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Trying On…The Ordinary

2017 October 20
by WWGD

Hello friends,

I must (once again) apologize for the recent silence in this space and thank those of you who actually keep coming back to it, despite that. To be perfectly honest, the state of the world has been beyond heavy on my heart lately and trying to muster the excitement to share information about beauty and travel and food and inspiration has felt anything but relevant. And if nothing else, I strive for relevance here more than anything.

But here I am. I have spent the past few weeks holding my creative breath and trying to focus on what’s truly important but since I have found no solutions to the world’s troubles in that time, I am turning it back to skincare for today. And the brand that has single-handedly done more for my skin in the past month than any other…ever.

Meet The Ordinary. It is a subsidiary of the parent company Deciem, “The Abnormal Beauty Company,” which runs 10+ beauty and wellness brands all “founded on the principle of doing everything others don’t do and changing the world of beauty based on this principle.”

What does that mean for you, the consumer? No fancy packaging (though it’s admittedly right up my alley with its minimal, clean, clinical aesthetic), no advertisements or celebrity spokespeople, no retailer mark ups…just clinically proven ingredients at an astonishingly low price. And I do mean low.

Diving into The Ordinary is a process. There are a LOT of skincare products in the line and most of them are high-performing items so you need to do your research and figure out what your skin needs (and can handle) before you start adding to cart in an overzealous flurry. I have heard that their personal consultations are a great tool for that. I joined a Facebook group devoted to the brand and found some really great insight there. It’s a journey. But it’s worth it once you get there.

The products I am using right now are the Salicylic Acid 2% (for blemish prone areas and exfoliation), the Niacinamide and Zinc combo serum (for congestion, sebum production and texture) and the Hyaluronic Acid 2% (for hydration). All three cost me a grand total of $22, shipped. Do the math, friends. I am telling you, this is the MOST affordable performance skincare you can find. And it works. In just one month or so of use, I have seen dramatic improvement in my skin’s texture, brightness, hydration and comfort. I have been diligent about my skincare routine all year (will be sure to share the other products I am loving right now soon) and was already feeling good about the results but since integrating these into my lineup, the improvement is amazing. Other things I want to try? The Vitamin C suspension (if you’re not using a Vitamin C daily, please start now. I am currently using the Drunk Elephant one, which I love, but that one is $80 and this one is $6.80…so…). I also want to try the Lactic Acid, because I am obsessed with acids right now, Buffet for anti-aging and the Squalane oil…just because. I figure if I can’t find world peace and a solution to gun control in this country, I am going to win at hydration for now. And I am going to do it for a very good price.

Would love to hear if you’ve tried anything else from the line or any of their other ones so we can start a must-have list. Let me know in the comments below.

Hope you enjoy! x

4 Responses
  1. Stacey Sullivan permalink
    October 21, 2017

    I’ve tried the whole line and tried to mix and match the different products. I’ve returned to Drunk Elephant. Each product from DE contains so many important actives and you simply get what you pay for. I don’t have to think about it because they’ve done that for me and I’m not always in the mood to play chemist. The Marula from the ordinary is not the same quality either. It doesn’t absorb nearly as well. The vitamin C from the ordinary doesn’t absorb and ends up being irritating. It’s a nice idea, but in the end it feels like a wannabe and is not nearly as effective. I think the ordinary is a cheap imitation of a brand that has really led the way for state-of-the-art skincare.

    • WWGD permalink*
      October 21, 2017

      So interesting, thanks for sharing! I completely understand the chemist part, for sure. It’s certainly a time investment to figure it all out but I have to say in my experience, the TO products have definitely given me results much faster than DE so I guess it’s effective for some more than others. As with anything, right? 🙂

  2. Lara permalink
    October 28, 2017

    When do you use the products – morning and night or just night? I am interested in buying the -niacinamide and zinc combo and the vitamin c but it says not to use together? My skin is not bad – a little unevenness but nothing too bad but I would like to improve. Interested to try!

    • WWGD permalink*
      October 29, 2017

      Hi Lara! I would definitely recommend touching base with them to get a professional opinion but I personally use some in the am exclusively and some in the pm. I use my Vitamin C in the am and the niacinamide at night because of the same thing. But I use salicylic in the am before my Vit C and seems to be working fine. But definitely get them to consult for you, I am no expert on the ins and outs of mixing and it’s all based on your personal skin type. Let me know how it turns out!

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