Help, also confused by the ordinary. What do you do if you have loads of ‘issues’?

[Splandy]

I’ve been reading and reading and still don’t know what to buy. The little lists of example regimes aren’t even that useful because I fit into a few. I now have combination skin and the occasional spot. My t-zone doesn’t ever really look oily unless I’m wearing makeup, so probably not a concern anymore. My nose often looks a bit flaky, but isn’t dry, and has lots of blackheads and open pores. I generally look a bit dull now that I’m getting older.

My current main concerns are I am developing under eye circles and have always had lines there. I have lines developing from my nose to mouth and quite a deep one over the bridge of my nose. My face generally looks scarred from very bad acne years ago, and a lot of the scarring looks like redness and discolouration rather than a typical, pitted scar, though I do also have some of those. I have freckles, so the overall effect is that my skin looks kind of discoloured and messy.

Should I be looking at the list for pigmentation issues or for anti-ageing?

Email them and ask, they're apparently very helpful.

I was a bit reluctant to do that since their site mentions that they are unable to give specific regimes tailored to you.

Oh,. OK, I thought I read that they did.

But I think the usual advice is to start with the 'bugffet' as it does most things.

I have some of their stuff but am hopeless with the names as it's all a bit chemically sounding. And am at work, so can't just go and look at the boxes.

*buffet

Haha, thanks anyway. I’ve read lots of people saying to email them, but I swear it said that they couldn’t respond to requests for a regime... maybe I’ve misunderstood.

Emailing them is your best bet, they are very helpful and will make a few suggestions for what would be a good start for your skin. I have quite dry but active and acne prone skin with large pores on my nose and flaky skin. I focus on clearing my skin and reducing the redness in my acne scars whilst not drying my skin out if that makes sense? I use alpha arbutin followed by niacimide and zinc ever morning and evening after cleanings the skin. I think it works best to tackle one or two things at a time and not overwhelm the skin. Maybe think about what you biggest problem is with your skin and then just look to work on that for now and add in additional products as you go

I don't know how anyone can be bothered with all the faff. I had an attempt at their webpage and just felt bored and annoyed

" I use alpha arbutin followed by niacimide and zinc" - Yes, I have those, they seem to have unblocked my pores and got rid of blackheads. Well, something has and I have used those.

I think the arbutin I have used up (am on a toiletries purge, no more til I have literally nothing left of that 'type' of thing).

I don't know how anyone can be bothered with all the faff. I had an attempt at their webpage and just felt bored and annoyed

Maybe you don't have shit skin about which you had lost all hope and a history of an abusive father who called you ugly and told you no-one would like you and a mother who told you that you were so spotty you looked liked you had chicken pox, leaving you with a lifelong anxiety about your skin?

Maybe.....

I got a bit overwhelmed by all the products and didn’t fit any of their suggested regimes. I emailed and they gave me a sensible a.m. and pm plan. I started with this, and when one item did t seem to suit I emailed again and they recommended a swap - they were really clear and helpful and the products are effective. Have helped with lines, pigmentation and old sun damage, some large pores and very dry sensitive skin. So I am a bit of a fan. I would Defo say email them as it worked really well for me as a start point.

Definitely email them, they gave me a am and pm procedure and my skin is the best it's been in ages.

There's also a Facebook group which is full of really good advice about routines, where to get it, stuff like that.

Thanks, I have emailed them and even sent embarrassing close up photos of my worst bits

Two options are this sub reddit called skincare addiction, if you find the side bar there's a whole list of incredibly useful skincare regimes and product links www.reddit.com/r/Skincare_Addiction/ they are very keen on The Ordinary there. Also google Victoria health Ordinary regimes and see which suits. I use a lot of their products and am really happy with most of it, you need a few weeks of trying stuff out but given each product is only about £5 it doesn't hurt too much if something doesn't work.

Pigmentation issues are usually helped by using AHA or BHA chemical exfoliants, then niacinamide + zinc plus factor 50 sunscreen daily. I have the same problem and the fade is slow but I feel much better now!

I'm no where near as expert as the gang on reddit though!

Tipsey, which factor 50 do you use?

I use factor 50 every day now, I use Biore watery essence (yes, I know - sheeple - but it works for me and I've got several friends onto it too).

Ebay or Amazon, takes a few weeks to come though.

Why did you say sheeple? Is it a good one?

It sounds obvious, but keep in mind that you can apply solutions JUST to problem areas - so the bha solution just to your cheeks, retinoids to your forehead etc.

Hi Rioja for sunscreen I use heliocare or la roche posay factor 50 in tan sort of colour, but am mixed race so had to find ones that didn't leave a white cast. Sometimes I use them instead of foundation at weekends when I don't need to look polished.

I'm a minimalist.

I'd do the retinol, the moisturizer, and the vitamin C.

Then after a year, maybe add an acid in my regimen.

Sheeple - because it gets mentioned on here so much and I am such a 'follower'!

I didn't like Heliocare, found it really greasy, and LRP was OK, but again, a bit greasy, esp if you want to put make-up over the top.

Well I'm also a sheeple too then since I immediately bought it once you mentioned it

They've replied to my email but it's not exactly a regime, more a suggestion of products I might want to look at for the issues I mentioned (mostly pigmentation/scarring and fine lines). Could somebody who knows what they're talking about take a look at this list? I clearly need more hand holding than they realised. I don't know whether they meant I should buy all of these and apply them in the correct order from information found online. This is the list:

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5
A multi-depth hydration support serum that contains 3 hyaluronic acid complexes at multiple molecular weights and Vitamin B5.

The Ordinary “Buffet”
A multi-technology peptide serum that targets various visible signs of ageing at once.

The Ordinary Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12%
A brightening, water-based serum with stabilized Vitamin C derivative to visibly target uneven skin tone, dullness and signs of ageing.

The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA
A concentrated serum with purified alpha arbutin; Alpha Arbutin reduces the looks of dark spots and hyperpigmentation.

The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%
A multifunctional brightening formula that visibly targets uneven tone, textural irregularities and the look of blemishes.

I have quite a few TO things but I don't apply them all every day, I alternate them.

I guess from that list it depends how much you want to spend. I'd def get Buffet (I've not got it, it's on my list to get, but I am in a no-buy stage for toiletries as I have too many of everything!) and Alpha Arbutin. Maybe just try those first? Though, I can't live without some sort of hyaluronic....

The list is four serums and then one which doesn't say serum. Is that normal? I thought they'd tell me when to use them.