Anything But Ordinary

Have you heard about The Ordinary? They’re a relatively new skincare line under the Deceim brand  that has been making waves over the past few months. I first came across this brand while reading an article on Byrdie earlier this year. Being the beauty junkie that I am I was intrigued because the price point was so low – I mean $7 for hyaluronic acid – girl bye. My inner beauty snob was like – “this is never going to work”, but then I decided that I was going to give it a try. I’m glad I did.

I ordered four of the products:

• Hyaluronic Acid (for hydration)
• Salicylic Acid f(or my mild acne breakouts)
• Lactic Acid (for exfoliation)
• Caffeine Solution (to combat dark circles and puffiness around the eyes)

Each one of these formulas address a specific concern so it is easy to incorporate it into your skin routine.

The first product that I was excited to try was the hyaluronic acid. Not so long ago I had purchased Glossier’s Super Bounce hyaluronic acid. Super Bounce is still one of my favorite serums but The Ordinary’s formula is equally as good especially when you consider the price point. The formula contains various weights of the hyaluronic acid molecule which allows it to penetrate the skin and sit on top of the skin for maximum hydration so even after washing your face, your skin doesn’t feel dry. I’ve been using it for about a week now and it has noticeably made my skin softer and feel extremely hydrated. As with most serums you want to gently press – not rub into the skin for maximum benefit.

The second product I use as a spot treatment is salicylic acid. I occasionally have hormonal acne which can easily treated and I don’t need to use a harsher treatment such as benzoyl peroxide. The dropper makes it easier to apply the product directly to the problem areas. It helps to break up the oils that clog pores and mildly exfoliates.

The third product is one of my alternate that I go to when I want to take a break from my  beloved glycolic acid – lactic acid. It exfoliates and this particular formula has a concentration of 10% lactic acid plus 2% hyaluronic acid which is great because it has a hydration component built into the formula. As if that isn’t enough it also contains a Tasmanian Pepperberry derivative. This derivative is known for it’s anti-inflammatory properties as well as its ability to protect the skin against UV damage. However, when using any peel you should still use SPF.

Last, but not least is a product that I have only tried for a few days so I will not give a few review on it just as of yet. I ordered the Caffeine Solution to address my dark circles and puffiness around my eye area. Granted I do use an eye cream which does help, but we all know that serums penetrate the skin much deeper than creams. Of course I also ordered it because it has caffeine which I automatically associate with my love of coffee.

Now here’s what left me smiling. All four of these products came to a grand total of under $30 including shipping (free with a $25 purchase). In fact, the total cost which included tax could not purchase one serum from any of the prestige brands that I own. If you are new to skincare or on a budget than this might be the route that you want to go. There are many other products that The Ordinary offers such as retinol treatments in two strengths. Click here for the full line-up. You might here me gush about these products as the weeks go by.

Just a note, they are also a brand who really knows how to reel you in with their witty Instagram posts and they’re up for CEW awards this year – now that’s saying something.