The Ordinary daily routine - a bit clueless!

[ethelredonagoodday]

Hi all,

I have been using the Ordinary retinol 1% in squalane and 0.5% in squalane for some time now (maybe 4 months?) and try to alternate bwteeen the two each night, although I’m sometimes crap and forget to put it on.

I also have the ordinary vitamin c suspension 30% in silicone, plus the ordinary hyaluronic acid 2% + B5, and the natural moisturising factors + HA.

Even though I’ve read all the information, I’m not sure I’m using the products correctly and in the right way.

Basically at the moment, I use the retinol at night after cleansing, just on its own without moisturiser.

I use the hyaluronic acid in the morning with the NMF over the top and SPF 50 sunscreen.

Not sure when I should be using the vitamin c?

Am I doing this right, and would I benefit from adding anything else into this? I’m early 40s, skin generally good, but showing some signs of age and pigmentation. Since I’ve started using the retinol, skin seems a bit leathery?? I’ve had some episodes of peeling but that seems to have settled down now.

I’d be really grateful for any advice! Feel a bit clueless despite having read lots of information from various sources! Thanks all.

Anyone?

I'm no expert but I use retinol 2-3x a week so maybe you've went to hard too soon?

Are you using any exfoliants?

No, I'm not using any exfoliants.

I started the retinol back in the summer but only a 0.2% and only every so many days. then after a couple of months moved up to the 0.5% and then started to alternate that with the 1% about December time? But stopped the 0.2%...

When I say skin is leathery, that's possibly slightly over exaggerated, but definitely doesn't look great

Thank you by the way!

They have suggested combinations on their website

Thanks @peachypetite.

@ethelredonagoodday

I would only use every other day max but they have lots on their website with better knowledge that I have

Exfoliant wise I use the Glycolic acid 7% a few mornings a week and it's great for buffing that top layer of skin off (in a nice way).

Also their peels are excellent have a look into those :)

Ah great thank you @nancyjuice7!

The peels are fantastic. I've only been using for a few weeks and they have even got rid of 30 year old chickenpox scars!

I exfoliate every day with a non Ordinary exfoliator then use the Niacinamide 10%, the natural moisturising factors thing then the primer under powder. I bloody love it.

Thanks @JorisBonson I've not used any of their peels as wasn't sure if they were ok to use alongside the retinol, but I can't see anything on the website to suggest you can't?

I use retinol afterwards - only eye gel admittedly, but I've had no reaction.

It's got rid of 30 years old scars, can't recommend it enough!

Thanks Joris. I'm always wary of anything on my eyes as they're super sensitive, but everything else has been ok thus far!

I would add in some sort of aha or bha toner in the morning. Start with a few times a week.
I use the Superdrug 5% glycolic toner. It gets rid of the leathery bits from the retinol. The Superdrug one is pretty gentle and cheap about £4. The ordinary do glycolic and lactic toners.
Paulas choice do a great bha toner. Just use it a few times a week, maybe x2. You can get a trial size from lookfantastic or cultbeauty for £8 which will last about 6 months.
If you've worked up to that strength of retinol daily and it's working keep it up at night.

I'd then use the vit c every morning after the acid toner.
Then hydralonic
Then nmf
Then def sunscreen if you are using retinol every night. Some say we don't need it at the moment during lockdown but I think if you are near a window or outside at all you do. I might wear factor 30 instead of my usual 50 but only because I'm running low on 50

Sorry just reread and you are using sunscreen so didn't need my mini preach 😍😅
Also some nights if I feel very dry I will put retinol on early then about an hour or more later add an oil on top

Ah thanks @Ducksarsehead, very much appreciated!