I am finally writing my review on The Ordinary after using
their products for almost 3 months! The Ordinary, a brand from the parent
company, Deciem, is known for their affordable line of serums and moisturisers
containing sophisticated active ingredients, and packaged into cute, minimalist
dropper bottles.
Deciem is dubbed as The Abnormal Beauty Company introduced
The Ordinary as a brand that provides an “an evolving collection of treatments
offering familiar, effective clinical technologies positioned to raise pricing
and communication integrity in skincare”. This means they allow consumers to
have an opportunity to purchase their products, which are formulated with clinically
proven ingredients at an affordable price! Hence, the tagline “Clinical
Formulations with Integrity”.
With that being said, all DECIEM products, across all brands
including The Ordinary, are free of parabens, sulphates, mineral oil,
methylchloroisothiazolinone, methylisothiazolinone, animal oils, coal tar dyes,
formaldehyde, mercury, oxybenzone. Also, they are against animal testing.
I am very interested in the wide array of potent skincare
ingredients formulated in The Ordinary. The Ordinary takes pride in honesty and
integrity in their formulations. This probably explains their transparency
about their active ingredients without the addition of any dodgy stuffs consumers
should be wary about. In fact, they name their products based on the name of
the active ingredients!
The Ordinary is categorized into Retinoids, Vitamin C,
Direct Acids, Antioxidants, Hydrators & Oils, Molecules, and Suncare. The
different types of formulation targeting different skin problems. You may refer
to the regime guide from The Ordinary website!
I tried three products from
The Ordinary- NIACINAMIDE 10% + ZINC 1%, ASCORBYL GLUCOSIDE SOLUTION 12%, &
THE BUFFET
NIACINAMIDE 10% + ZINC 1%
What does it
do?
Niacinamide is a popular ingredient in skincare products
that we always hear beauty junkies rave about. Niacinamide is actually vitamin
B3, a water soluble vitamin, which functions to reduce visibility of enlarged
pores and uneven skin tone, and improve skin radiance. In addition, niacinamide
is able to boost hydrating ability of moisturisers, thus reducing moisture loss
when apply topically. The addition of zinc balances sebum activity and aids in
healing of damaged skin.
Ingredients? Aqua
(Water), Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Zinc PCA, Dimethyl Isosorbide,
Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum, Xanthan gum, Isoceteth-20, Ethoxydiglycol, Phenoxyethanol,
Chlorphenesin
How I use? According to
The Ordinary website, it is stated that Niacinamide is contraindicated with
Vitamin C. They suggest to apply Niacinamide at alternate time (ideally Vitamin
C in the PM and Niacinamide in the AM). The combination of the two ingredients
will lead to -1)it neutralizes the effectiveness of both ingredients, and 2) it
might create a substance (nicotinic acid) that leads to skin redness.
I did further research about this and discovered that the
claim is in fact, a myth. Apparently, the research about the incompatibility was
40 years ago, making the studies obsolete. Newer researches were conducted and
better formulations were produced in the recent years and it was came to known
that the combination of vitamin C and niacinamide produces synergistic effect.
My Thoughts &
Experience? My experience with Niacinamide 10% & Zinc 1% was not as
promising as expected. Nevertheless, it delivered relatively vast positive
results compared to the other two products that I tried. I used Niacinamide
first before adding vitamin C into my skincare routine after 2 months. And I
saw improvement on the areas with uneven skintone caused my acne scars. I read
that Niacinamide does lighten scars and corrects hyperpigmentation. However, I
did not experience significant improvement of my skin hydration status
throughout the day. Perhaps its function as a hydration booster did not work on
my skin.
Where to
Purchase? I purchased at www.beautyspot.my
for RM60.00
ASCORBYL GLUCOSIDE SOLUTION 12%
What does
it do? As everyone knows, Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that
brightens skin, prevents free radicals from damaging skin, and hence reduces
signs of aging. Vitamin C is unstable in water if it’s in pure form. Ascorbyl
Glucoside is a water-soluble derivative of Vitamin C. It is much more stable in
water but it is less potent than direct L-Ascorbic Acid. It is the gold standard
in terms of stability and comfort use. This water based serum has lighter
formulations and very easy to incorporate into skincare routine. Plus, water
soluble vitamin C serums are more effective compared to oil based.
Ingredients? Aqua
(Water), Ascorbyl Glucoside, Propanediol, Aminomethyl Propanol,
Triethanolamine, Isoceteth-20, Xanthan gum, Dimethyl Isosorbide,
Ethoxydiglycol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl
Glycol.
How I use? As spot
treatment before moisturizer. You may refer to the How I Use? Section in Niacinamide. If your skin is a little
sensitive, you may alternate it with Niacinamide. Otherwise, it is not a
problem to use it together.
My Thoughts
& Experiences? This serum totally breaks my perspective of vitamin C
serum being harsh and irritating to skin. This vitamin C serum is mild and
gentle to my skin. I did not experience any breakouts after adding it to my
skincare routine. It has a more rapid absorption compared to the Niacinamide serum. The
scent was light and has a faint citrus scent. Packaged in an amber glass
dropper bottle, it protects vitamin C serum from oxidation. I have yet to see
any promising results in terms of its anti-aging properties, but my skin definitely
has a more even and radiant appearance.
Where to
Purchase? I purchased it at Hermo for RM97.00
THE BUFFET
What does
it do? The Buffet combines a comprehensive array of studied
technologies to target multiple signs of aging at once. The technologies are
Matrixyl™ 3000 peptide complex (with palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7), Matrixyl™
synthe'6™ peptide complex (with palmitoyl tripeptide-38), SYN™-AKE peptide
complex (with dipeptide diaminobutyroyl benzylamide diacetate) etc..
I know it’s quite a mouthful to say but there are all peptide
complexes. The Buffet also contains antioxidants, hyaluronic, and amino acid
complexes. Peptides and amino acids are essential for the formation of protein
which is important in giving your skin support and structure.
Ingredients? Aqua
(Water), Glycerin, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8,
Pentapeptide-18, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl
Tripeptide-38, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate,
Acetylarginyltryptophyl Diphenylglycine, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer,
Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Isoleucine,
Proline, Threonine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Arginine, Aspartic Acid,
Trehalose, Fructose, Glucose, Maltose, Urea, Sodium PCA, PCA, Sodium Lactate,
Citric Acid, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide,
Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer,
Polysorbate 20, PPG-26-Buteth-26, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Trisodium
Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Ethoxydiglycol, Sodium Benzoate, Caprylyl Glycol,
Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin.
That is a very long list of ingredients in a small bottle of
serum. Totally lives up to its name as The Buffet.
How I use? Apply to
the entire face in the AM and PM after cleaning. The Ordinary website recommends
to alternate use between peptides, Vitamin C (L-Ascorbic Acid and Ethylated
Ascorbic Acid) and Direct Acids for maximum benefits due to the susceptibility
to degradation.
My Thoughts
& Experiences? To my disappointment, I fail to see any significant
results on my skin integrity and elasticity. This product was one of the best
products from The Ordinary and is highly raved by my favourite beauty Youtuber,
Liah Yoo. It is a very budget friendly anti-aging skincare product. This is
perfect for someone who’s in their late or mid-twenties who are looking to
start on an anti-aging product but do not want to invest in a high end product
yet. In fact, Deciem actually suggests their other brand Hylamide, for more
potent anti-aging effects, as it offers a next-generation formula, SubQ
Anti-Age.
Where to
Purchase? I purchased at www.beautyspot.my for RM100.00
Overall, I personally did not experience ground breaking
results. I started to see very subtle improvements only after using them for
months. With an affordable price you pay for a reasonable amount of 30ml serum,
I could not ask for more. Will I repurchase? Maybe only for the Niacinamide.
Sources:
The Ordinary website
Read more about combination of Niacinamide & Vitamin C: https://theklog.co/can-you-use-vitamin-c-and-niacinamide-together/
Read more about skin peptides: https://www.paulaschoice.com/expert-advice/skincare-advice/anti-aging-wrinkles/peptides-for-skin.html
Disclaimer: This is NOT a sponsored post. The content in this post is solely based on the writer's experience and should not be used, treated, or relied on as a substitute for a professional advice
I love this brand's products... been using few years now
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