The Ordinary - where to start?

[SippingSipsmith]

Hi

I want to know more about The Ordinary products. I went on their website but found it all scientific info and assuming visitor had a base knowledge of retinol and their products.

Have no idea where to start. Could someone walk me through it all in simple terms?

I'm 30s and currently use boots protect and perfect serum as my anti aging product. I was about to switch and try Advanced Night Repair but watched the BBC truth about programme saying retinol products work.

Also - if I have to use sun protection everyday when using retinol products then which one would people recommend?

Thanks in advance

I couldn't make much sense of their website either.

I have purchased the 2% retinoid one and use in the evenings (in place of Boots Portect and Perfect) before moisturiser. I think they are evening only products which mitigates the sunshine risk.

But I don't know what any of their products do - eg I was thinking about a simple moisturiser but couldn't work out if any of their products were actually that!

I'm planning to go to their London store next week to get advice. Have never used anything from there before and interested in something for my hands, neck & face. Has anybody got experience of the store and staff advice there?

I watched the programme too, the advice was to start on 0.1% and let your skin get used to it, then gradually start building up (0.2% - 0.3% etc) I am surprised you are straight onto 2% Aridane did you buy the pure retinol or a retinol based product?

I am still on 0.1% Retinol drops from The Ordinary and am quite happy with that for now, my skin was looking really tired at Xmas so i made it my mission to sort out my skin and dry hair in 2018. I have been using it for about 3 weeks, and i think i can already start to feel the benefit. My wrinkles haven't disappeared overnight but my skin does look fresher.

Glad it's not just be unable to make head nor tail from their website!

Marthasharbour are you using a daily sunscreen now?

Neither my usual moisturiser or foundation contain one and as I like these I don't really want to change them and would rather buy an additional sunscreen product but not sure how sunscreen standalone product would work under makeup?

I'm sure I heard that if you have a moisturiser or foundation with sunscreen built in then you have to wear tons of it for it to have any real protection effect anyway?

Retinoids are better tolerated than retinol, so the 2% retinoid is a good start.

You could add something else depending on your needs and concerns, say rosacea or dry skin or spots and so on.

I emailed them to ask for advice a specific skin problem and they wrote back in a couple of days making detailed suggestions. It´s a great service.

Thanks I will just try emailing them or popping into London then.

In meantime sunscreen products happened to come through on my email newsletter I get today. Nutrogena do a factor 100 for everyday.

Just a shame I didn't do all of this 10 years ago!!! My skin is actually pretty good but if I knew then what I know now! ...

I am using Heliocare which is factor 50, it is also a primer. I got it from Beauty and the Boutique from Facebook ads, the lady who is the owner/promoter seemed a bit annoying at first but I warmed to her when she did the make up free tutorials

aridane my apologies I misread, I see you are using retinoid

i use the heliocare factor 50 to, its great as a primer.

You got me worried for a moment, marthas ...

Sorry aridane I do this in RL too, jump in with a comment without actually listening!

Lindyloo I really like the Heliocare, I feel like I can face the day when I am wearing it! I tried the veil concealer but prefer my Maybelline equivalent (and much cheaper)

WEST the primer, I may buy The Ordinary one to try as it is £3 as opposed to £22 for the Heliocare. Although the ordinary one doesn't have SPF...

I've just started needing a facial sun cream every day due to other product use. I grabbed nivea mousse factor 50 and will probably not get it again. Just too greasy.

Evening use does NOT do away with the need for SPF. Retinoids and retinols change the nature of the skin so it is more vulnerable generally, it's not a case of the product itself reacting with sunlight. If you use any vitamin A product then you MUST use sun protection or you will end up with more damage than when you started.