The Ordinary - Have You Heard of It?

Recently, my dear friend and college roommate, Frances, came all the way out to San Diego from Houston to visit me. I love that we haven't lost touch since college and also appreciate the fact that she keeps me "in the know" of all the latest trends in fashion and beauty. I can be so oblivious to these things! During her visit, we were discussing skincare (because we are now in our late 20s, and these things matter), and she brought up The Ordinary, a skin care line that offers clinical formulations and ingredients at a low cost. I was definitely interested so I did my research and ordered a few of their products to try out. I mean, why not try them out when most of their products are under $10?? I have now been using my purchases for a few months, and here's the lowdown on my love/hate relationship with The Ordinary.

Deciding on a regimen was really hard.

It took me about a week of researching and sifting through the numerous formulations before finally deciding on the regimen I wanted. The company website does offer a few sample regimens for some common issues (general signs of aging, pigmentation issues,etc.), but I didn't feel like any of them really fit my needs. I ended up creating my own, which is a lot more complicated than I thought it would be. There are compatibility issues, such as direct acids can't be used with peptides, and some are only supposed to be used in the morning or at night. Here is the regimen I came up with for my top concerns of signs of aging, large pores, and dry skin:

Morning:

• Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

• "Buffet"

• Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5

Evening:

• Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

• Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5

• Azeleic Acid Suspension 10%

I always cleanse my face before too with this Garnier face scrub (I use Cerave now that I'm pregnant) and always apply a moisturizer with sunscreen in the morning, like this one or Beautycounter dew skin if I want more coverage.

Regimens contain too many steps.

Because most of the products contain only one active ingredient, it took a ton of time to complete the regimen every morning and night. There were just too many steps, mixing, and things to remember. I don't have all the time for that and found myself just picking one or two formulations to use at a time.

Products do not layer well.

When I put makeup or moisturizer on over the products (especially "buffet"), it would become super flaky and cakey. There were many times I had to completely wipe all my makeup off and start over, wasting precious time and expensive foundation! I ended up only using The Ordinary products at night.

BUT...They actually work and are so cheap!

At these affordable prices, the complicated regimens and time constraints don't upset me too much. Plus, I don't feel terrible if I try a product and don't like it because it probably was only around $5. It's not like I just dropped $80 on some expensive cream. Definitely worth trying out! My favorite of the four products I purchased was the azeleic acid. I could see a noticeable smoothness and feel the difference after just one use! I am also super curious about the retinoids, but haven't been able to use these because I've been either breastfeeding or pregnant for the past couple of years.

Final Ruling: As a busy toddler mom with another on the way (and hopefully starting back to work soon), I will most likely go back to my Rodan and Fields. I know it works and you really can't beat the simplicity and convenience of the regimens. For those of you with more time and creativity, The Ordinary may be a good option for you!

Thanks for keeping this momma hip and cool, Frances!!

Sincerely,

Ray