I’ve been trying products from The Ordinary, the budget-friendly, actives-focused skincare line from Deciem that’s just launched in Australia. I posted my review of Advanced Retinoid 2% and Lactic Acid 10% + HA 2% a few days ago – now, here’s Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%.
A quick recap of the general notes I made on the products overall:
- Lots of ingredients backed by scientific research
- Only a few actives in each product (generally… Buffet is a different story), so the products give you lots of options for customising your routine
- Dropper packaging is convenient for dispensing small amounts easily
- No parabens, sulphates, mineral oil, methylchloroisothiazolinone, methylisothiazolinone, animal oils, benzalkonium chloride, coal tar dyes, formaldehyde, mercury, oxybenzone, alcohol, silicone, nuts; not tested on animals and vegan.
Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
Price: $9.90 for 30 mL (prices vary on Amazon)
Good for: congested skin, hyperpigmentation (dark scars, sun spots), oily skin
Like for Advanced Retinoid 2%, there’s a big warning that this product isn’t intended for acne treatment, and to use benzoyl peroxide or tretinoin instead (they also say they don’t recommend salicylic acid, but I’m not sure why). It might be to preemptively ward off a warning about drug-like claims, but most companies do that by simply not mentioning acne, instead of making a big disclaimer. They do use “reduce the look of” and “visible” in their directions, which is definitely to avoid those drug-like claims that cosmetic products aren’t allowed to make (it’s pretty silly and outdated regulation in my opinion since consumers ignore that disclaimer and it means any company can claim anything, so I’m looking forward to the day it gets overhauled).
Niacinamide: aka vitamin B3. According to peer-reviewed studies, it does a whole bunch of everything in skincare:
- evens out skin tone
- improves barrier function
- improves skin hydration
- reduces sebum production
- reduces acne
- reduces fine lines and wrinkles
- antioxidant
The main side effect is that it often comes with niacin, either as an impurity in the original product, or from breakdown over time. Niacin makes your skin flush and tingle, but it’s mostly just an annoyance. There’s been some talk of niacinamide not interacting well with vitamin C, but most likely this is only relevant for products where the two are stored together for a long time, rather than when you mix them on your skin for less than a day.
Zinc: Zinc ions are in this product as zinc pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, also known as zinc PCA. Zinc’s skin benefits aren’t backed up by as much evidence as for niacinamide (except of course in the context of zinc oxide in sunscreen), but it does seem to have some antiinflammatory effects. There’s also some evidence that it could reduce the production of hormones that cause sebum production, so potentially it could reduce skin oiliness.
The older version of Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% contained carrageenan and hydrogenated castor oil which some people blamed for incompatibility and comedogenicity issues. I have the reformulated version without those two ingredients.
pH: 5.50-6.50
Scent: Virtually undetectable! A properly fragrance-free product.
Texture: Very light and watery, very slightly tacky. I’ve worn this comfortably during the day, and I’m usually very hesitant to use daytime products.
How to use: Apply before heavier serums and moisturisers.
In use: I’ve read a lot of reviews where people complained about this pilling up under moisturiser, even with the new formulation, so I was prepared for the worst. Surprisingly I had zero pilling, with three different moisturisers but then I did have some pilling on my face after using a cleansing balm, so I suspect that this just doesn’t play well with oily products (I use very watery moisturisers).
Effects-wise, I did have faster fading of pigmentation, which generally doesn’t happen with niacinamide products for me – perhaps I just needed to boost it up to 10% consistently. My face seemed a little less oily as well, but it coincided with a cool bout of weather so I can’t confidently say it helped. This is one of the least expensive products in this already budget-friendly line, so if you’re on the fence about this product I’d say just go for it!
Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Zinc PCA, Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum, Xanthan Gum, Isoceteth-20, Ethoxydiglycol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin.
“Buffet”
Price: $24.90 for 30 mL (prices vary on Amazon)
Good for: decreasing signs of aging (wrinkles)
Ingredients: Buffet has a much longer ingredients list than the other products, hence its name. It boasts 5 different peptide ingredients (many of these names are trademarked but I couldn’t insert all the TM and R symbols without looking like a massive shill, so please note that they should be there…):
- Matrixyl 3000 (palmitoyl tripeptide-1 and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7)
- Matrixyl Synthe’6 peptide complex (palmitoyl tripeptide-38)
- Syn-Ake peptide complex (dipeptide diaminobutyroyl benzylamide diacetate)
- Relistase peptide complex (acetylarginyltryptophyl diphenylglycine)
- Argirelox peptide complex (acetyl hexapeptide-8 and pentapeptide-18)
There’s a mix of ingredients with peer-reviewed studies on them, and ingredients which only have manufacturer studies (partly because they’re too new to have been studied much yet). Of those with peer reviewed studies (i.e. take these claims with a grain of salt, because the fact the studies are peer-reviewed doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re unbiased, or well-designed, or are applicable to this product):
- Dipeptide diaminobutyroyl benzylamide diacetate (tripeptide-3 or Syn-Ake) has antiwrinkle effects due to its ability to mimic Temple viper venom.
- Acetyl hexapeptide-8 (also confusingly called acetyl hexapeptide-3, or Argireline) and pentapeptide-18 (Leuphasyl) both have antiwrinkle effects especially in the eye area, and improve skin firmness and tone.
The ones with only manufacturer studies (take these claims with a heaping tablespoon of salt):
- Palmitoyl tripeptide-1 and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 (Matrixyl 3000) reduce deep wrinkles
- Palmitoyl tripeptide-38 reduces forehead wrinkles and crow’s feet
- Acetylarginyltryptophyl diphenylglycine (Relistase) improves skin elasticity and tightness
There’s also a probiotic complex (Lactococcus lactis lysate) which is meant to renew skin and increase production of proteins and enzymes, and 11 skin-friendly amino acids and multiple hyaluronic acid complexes. These all add up to 25.1% by weight.
Deciem states that this product isn’t quite as effective against signs of aging as Hylamide SubQ Anti-Age, which I’ve reviewed before.
pH: 4.50-5.50
Scent: A very faint “beer” smell probably from the ferment.
Texture: Light and watery, very slightly tacky after drying.
How to use: Apply to skin after cleansing, morning and night.
In use: Unfortunately my wrinkles and fine lines aren’t that bad (yet), and I haven’t used this enough to notice any changes, so I can’t comment on the effectiveness of the peptides. I did find that my skin felt hydrated, bouncy and glowy, which is probably the work of all the humectants and the Lactococcus ferment lysate. It also plays really nicely with other products – I had no problems using this under make-up. I’d recommend this if you’ve been meaning to incorporate some anti-aging peptides into your routine, as most peptide products are in the $100 region. Even as a humectant serum this is worth it!
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.
Overall Thoughts on The Ordinary
I haven’t been this excited about a skincare range since… possibly ever. It ticks all my boxes: effective ingredients, budget-friendly prices, formulas that work well with other products, light texture, highly hydrating. There isn’t much I can point to that I’d like to change. I’ve been recommending The Ordinary to pretty much everyone without hesitation.
These products were provided for editorial consideration, which did not affect my opinion. This post also contains affiliate links – if you decide to click through and support Lab Muffin financially (at no extra cost to you), thank you! For more information, see Disclosure Policy.
It’s good stuff isn’t it! I have the C serum, Niacinamide and the Retinol. I cannot wait to try the foundations, just waiting for them to come back into stock.
This feels like proper grown up skincare, no bamboozling or overpricing.
I’m so excited about the foundations! I love the NIOD Photography Fluid that I reviewed earlier and use it almost every day, so I’m hoping the foundations will live up to that standard!
Completely agree. It’s refreshing when a skincare brand is upfront about their products!
I agree – fab line. I liked mostly everything I have tried from them, including these 2 products. Will keep buying and try new ones as I go along. Shame their line now increased even more and it is becoming hard to know what to go to come up with an effective range for one’s skin – that is my only objection to the Ordinary.
The product range does get a bit confusing to navigate when there are so many products! I think it’s the main disadvantage of this line – it’s great if you’re a nerd and you know what your skin likes, but it can get disorientating if you’re starting out.
Hi! I was also quite confused while browsing through the site and so I asked DECIEM through commenting in Instagram. They said that you can email then to ask for regimen advice though the response takes 2-14 days but I tried direct mesaging them in Instagram where the reply only took less than 24hrs.
If you were picking between SubQ and Buffet, which do you prefer, and why?
I’d go Buffet first for the price alone. It’s a nice starter peptide product, and if you’re not sure if your skin likes peptides, it’s a safe bet.
If price wasn’t a factor, it’s hard to say – I think I’d lean slightly more towards SubQ because my skin loves products with 50000 types of hyaluronic acid, but it does smell a lot funkier. Actives-wise, I hate hate hate comparing peptide products because of the lack of independent studies on them, so I don’t think it’s possible to make a confident call. However, I will note that Buffet has two ingredients with independent studies while SubQ has none, though that’s partly because Buffet also has more than twice as many different peptides.
That’s by far the best comparison I’ve seen of Hylamide and Buffet, including from Deciem themselves…i’ve asked them more than once and never got a sensible answer! I have the Hylamide SubQ but even half way through my second bottle I’m not sure I’m seeing much result (and unlike you I AM old enough to need it 😉 ). I might give Buffet a try next time, and see if the peptide thing has more impact.
Also I must be the only person who can’t smell these products! Lots of people have commented on various odd smells, I honestly can’t smell anything from any of them!!
I jumped the gun on buying the Niacinamide – should’ve waited for your review – but I’m glad that you recommend The Ordinary, considering they’re so affordable. I trust your opinion (that DIY Vitamin C serum is actually amazing) and I love that you try to make the science of skincare more accessible for us less science-y folks. Keep up the brilliant work! 🙂
Thank you so much! I’m so glad the DIY vitamin C serum is working for you!!
Whats the link for DIY vitamin C serum?
Would niacinamide + zinc cause purging? I’ve been using the ordinary niacinamide for about 10 days and I’m experiencing some mild breakouts that make me think if I should stick with it or just ditch it.
Niacinamide increases skin turnover, so yes it could cause purging.
That’s great news, that means its working! Haha
Hello! I asked The Ordinary why they don’t advocate salicylic acid as an acne treatment and received this response:
“We find that direct Salicylic Acid causes a high level of inflammation which is why we choose to avoid this.”
Then I asked for more information and was told:
“The issue came about in 2014 and the European Commission started looking into even banning all AHA and BHA. You can look up “AHA premature ageing” to read about the controversy. http://www.nytimes.com/health/guides/symptoms/wrinkles/print.html is an example.”
But there reference had nothing to do with acne or inflation. I probed one more and revived a different reason from another service rep:
“We really don’t use high concentrations of Salicylic Acid because it tends to dry out the skin.”
Then requested sources for this and never received an answer. Frustrating!
This is very strange thing to hear about AHAs… I am wondering if thinking behind is that since AHAs cause skin peeling and sun sensitivity – therefore it makes skin more prone to sun damage? So basically if you protect from sun you are fine? Just an idea. Would need to read more about it…
They advocate AHAs but not BHA/salicylic acid for some reason…
Thanks so much for this info!
If anything, salicylic acid would have less inflammation – it is both an antiinflammatory, and it absorbs UV which would decrease inflammation. The products I’ve tried do tend to dry out skin, but I’m not sure if it’s the salicylic acid itself or the ingredients required to make it dissolve…
I’m not very satisfied with their reasoning either! Grr.
Ayyy, I might be able to provide some information here, if not some pointers in different directions. What we are taught in pharmacy regarding salicylic acid and skincare (and particularly acne):
Goals of therapy with acne are to alleviate symptoms by reducing the number and severity of lesions, slow the progression of signs and symptoms, limit disease duration and recurrence, prevent long-term disfigurement associated with scarring and hyperpigmentation, and avoid psychological suffering.
As we know, salicylic acid is a beta-hydroxy acid. It has comedolytic activity, although the concentration in commercial preparations (less than 2–3%) is generally low. It offers slight anti-inflammatory activity at concentrations ranging from 0.5–5%. While concentrations less than 2% may actually increase keratinization, concentrations between 3 and 6% are keratolytic, softening the horny layer and shedding scales. Salicylic acid’s mechanism remains unresolved, attributed to reduced cohesion of corneocytes and shedding of epidermal cells, rather than “lysing” of keratin.
While concentrations of 1–2% are generally well tolerated, evidence shows that it is not as effective as equal-strength topical retinoids/BPO in practice and therefore is not considered first-line therapy. Higher concentrations (10%) are usually too irritating for treatment of acne vulgaris and should be reserved for conditions such as plaque psoriasis. It is most commonly found in nonprescription products.
Lower concentrations of salicylic are sometimes combined with sulfur to produce an additive keratolytic effect. Concentrations of 5–10% can be used for acne, beginning with a low concentration and increasing as tolerance to the irritation develops. It is an effective agent, although as a peeling agent its comparative potency varies according to the model used in measurement. It is slightly less potent than equal-strength benzoyl peroxide when measured with the rabbit ear animal model, and slightly more potent when measured with a biologic microcomedone model. It is recommended to reserve salicylic acid as a second-line option for mild-moderate acne after trying first-line agents, or as an alternative when intolerance to retinoids are observed
I’m a huge microbiome/derm nerd, I’m 3/4 of my way through pharmacy, and have a previous honours degree in microbiology and immunology–it feels good when I can apply my evidence-based knowledge courses! 🙂
RxTx–Canadian Pharmacists’ Association E-Compendium of of Pharmaceutical Specialties, Compendium of Therapeutic Choices, and Compendium of Therapeutic for Minor Ailments
The RxFiles Objective Drug Comparison Charts–Dermatology
Strauss JS, Krowchuk DP, Leyden JJ, et al. Guidelines of care for acne vulgaris management. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2007 Feb 2
Asai Y, Baibergenova A, Dutil M, et al. Management of acne: Canadian clinical practice guideline. CMAJ 2015
Zaenglein AL, Pathy AL, Schlosser BJ, et al. Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris. J Am Acad Dermatol (AAD-American Academy of Dermatology). 2016 Feb 15.
10 Leyden JJ. A review of the use of combination therapies for the treatment of acne vulgaris. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2003 Sep;49(3 Suppl):S200-10.
Sykes NL, Webster GF. Acne. A review of optimum treatment. Drugs 1994;48:59-70
Zander E, Weisman S. Treatment of acne vulgaris with salicylic acid pads. Clin Ther 1992;14:247-53
Gross G. Benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid therapy. In: Webster GF, Rawlings AV, eds. Acne and its therapy. New York: Informa Healthcare; 2007. p. 117-36.
Shalita AR. Comparison of a salicylic acid cleanser and a benzoyl peroxide wash in the treatment of acne vulgaris. Clin Ther 1989;11:264-7.
Kligman D, Kligman AM. Salicylic acid as a peeling agent for the treatment of acne. Cosmetic Dermatol 1997;10:44-7.
Bae BG, Park CO, Shin H et al. Salicylic acid peels versus Jessner’s solution for acne vulgaris: a comparative study. Dermatol Surg 2013;39:248-53.
Oh my god my comment is huge
ALSO: ANY therapeutic usage of salicylic acid must be discussed with your pharmacist or physician, there are many conditions that are contraindicated with its use!
Thanks so much for this! And the refs – big thumbs up 😀
Do you know when DECIEM reformulated the nicinamide+zinc?
Unfortunately not!
I’ve been meanung to try the niaciamide + zinc and then moisturizing with pure rose hip oil that they also have. But you said it wouldn’t work well with oily products. What would be a nice combo for combination acne prone skin with red hiperpigmentation. My skin can get dry and also quite oily so It’s quite confusing
It will work, but it might clump up a little (but that’s not too much of an issue if you use it at night) – if you pat the rose hip oil on gently it should be fine.
I already ordered the buffet and 30% AHA+2% BHA peel from them. So excited to try them out! By the way, are you planning on trying out NIOD non-acid acid precursor? Do you think it’s worth the cost?
I haven’t tried it yet! If it works without the irritation of low pH it could be very promising…
Over the years I’ve blindly purchased skincare products, paid out plenty and didn’t get results anywhere near what I paid for. The information you provide on website helps me make more intelligent skincare purchases. I ordered both these products. Even if I don’t see exceptional results with The Ordinary, at least I won’t feel as if I wasted a lot of money.
One last comment about salicylic acid…anyone with eczema or psoriasis should first discuss use of an AHA or BHA with their doctor. I had used Paula’s Choice Resist 2% BHA Weightless Body Treatment. By the forth tube, the near daily exposure to the salicylic acid triggered a flare up of palmar pustular psoriasis. Prior to this flare up, I had been in remission for five years. Since salicylic acid is offen used for psoriasis, I thought I was safe using the BHA. But my doctor tells me any skin irritant can trigger an outbreak. Last flare up was more than 18 months long, and took nearly 30 laser treatments to put me in remission after all topical medications failed.
Thank you! I hope they work for you!
Oh dear, I can’t imagine what an ordeal that would be. 30 laser treatments!
I REALLY like their niaciamide + zinc!for the price and the quality its totally worth it. However, im not a fan of their vit c serum, its gritty and it burns my skin even after months of use! Also i think it broke me out. I was concerned about the the vit c and niaciamide cancellation. But I might use them together again.
I just bought Niacinamide + Zinc. Can’t wait to try it. So far I used Retinoid 2% (it’s pretty good so far), Lactic acid 10% (not sure it does much) and Vit C 23%. Unfortunately my skin’s reaction to Vit C is just like yours, I got slight burns around my face. I also tried diluting it in my moisturiser in approx. 1:5 ratio and still woke up with inflamed areas on my face. Not happy :/
Is that the gritty anhydrous vit C? I’d recommend diluting a tiny amount in a splash of water and seeing if that helps! The grits can concentrate on the face which means tiny spots get tons of vit C and irritation while the rest of your skin gets none.
Yeah, the problem with anhydrous (water-free) vit C is that it doesn’t dissolve, so you end up with concentrated bits that stick to your face! Have you tried using it on a wet face, or mixed with a water-based serum? It might help spread out the grits and lead to less burning!
Excited to try the Niacinamide as I have oily skin and enlarged pores. Hylamide Sub-Q didn’t work for me, I’m 61 yrs old so quite a lot of crinkles to try it on. Demarche Labs BioRewind (but very expensive) works best for me – with thinner skin now, I have trouble tolerating some retinoids.
Good luck! My mum also has issues with sensitive skin as she’s gotten older, she even has trouble with washcloths now!
I’ve been so intrigued by this brand but the price point makes me wonder on the quality of ingredients/how small the molecules of the active ingredients are… Guess there is always that price/quality trade off somewhere haha
The vast majority of the time, the cost of the actual ingredients in a product is a single digit percentage of the retail price… the rest is stuff like marketing, packaging, transport/logistics (moving ingredients and products around), manufacturing, rent for the retail space. So the cost savings are usually in those areas rather than a reflection of the quality of ingredients!
Do you think you’d be able to use benzoyl peroxide and the Buffett together?
I’m not sure – peptides have a range of reactivities with peroxides. I’d use the benzoyl peroxide as a spot treatment to be on the safe side.
Michelle, I LOVE your work and I am definitely going to trying The Ordinary products, having read your reviews!
I’d really like your advice, though, on what you would consider the most effective wrinkle treatment for DEEP wrinkles that you’ve come across? I’ve got a few years on you, I think (I’m 41) – but I get pegged at a decade younger. Which is fine…but because I emote too much, I have a couple of very defined lines on my forehead that I’m really very self-conscious about. I have also been blessed with a face that doesn’t carry a fringe well, so I can’t hide them behind that! 🙁
Any recommendations or suggestions for products you think might work would be just wonderful – thanks so much in advance!
For treating deep wrinkles, unfortunately skincare products probably can’t do much – you’ll have to go deeper with treatments such as Botox.
Thanks for the reviews! I ran out and picked up two of their vitamin C products after this, and I’m hankering for the Niacinamide/Zinc and the rose hip oil now.
i did have a question, is there any point in layering different Vitamin C serums? As always, thanks for your great reviews
If they have different types of vitamin C it could be worth layering if you’re not seeing enough results, but I usually use them for different routines e.g. if I want to use rosehip oil that night, I’ll use a light, water-based vit C, but if I’m using acid exfoliants I’ll use an oil-based vit C to try to limit irritation.
Can you review more ordinary products? I love your reviews. What’s your morning routine like? You don’t use serums in the AM right? How many serums do you recommend to use in the PM?
I decided to give my mum a gift and bought her one bottle of Buffet and one bottle of the Advanced Retinoid. She is 52 years old with normal to dry skin, with some wrinkles and hyperpigmentation. Would these two products be safe to use together? Or should she rotate between the two?
Also, I bought another bottle of Buffet for myself — but it says in your review that it is used to target aging, and at 22, I’m still fine on that front! Would you recommend that I not use it yet, then? I don’t want to start using anti-aging products when I am still too young for it. But then again, if I start using it now, would that mean I’ll look less old when I get older?
Thank you so much for this review and any help you might give!
They should be safe but make sure she uses a sunscreen!
Starting early with anti-aging is never harmful, except for your wallet 😉 Yes, it will be preventative as well – the microscopic damage that these products slow or reverse happens well before it’s visible!
I was wondering if you could help me out. I recently bought some of The Ordinary products and I already have some Paula’s Choice products, but I can’t quite figure it out how to integrate all of them in my routine. So, excluding cleansing and sun protection, when and in which order should i use them:
PC Resist Pore-Refining 2% BHA Treatment
PC Resist Ultra-Light Antioxidant Serum
PC Resist Daily 5% AHA Treatment
PC Resist Barrier Repair Moisturizer with Retinol (I use it when I need some extra moisture but the tube is almost empty and I’m thinking to buy one of the ordinary products with retinol)
TO Buffet
TO Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate 10%
TO Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%
TO Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA
TO Niacinamide 10% + Zinc PCA 1%
I would really appreciate if you could help me.
The Ordinary has a great guide to layering their products [https://www.deciemchatroom.com/how-to-layer-the-ordinary/], including a printable download. I taped it inside my medicine cabinet for quick reference! It’s based on formulation (e.g., water-based, anhydrous, etc.) so I use it for other brands as well. I love PC’s BHA liquid and the azelaic acid booster. From The Ordinary, I have the plain niacinamide, retinol in squalane, and Matrixyl + HA, plus TO’s l-ascorbic acid powder in Michelle’s DIY vitamin C serum!
Hi Michelle, thanks for the reviews
just heard from a friend of mine about this product and i would love to buy some of it but a bit confused (because their name product contains with chemical name and i’m sucks with that hahaha)
my skin is combination (oily at T zone), have some pimple scar and dark spot, also blackhead.
could you please suggest which one product should i use ?
thank you so much
Hey, I would really like some advice as I’ve been using epiduo which has 2.5% benzoyl peroxide and 0.1% adapalene with the ordinary niacinamide and zinc serum on top of that, I’ve been having really big and painful cystic acne, what should I do, are they bad together?. Thanks
They shouldn’t be bad together, but it sounds like it isn’t working for you! Did you have cystic acne before?
Not really, i used to have papules but the benzoyl peroxide has reduced most of it, I decided to add more to my skin care routine as my face was really dull and dry. I’ve also used the ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% only once, could it be this?
Hi michelle! Aawesome blog. I was wondering if i needed your advice for my skin using the ordinary could you help?
That eould just be awesome, its waay to complex for me to getnit right, too many productsss thanks! Sara
I am so excited by The Ordinary – assuming they are making a profit on their products at this price point, it really does expose the ridiculous margin the others have been getting away with.
I’m seeing results with the Lactic Acid 10% that are compatible to Sunday Riley’s Good Genes (which is ridiculously expensive). Buffet seemed to make me breakout a bit (I’ve also experienced this with a moisturiser that contained peptides) but it’s early days and I’ll keep going with it.
Based on my experience so far, and this review, I’ll be picking up the niacinamide, the retinoid and the glycolic cleanser. The problem will of course be working out how to combine them all (assuming only one serum can be applied at a time – can any of them be combined?)
Thrilled to have come across this blog by the way. Great writing, backed up by great science.
hello michelle. i have a dry sensitive skin with enlarged pores, blackheads/whiteheads and a few acne due to my sensitive skin. may i know whether the Niacinamide 10% + Zinc suitable for my skin? i was excited when read that the niacinamide is good for enlarged pores n already buy it online. but after reading your review, it kinda scared for me to try because u said it’s suitable for oily skin. i really hope that you can help with my dilemma. thank you.
Oily skin tends to have enlarged pores, so this should work well 🙂
but my skin is dry. not oily. that’s what makes me scared.
Hi, I just bought the Niacinamide 10% + Zinc, the Buffet and the Lactic Acid 10%. When do I use each product i.e. in the AM or PM and can I use them together/on top of each other? Will they still work if I use one after the other?
You can use them together 🙂
Thank you for the informative post, Michelle!
I picked up the Lactic Acid 10% and the Advanced Retinoid. Can I use these 2 products together or do I have to use them on different nights?
You should be able to use them together 🙂 Your skin may get irritated though!
I have the Niacinamide 10% + Zinc, and I have been using it to spot treat some acne scarring I have. What are your thoughts on using it all over vs spot treating?
For scar treatments I think spot treating is fine, but for preventing acne you need to use it all over.
I’ve used Niacinamide in the past and it really helps clear outy skon. HOWEVER, I recently started out with the Ordinary Niacinamide, it turns suspiciously whitish in my hands..is that normal?? ?
I haven’t experienced that myself! Maybe ask in a Deciem group?
Hi for spot treatment which would you recommend. Does the niacinamide cause breakout?