The Ordinary, Skincare

New! The Ordinary Frequently Asked Questions

March 29, 2021May 16, 2022 by Nia Patten

Skincare with Friends: Episode 55 The Ordinary Frequently Asked Questions with Rachie Candice

Rachie Candice and I have been moderating the Deciem Chatroom for nearly four years (not 5 we got that wrong 😑). We finally got together to make this podcast where we go through all the questions that pop up most about The Ordinary and give our answers based on our vast experience. It’s a light hearted and friendly chat between two The Ordinary devotees who have never met but chat regularly online, often using our favourite method of communication- the GIF. To listen, search Skincare with Friends in your usual podcast provider.

It’s a light hearted and friendly chat between two The Ordinary devotees who have never met but chat regularly online, often using our favourite method of communication- the GIF. To listen, search Skincare with Friends in your usual podcast provider.

I’m not going to do a full transcript because it would take me days to do it, and I’ve got a moderate number of female children to care for so I’m busy. But I’ll summarise the most important bits for you.

The Ordinary Frequently Asked Questions

“I love having a good strong base routine- of water, oil and cream…”- Rachie

Can we use Niacinamide with Vitamin C– According to Deciem we can’t.
The Ordinary’s newer conflicts, what is that about?– New users shouldn’t use any of the peptides with acids, pure vitamin C or Ethylated Ascorbic Acid. Those who have been using the peptides with the direct acids and vitamin C can go ahead and carry on. Deciem have yet to fully explain their conflicts. Head to the Deciem guide for full info.
Azaleic Acid over or under moisturiser?- Both Rachie and I agree, we put Azaleic under our moisturiser. We want the acid close to our skin and we have been informed by Deciem previously that the moisturiser should absorb through silicone. Since we want the active to absorb in preference to the moisturiser, we do Azaleic first and we don’t care what Deciem says, especially because it’s not available in Australia.
How can I repair a damaged moisture barrier?- Lots of hydration (Rachie sometimes uses fresh green tea, OTC product tips below), use a gentle cleanser (gel, cream or oil), avoid actives like acids and retinol to give your skin a break. Stick to a Hydrate-oil-moisturiser regimen until your skin is better.
How should I treat acne?– Still focus on hydration and feeding your moisture barrier with vitamins. For persistent acne, save money and time by going straight to your doctor for prescription strength skincare. You might even need to try a contraceptive pill to balance your hormones. Ingredients to try- Benzoyl Peroxide, Azaleic acid, Salicylic acid
Which The Ordinary acid should I choose?– Pick one and use it sparingly, the Alpha Hydroxy Acids all have the same effect of loosening dead skin, there is no benefit in using several. In order of strongest to weakest- The red AHA/BHA peel, Glycolic toner, Lactic Acid 10%, Lactic Acid 5%, Mandelic. Pick only one, depending on your experience with acids and use infrequently, otherwise you risk barrier destruction and pain.
How should I put together my routine?- Simplicity is key. You need cleanser, hydration, moisturiser and spf. From there you can just pick one or two actives to try depending on your issue.
Minimising pores– Firstly, pores are normal, even if stuff comes out of them when you squeeze them, you can improve their appearance by making your skin as healthy as possible but they’re never going to away. Cosmetic brands and Instagrammers are editing their pictures, don’t compare yourself to unnatural altered photos. Hydration is known for reducing the visibility of pores by improving the health of your skin by reducing inflammation. Also worth trying are Niacinamide and vitamin A (retinol and tretinoin), studies have shown they can help reduce pore size.
Why do I get bumps when I use The Ordinary’s Niacinamide serum?- It could just be that you are genetically prone to react to Niacinamide, or it could be that that particular serum is too strong at 10%, or it could be the Zinc in the product. The Ordinary 100% Niacinamide Powder is quite a handy way to try Niacinamide in isolation, using that with your usual hydrating serum or even water is a good way to check your reaction to niacinamide alone. Niacinamide is definitely worth exploring for any skin type, it helps with- redness, yellowness, hydration,
Why does my skincare pill and how do I stop it from happening?- It happens when product that is resting on the surface of your skin dries and lifts off when you rub your skin. It happens with certain products like The Ordinary’s HA and Niacinamide + Zinc, especially in combination with the oils. Try using more of the product (half a dropper maybe) so it spreads better and your not having to rub to get it around your face. Pat the product into your skin as opposed to rubbing. Also have a hydrating spray at hand when you’re doing your skincare routine so that you can mist your palms and pat the moisture in eg. SDSM by NIOD. Try switching from HA + B5 to Marine Hyaluronics.
What to do if I don’t like a The Ordinary product?- Some TO products don’t have great texture eg Vitamin C 23% and HA + B5 which might put you off using. You could take advantage of Deciem’s 365 return policy for one. You can use some of the products in your hair, like HA and the oils. Or your body. If you have a vitamin C product that you don’t like the feel of, like the 23%, you can use it like a treatment mask that you rinse off.
Which Vitamin C product is the best?- Vitamin C is a tricky one, it’s difficult to formulate because it oxidises so quickly in air and water, so there are compromises made when vitamin C is put onto a skincare product. Myself and Rachie both like the 100% Ascorbic Acid Powder, because it can be made up fresh every time and it’s cheap and easy. Also we love Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, it’s much more easy going and it feels beautiful and moisturising.
Did you try The Ordinary sunscreen?– If you didn’t, don’t, if you did, isn’t it awful?
Should we still buy The Ordinary now that Estee Lauder has bought a bigger percentage of the company– Rachie and I are aware of the ethical issues around the buy out and the concerns that surround the buy out, but we trust in Brandon’s judgement. Brandon Truaxe, Deciem’s founder, sold a percentage of his baby to Estee Lauder and given his strong ethical standpoint we respect that his decision. Rachie made the valid point that buying from cruelty free brands only sends a message to the umbrella company that this is the way we want to spend our money, ethics are important to us.