The Ordinary: Haul + First Impressions

The budget skin care brand The Ordinary has taken the skin care community by storm. Everyone has been racing to snatch up their products at bargain basement prices (from $6-$15) in the hopes that they will wake up with better skin, me included.

Not one to shy away from bargain beauty finds, I visited the brand’s website and happily added a number of these cruelty-free items to my online shopping cart.

You can snoop my skin care haul and first impressions below:

 

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10%+ Zinc 1% ($5.90CDN)

Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3 that has been found to shrink pores, reduce sebum (oil) production, reduce blemishes and fight the signs of ageing. Zinc has anti-inflammatory properties and is thought to help keep pores from clogging.

This serum comes with a dropper and is a clear, runny gel that is unscented. It spreads and absorbs well into my skin and doesn’t interfere with my other skin care products or makeup – I like!

I’m currently loving the Paula’s Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster, so we’ll see how this much cheaper version compares. Niacinamide is not to be used in conjunction with vitamin C topical products.

Niacinamide is also safe to use during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.

BUY IT: Ulta | Sephora | Selfridges

RELATED READING: The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc %1

Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% ($7.90CDN)

Azelaic acid works to brighten and smooth the skin, while helping to reduce blemishes and soothe rosacea.

I tried this out for the first time last night and can say it is a lightweight cream that absorbs fast and leaves skin soft and matte.

I instantly loved the azelaic acid! The pores on my cheeks looked smaller the next day and more refined and it did help reduce my redness – yes!

Besides the non-greasy finish, the ingredients include dimethicone (commonly found in makeup primers), which leads me to believe this product would work well under makeup (although I haven’t tried this yet).

The only negative first impression I had so far is that the bottle is small and would probably need refilling often, because I’m enjoying this one a lot!

Azelaic acid is also safe to use during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.

BUY IT: Ulta

RELATED READING: Lactic Acid & Azelaic Acid (review)| The Ordinary Skin Care 

Lactic Acid 10% + HA2% ($6.70CDN)

Lactic acid is an alpha-hydroxy acid that exfoliates dead skin cells to reveal brighter, smoother skin. Lactic acid is generally more gentle than glycolic acid, so it’s great for people new to acid exfoliants or sensitive skin types.

Labelled “a high-strength lactic acid superficial peeling formulation”, this acid includes Tasmanian Pepperberry to reduce potential irritation (the brand offers a 5% lactic acid as well).

2% HA (hyaluronic acid) is included for moisture retention and skin plumping and can be found in the ingredient listing as sodium hyaluronate.

The Ordinary also claims that this product provides quick results, so I’m curious to see if it lives up to this claim.

Texture? The lactic acid is a light orange-coloured runny gel. It spreads and absorbs well and I didn’t experience any tingling or burning when I applied it. So far – I like.

BUY IT: Sephora | Ulta | Selfridges

RELATED READING: The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser

 

Vitamin C Suspension 23%+ HA Spheres 2% ($5.80CDN)

Vitamin C is a pure form of l-asorbic acid and is an effective anti-oxidant that brightens skin and reverses the signs of ageing.

While I’ve been aware of the benefits of vitamin C for a while, the suspension is my first vitamin C product to hit my skin care basket. The Ordinary also has 3 other vitamin C formulations available.

The vitamin C suspension has a balmy texture and has a vitamin C powdered suspended in the cream; you can feel the grit of this powder when you apply this cream but it isn’t uncomfortable.

This cream has a greasy texture that doesn’t fully absorb into the skin and tends to pill on my, so I’ll have to test it out a bit more to see if I can deal with the pilling.

BUY IT: Sephora | Ulta | Selfridges

RELATED READING: Vitamin C 23% Suspension (review) | The Ordinary

 

Have you tried, or plan to try any products from The Ordinary?