The Ordinary have become a cult favourite skincare brand in such a short time with their extensive range of high quality skincare products with budget friendly prices. Until now it’s been quite difficult to track down The Ordinary products but amazingly they’ve just launched on the Beauty Chamber website which is very exciting news.
I’ve already featured nine The Ordinary products on my blog here and here, and I’ve recently got my hands on three of their newest releases which I couldn’t wait to try and report back; The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution, The Ordinary Argireline Solution 10% and The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution and all three products are available alongside the rest of the range over on Beauty Chamber.
If you’re new to The Ordinary brand, they’re part of the DECIEM brand which describe themselves as being “an evolving collection of skincare treatments offering familiar, effective clinical technologies positioned to raise pricing and communication integrity in skincare”.
The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution £3.90
When I saw that The Ordinary were launching a salicylic based product, I knew I needed it within my collection as it’s my favourite ingredient for targeting blemishes so I always tend to gravitate towards salicylic based skincare products when treating my acne prone skin. Salicylic Acid is a beta hydroxyl acid that exfoliates the skin and this 2% treatment solution claims to help exfoliate the inside walls of pores to fight the appearance of blemishes and for better visible skin clarity with continued use.
This solution can be used both AM and PM by applying a small dot of product directly onto spots for a visible improvement or you can choose to apply a small amount over the face to help maintain visible clarity with continued use. Due to this solution containing a BHA (beta hydroxy acid) it means it may increase your skin’s sensitivity to the sun and particularly the possibility of sunburn so it’s important to wear adequate sun protection to ensure the skin is fully protected.
The solution looks like water within the glass pipette but I like to dispense the solution onto the back of my clean hand and then apply to my face. The consistency is a little slimey at first but it feels as light as water once absorbed into the skin with no residue whatsoever. I don’t find that I get any stinging or burning when using it which surprised me as I have super sensitive skin, but my skin does feel slightly warmer for a few minutes after application which isn’t a big deal.
I like to apply directly to any blemishes, under the skin bumps or imperfections. I find it to be particularly effective for the pesky under the skin bumps and it doesn’t cause any discomfort like I get with a lot of salicylic based skincare products.
The Ordinary Argireline Solution 10% £5.50
I have to be honest, I had no idea what Argireline was before trying this solution but the product’s description is really intriguing. Argireline is a trademark owned by Barcelona-based Lipotec and is a proprietary solution of Acetyl Hexapeptide-8. Controlled studies have shown that Argireline improves the appearance of facial areas prone to developing dynamic folds, including around the eyes and in the forehead area and for application you simply apply a few drops on the forehead and around the eyes twice daily before more heavier treatments.
I am turning 30 this year (totally not thrilled about it by the way) so I don’t have any expression lines yet but obviously prevention is better than cure so I’m all about the products which will help keep my skin as youthful as possible for longer. This solution feels a little thicker than the Salicylic Solution, and you can feel a little residue after it’s absorbed into the skin but it doesn’t feel at all sticky or unpleasant and it layers well under other skincare products. I can’t comment on the results of this specific product as I don’t have any expression lines but I’m confident that it’s a very effective formula which has slot into my daily skincare routine.
The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution £6.30
This is a product I’ve seen all over Instagram and couldn’t wait to try for myself as it’s unique to anything else within my skincare arsenal as it’s described as being a ‘ten minute exfoliating facial’. The solution consists of 30% Alpha Hydroxyl Acids (Glycolic/Lactic/Tartaric/Citric), 2% Beta Hydroxyl Acid (Salicylic Acid), Hyaluronic Acid Crosspolymer, Vitamin B5, Black Carrot and Tasmanian Pepperberry – wow.
The AHA’s exfoliate the skin’s topmost surface for a brighter and more even appearance, whilst the BHA’s exfoliate the skin with an extended function to help clear pore congestion. This combined 32% AHA/BHA solution is said to offer deeper exfoliation to help fight visible blemishes and for improved skin radiance as well as helping to improve the appearance of skin texture, and reducing the look of fine lines with continued use.
The directions are a little more detailed than the other two products and should ideally be used in the evenings, no more than twice a week. You have to clean the face beforehand and wait for the skin to dry as you cannot apply directly to wet skin. Once the skin has fully dried you apply evenly across face and neck using your fingertips and leave on for no more than 10 minutes, and then rinse with lukewarm water.
It’s important to avoid the eye contour area, and it’s intended to be used as a ten minute mask and mustn’t be left on the skin for longer than ten minutes. Due to the acids within the formula, the same rules apply with skin sensitivity with the sun, so you must use adequate sun protection in the days following the use of this treatment.
The colour of this treatment is so strange as it’s bright red and genuinely looks like you’ve smeared watery blood all over your face during the ten minute treatment period which is really weird but cool at the same time. I apply the liquid to the whole of my face avoiding the whole eye area and it does tingle for the first 1-2 minutes but it’s not too uncomfortable but I have read reviews which recommend only using it once a week or it can become quite uncomfortable.
When I rinse the solution from my face it leaves my skin looking amazingly radiant and glowing, with results similar to the Glamglow Youth Mud in terms of radiance except this is only £6.30 and the Youth Mud is £39. I think this has to be the best product I’ve tried from the Ordinary so far as it offers instant, visible results making it ideal for use before a special occasion when you want your skin to look the best it possibly can.
I’d love to know if you’ve tried any of these new The Ordinary skincare launches?