Is the Ordinary just a hoax?

[CutToChase]

I've been using the Ordinary's retinol for a year now. It's done absolutely fucking nothing as far as I can see?

I've also been using the hyaluronic acid for a few months now on damp skin with moisturiser over the top: doesnt feel any different to using straight moisturiser.

Buffet: didnt feel any different

The one product I DID actually like was the azelaic (is that it?) acid which is kind of like a thick lotion and definitely toned down my redness, so will be buying that going forward.

But overall I'm really disappointed especially with the retinol. What's going on? I thought retinol was a wonder ingredient? And the Ordinary's is in fairly high concentration? It feels like all it did was slightly dry out my skin at worst, and leave it unchanged at best.

What can I move onto now? I'm early thirties with a few lines beginning to creep in. It looked like LRP Redermic would be excellent but they seem to have discontinued it and replaced it with a hyaluronic acid range (zzzzzzz).

I do lie the hyaloronic acid and the marula oil. The caffeine solution did nothing or me.

I use prescription tretinoin and it has absolutely transformed my skin. It took about 6 months though and it got a lot worse before it got better. I don't use anything else now except a sunscreen.

I swear by them, best products I have ever used (and I used to use expensive Estee Lauder etc)

I only was not impressed with the caffeine eye stuff... no difference.

In general I absolutely love The Ordinary and it is not a scam

They're not a scam but it takes a while to find just the right products.

Their foundation is fantastic, and I love the peeling solution. Their primers are terrible on my skin and I will bin them soon. And like BillieSpain the eye stuff didn't do anything for me.

I don't really understand what Buffet is meant to do but I'll keep going with it and the retinol. I emailed them for advice and they said to step up the retinol to a stronger one (5%) when mine finished but last I checked it was out of stock (still is, just checked).

I read some rave reviews, and visited the shop. I don't know if it was the shop or me but I couldn't get out fast enough. It was too busy, overlit and there were rows and rows of bottles that looked the same.

I think most of skincare and make-up is a con - you pay for the dream or the lifestyle.

I've used expensive stuff and cheap stuff and it's much of a muchness. I haven't used anything by the ordinary.

What do the products do in the long term, surely it can't be good to use lots of different things.

@Frequentflier where do you get prescription tretinoin please?

Nooo don’t say this, I’ve just ordered a wee set to try, ‘The Balance’ one! I must say though, took me ages to figure out what I’d need with the ‘regimens’. I had a coil fitted in July and have had oily skin with a spotty jawline since then

I've used the retinol in squalene, building up from the 0.2% to the 1% and believe it is working for me. It certainly seems to contain active ingredients as I had to apply it very carefully to start off with otherwise my skin reddened and peeled excessively. so I built up with small amounts and with moisturiser to start off with and then as my skin got used to it so I was able to progress to the 0.5% and then the 1% after a year.

@Pusspot, sorry I got it overseas. I am not sure if it is available in the UK?Also I have skin like a rhino and had v bad menopausal acne, plus way past childbearing age. Might not suit everyone and should definitely only be used with a dermatologist's guidance. I only mentioned it bcos OTC retinol products did not do anything for me.

@Pikachubaby

Skincare (lotions, potions) is a bit of a myth really

What really affects skin is lifestyle: sleep, diet, exercise, fresh air

And not messing too much with your skin apart from hydrating it in harsh weather, and sunscreen

This just isn’t true. Lifestyle matters, but there are some excellent products (and not necessarily expensive) on the market that really do work.

Vitamin C serum is one of the most beneficial and most people get results from it (although I don’t like the Ordinary formulation so use something else), but niacinimide in particular has been a lifesaver for me.

Great thing about TO is that it’s so cheap, you don’t mind experimenting a bit. Not everything has been beneficial personally but there are a few I keep coming back to ...

I really like their niacinamide and zinc one. Much better than Revolution's version

@Pusspot I get mine from Dermatica. You upload photos of your skin to their website and they give you a private prescription and send you the tretinoin every 1 or 2 months depending on what you decide. I've been using them since July and no complaints at all with the service.

I am early thirties and starting to get fine laughter lines, started using the retinol just before lockdown and they have practically gone! I was quite amazed, my partner even noticed the difference. I use it every eve, I don’t have sensitive skin though, think it dries some people out.

I only use the rose hip oil. Hate the rest

I like the niacinamide and the lattice acid 10%. Everything else, I haven’t got on with. However, you not seeing results from retinol after a year isnt that surprising to me. What results are you expecting? Retinol* and sunscreen use have long term benefits and you only really see the photo-ageing payoff after 10, 20+ years when you start to age and you aren’t ageing as quickly as you would’ve done without the use of these products.

*unless you are using retinol for acne.

Lactic, not lattice

I really enjoy using the ordinary products, have been for around 3 years now.

I like hyaluronic acid, vitamin c and retinol. I don't wear foundation at all anymore because my skin tone looks more even and I do get compliments on my skin.

However I am an avid SPF 50 user! I like the Aldi one.
So I think this is the most important thing.

Never worked for me.
Dermetica has made a huge difference though

Oh mine is actually the retinoid. Maybe I need to go for the retinol?🤔

I've tried so many products and have looked at the Ordinary many times but never bought anything.

The best thing that I've ever used is a supplement, magnesium zinc and vitamin B1. My eyebrows have grown back after a good two years of patchiness and my skin is much better.

It takes years to notice a difference with stuff like retinoid

If anyone wants to send me their unwanted ordinary azelaic acid it would be very welcome! It's been sold out online for months and I really want to try it...

No @CutToChase, you need prescription strength retinoic acid to see a measurable difference after around six months.
Nothing you buy otc is going to make that much difference in 'anti-aging' terms. Hydration, vit C and sunscreen are different.

Interested in @Taylrse 's comment... Is the suggestion that using strong SPF improves retinol tolerance?

I know you're meant to use SPF with retinol anyway, but I have lapsed recently because (a) it's so bloody dismal out and (b) I'm staying indoors mostly! And recently my skin has become sensitive to retinol & vit C.

I presumed that the SPF guidance was to protect against extra sun damage but maybe without SPF the sunshine increases skin sensitivity?