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The Ordinary is certainly that.

111 replies

MrsGloop · 15/03/2018 01:44

So I drank the Kool-Aid, believed the hype and invested in a number of The Ordinary products. And my foundation pills every time I apply it and my skin is not only not improved, but more congested! Is there anyone else who’s distinctly unimpressed with this range?

OP posts:
Lanaa · 15/03/2018 22:30

I was beginning to think I was the only person who thinks TO is crap. The 8 tiny little bottles of crap did nothing for my skin. I agree that the price adds up quickly, and the bottles are so small that they don't last long. I've found that using products that actually work from Clarins, Dermalogica and good old Aldi much more effective. The O CEO is questionable too.

Mercurial123 · 16/03/2018 07:47

I really like it though I've only tried the Argan and rosehip oils, buffet and vitamin c cream.

MaryLennoxsScowl · 16/03/2018 08:36

I like it, though some of the products haven’t suited me - I’m not keen on the Buffet, but I really like the NMF, rosehip oil, niaciniamide and vitamin c in squalane. I had the vit c that was grainy before that and hated it and gave up on it. I never get through products quickly despite using them regularly - my foundation lasts a year, for instance, and I use it daily - so I haven’t yet run out of anything apart from the NMF, and I’ve had some of them a year. I keep them in the boxes and hope they aren’t going off! The niaciniamide is the only thing I’ve ever used where I woke up in the morning and could see an actual difference in my skin overnight, it had magically shrunk my pores. I can’t say I’ve noticed immediate results from the vit c in squalane, but I like the texture and it makes moisturiser and makeup go on beautifully smoothly. I’ve tried the retinol in squalane but only use it occasionally, maybe a couple of times a month, because I forget about it.

MyRelationshipIsWeird · 16/03/2018 08:55

@Mercurial123 I bought the Argan oil but tried 2 drops and don’t like the smell of it. Send me a PM and I’ll post it to you if you’d like it.

Wheresmyfuckingcupcake · 16/03/2018 09:01

The first and only one I’ve used is the granactive retinoid and it’s one of the most effective products I’ve ever used.

Mercurial123 · 16/03/2018 09:04

Myrelationship thank you that's really kind of you but I'm not in the UK.

DrinkFeckArseGirls · 16/03/2018 09:07

Their products cleared my skin spectacularly. I had loads of crap hnder the skin after years of not cleansing properly (clogged pores) amd now my skin is clear.
Don’t care much for caffeine solution amd argeline didnt work either.
I wasn’t convinced about their acne regime - I thought it was the acids that dealt with new spots forming, but when I stopped ysung the sal acid and niacinamide, the spots came back so they were working.

GaryBarlowsTaxReturn · 16/03/2018 10:04

I like what I've used. The granactive retinoid has improved the condition of my skin no end. I also love their foundation & primer. I bought the buffet for my 65 yo step mum and she loves it. I also have the Niod lip plumper which is good.

Missionocrity · 16/03/2018 17:16

I emailed them asking for recommendations to go with the products I already use (I use elemis pro collagen at night and Ren clarimatte moisturiser during the day.)

They were really helpful and recommended only 2 products, the niacinamide + zinc (which I’m hoping will help me oily skin) and then a vitamin C for nighttime before my moisturiser.

They literally arrived 2 days ago so will have to wait and see if I get results. I swear by double cleansing each night and I always wear an SPF so I have reasonably good skin anyway. I figured for what TO cost me, even if I don’t rate it I haven’t blown the budget.

Writersblock2 · 16/03/2018 19:59

Absolutely adore it. I’ve had problem skin for years, with nothing ever working, and it’s sorted it out. I’ve had many people telling me I’m glowing and asking for skincare advice since I’ve been using it. So yeah, if anyone hates their TO products, I’m happy to give them a home.

OhWhatFuckeryIsThisNow · 16/03/2018 20:09

Well, I emailed a friend of mine who runs a very high end skin care company in another country about his opinion. He said "well, aptly named"
I've used a couple of things-they were OK.add uses vit c and she says it has helped her spots.

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 16/03/2018 20:24

Well, I emailed a friend of mine who runs a very high end skin care company in another country about his opinion. He said "well, aptly named"

Well, he would say that, wouldn't he?

Grin
Littlechocola · 16/03/2018 20:40

I was recommended 5 products but can’t find the Rosehip in stock anywhere.
I’m going to try it.
When they say introduce one product at a time what do they mean? One a week?

VetOnCall · 16/03/2018 20:43

I quite like Buffet, NMF and the primer but I initially also bought the HA and Niacinamide+Zinc based on what they recommended for me on email and my skin reacted so badly to it. I had just wanted to clear some sebaceous filaments/minor congestion on my nose and chin, I never really got actual spots, but after using the Niacinamide I suddenly had big, painful, blind lumps coming up where I used it. I've never had anything like it in my life and it took a couple of months for my skin to settle again after I stopped using it. It's been about 4 months now and no more Niacinamide+Zinc - no more huge blind spots!

I'm on the TO/Deciem Facebook group and quite a few people on there have had similar reactions to the Niacinamide. I have an unopened, still boxed bottle of it if anyone wants to risk it - I optimistically ordered 2 at the start. If anyone wants it you're welcome to it for just the postage cost!

OhWhatFuckeryIsThisNow · 16/03/2018 20:53

To be fair Chardonnay he's never put down other brands (apart from expensive department store brands that offer the fountain of youth) and he's knows I can't afford his stuff and it's not yet on sale here.
But I do like their foundation, I think it's a good alternative for double wear.

eloisesparkle · 16/03/2018 21:05

Squalene has the most awful texture.
The Caffeine eye lotion leaves a white film on my under eye area - I wake up with white stuff on the under eye area. Other creams always sank in.
Somebody upthread said Caffeine and something else were reformulated for the EU market.
More info about that please.

GaryBarlowsTaxReturn · 16/03/2018 21:07

@VetOnCall I would love your nicinamide please! It's out of stock at the moment so I've not been able to get my hands on any.

MyRelationshipIsWeird · 16/03/2018 21:10

Ah ok Mercurial, probably costs as much to post as it would to buy it new then! if anyone in the UK wants my Argan oil for the cost of postage (£2 ish?) PM me.

AnnieDog · 16/03/2018 21:23

DrinkFeckArseGirls can I ask which products you used? Your skin sounds just like mine.

newsparklythings · 16/03/2018 21:29

The foundation was awful, looked fine on application then turned my whole face orange a few hours later haven't looked that bad since I did my make up age 12 or 13 Blush

Ellenripleysalienbaby · 16/03/2018 21:34

The Buffet is hands down the best skin care product I have ever used. It makes my skin really soft and hydrated.

Also like the Niacinamide and salycilic acid for my spotty chin, and the glycolic acid as a toner.

Didn't think much of the rosehip oil (and it smelt gross) or the hyaluronic acid.

VetOnCall · 16/03/2018 22:29

Gary no problem! PM me your address and I'll post it to you Smile

Luckingfovely · 16/03/2018 22:49

Ridiculous comment about it being expensive - total bollocks.

I'm about a year in to using it and it has transformed my skin.

They are amazingly helpful - if you email them with what you want to fix, they tell you what you need.

The point about all the many individual elements is that you can tailor it specially for your skin. So, you can select four or five different actives to use in combination to get the best results.

And those five individual ones will still cost less than one serum from Clarins or similar, which will have the same range of actives, but at lower potency.

It's not perfect - there seems to be a cost of understanding as a barrier to entry. And most, but not all, of the criticism here seems to be that people don't understand the point of it or how to use it.

And I thought the Caffeine eye serum was appalling and it went in the bin, although I see others upthread liked it.

On foundation, they colour match for you - so I told them the exact Estée Lauder shade I use and sent a pic of my skin in daylight, and I've received today two samples to try to see. Looking forward to trying them tomorrow!

At the moment, I have probably eight different potions on the go, which I use in specific combinations and orders morning and night.

I should say as well - I have nothing to do with them! But I take skin care seriously, researched it and spoke to them a lot, and built up a range of different elements that work for my skin, over time.

And the investment has well paid off.

Luckingfovely · 16/03/2018 22:57

Also just reading through more of the thread - I see a few people taking about it causing spots. I had this for the first few months too, and I'm certain my skin was just purging because it was actually getting used to real active ingredients.

After a few months this stopped and I haven't had a spot since.

To note though - I think that the Retinoid did cause spots on chin and nose - so I avoid those areas with it like the plague.

FlindersKeepers · 16/03/2018 23:20

I absolutely love the granactive retinoid 2% in squalene, there's no irritation and it's not cloggy, that's their best product for me by miles.
The vitamin Cs are all horrible, if you're looking for a vitamin C serum, the Vichy one is the least expensive copy of SkinCeuticals which I used for years (the small bottle is helpful against oxygenisation).
Buffet doesn't suit me, I like other reservatrol products better, never tried the acids as I really like the DermaE one Sali Hughes had in her column recently.