that helps with the pilling.

Thank you Wombling Three, that's helpful. I must say that trying to work out what i need and in which order is like the equivalent of trying to self teach myself through a final year Chemistry degree! Reading on the web last night before i saw your post taught me not to use the Niacinamide together with Vit C or the retinoid, so that was a big mistake on night 1. My face did look a bit red. So, now I am cleansing with the LRP Effaclar gel, rinsing, toning with LRP Effaclar toner, then adding Niacinamide, then HA in the morning. If I was to add my LRP Effaclar moisturiser that has Niacinamide in it too, so that would be doubling up on that, but I find my skin does need something on top. it also feels a bit tacky still. My evening routine will be the same, but no Niacinamide, but Vit C instead, substituting with Retinoid once or twice a week. I'm still a bit unsure where the HA fits in there, as surely the retinoid needs to go on first? Again I need to look at a moisturiser or an oil to finish, plus I MUST look at sun screen. No need at the moment as I'm confined to the house for 3 weeks recovering from an op.

My problem seems to be I want everything. When I look at suggested regimens I think I need the one for ageing skin, plus tired skin, plus pigmented skin, plus acne prone skin, plus sensitive skin, plus rosacea skin....I just want nice skin! Stamps foot! Tempted to go back to the Ordinary site and look at their moisturisers, and also some oil.....

That’s my problem too 🤣. I’ve got spots, scars, hyperpigmentation, dry bits and greasy bits, so I want it all!! I’m not sure if it’s been linked, but I found this really helpful. It’s a lot of reading but it’s really in depth information about what goes with what and what each thing works for.

PS @UtahGirl12 hope your recovery goes well. Relaxing after surgery is the perfect time to figure all this out!

Thanks WombingThree - I will try mixing the two together.

How funny Utah - I am also recuperating from an operation, it's a good distraction as never usually have time to think about this stuff. For sunscreen I did get the la Roche posay Factor 50 anti shine spray which I quite like so far.

Still hoping for a link to Hado Labo HA if anyone has it?

I started using rosehip oil plus the buffet at night 2-3 x per week. And vit c once a week.
They really are very good products as there is no frangrance nor unnecessary ingredients.
The make up is good too.