A look at the new Revolution Skin skincare line and how it compares to The Ordinary skincare

Revolution (which used to be called Makeup Revolution but has had a recent rebrand) is known for it’s looky likey versions of other products. They have their own versions of the Too Faced Chocolate palette, Tarte Shape Tape Concealer, Cover Fx Custom Enhancer Drops. Ever watchful of current trends Revolution knows how to appeal to the consumer by producing pocket friendly versions of popular products. I personally use several of their products myself- the Conceal and Define Full Coverage Concealer is excellent, Soph X palette is a great bargain. They do fun beauty products, and I often head to the Revolution counter in Superdrug if I’m in need of a pick me up.

This time Revolution have taken on the mighty The Ordinary and duped several of their sciency skincare serums. The range is called Revolution Skin and is comprised of 12 serums and one cream. They’re housed in The Ordinary alike dropper bottles, with the addition of a bit more colour to the labelling here and there. The full line up goes like this-

1. Superfruit Extract Antioxidant Rich Serum and Primer
2. Skin Nourishing CBD Oil
3. Targeted Undereye Serum 5% Caffeine + Hyaluronic Acid
4. Rosehip Seed Oil Gold Elixir
5. Blemish and Pore Refining Serum 10% Niacinamide + 1% Zinc
6. Lightweight Hydrating Gel Cream
7. Skin Plumping and Hydrating Solution 2% Hyaluronic Acid
8. Gentle Night Peeling Serum Quinoa Night Peel
9. Multi Targeting and Firming Multi Peptide Serum
10. Mild Skin Exfoliator 5% Lactic Acid + Hyaluronic Acid
11. Wrinkle and Fine Line Reducing Serum 10% Matrixyl
12. Skin Conditioning EGF Serum
13. Fine Line Correcting 0.2% Retinol Serum

I’ll go through each one, examine the ingredients and packaging etc and see how each Revolution Skin serum compares with The Ordinary counterpart, are they worth buying? Are they really The Ordinary dupes at all?

Revolution Skin- Review and How it Compares to the Ordinary

Skincare basically boils down to ingredients in packaging. I’m not going to buy the entire Revolution Skin range to check them all out, that would be excessive. Ive bought a couple of bits, purely so I can check out the textures. Some of the Revolution Skin products have no The Ordinary counterparts, I’ll go through those too because I’m bloody minded.

Revolution Skin Targeted Under Eye Serum 5% Caffeine + Hyaluronic Acid Vs The Ordinary Caffeine 5%  + ECGC

Caffeine is meant to reduce under eye puffiness. Some people swear by it, some people don’t find it does anything at all. If underage puffiness is an issue for you Caffeine is worth a try.

The comparison-

Revolution Skin Caffeine

• Comes in a clear bottle
• Active ingredients are Caffeine
• Costs £6 for 30mls from Revolution Skin

The Ordinary Caffeine

• Comes in a UV protected dropper bottle to protect the EGCG
• Active ingredients are Caffeine, EGCG (derived from green tea, a powerful anti oxidant) and Soy extract (an anti oxidant, skin hydrator)
• Costs £5.80 for 30mls from Deciem

The Ordinary’s version of the under eye depuffer comes with an added EGCG, so may have extra powers. And it’s 20 pence cheaper, which you could spend on something like a piece of paper or something.

Revolution Wrinkle and Fine Line Reducing Serum 10% Matrixyl Vs The Ordinary Matrixyl 10% + HA

The Matrixyl in this serum refers to a couple of peptides that may help reverse signs of aging. The peptides that make up Matrixyl are like messengers that tell the skin cells to firm up. They’re small enough to through to cells they need to get to and there are studies to say they might just work. You might find Matrixyl in other anti ageing skin creams and serums but in unknown quantities. A 10 % serum is a good strength and a safe bet for results. 

Revolution Skin Matrixyl

• In a clear dropper bottle
• Active ingredients- Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 (aka Matrixyl 3000 +Synthe’6)
• Costs £10 from Revolution

The Ordinary Matrixyl

• In a clear dropper bottle
• Active ingredients-Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 (aka Matrixyl 3000 + Synth’6) and Sodium Hyaluronate (for hydration)
• Costs £9.60 from Deciem

The two serums are pretty similar in terms of ingredients, The Ordinary has hydrating Sodium Hyaluronate to boot. The Ordinary Matrixyl is 40 pence cheaper. Revolution Skin’s Matrixyl is a reasonable replacement for TO, if for some reason you can’t get your hands on the Deciem version or if you’re looking for a replacement.

Revolution Skin Reship Seed Oil Gold Elixir Vs The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold Pressed Rosehip Seed Oil

Rosehip seed oil is full of fatty acids and vitamins. It’s got lots of vitamin A, making it like nature’s retinol. Lot’s of people report it helps with acne scarring and skin tone. Rosehip has a natural brown colour and a slightly fishy scent.

Revolution Skin Rosehip

• Comes in a clear bottle with rose gold accent
• Key ingredients- Rosa Rubiginosa oil, Grapeseed oil, Sweet Almond oil, Sunflower seed oil, Triglycerides, Limonene, Lemon Peel oil, Orange Peel oil, Colloidal Gold
• £10 for 30ml from Revolution 

The Ordinary Roseship

• Comes in a UV protected dropper bottle
• Ingredients- 100% organic cold pressed Rosa Canina oil
• £9.60 for 30mls from Deciem

Don’t buy the Revolution’s Roseship, for Christ’s sake. It’s an abomination. You don’t want to put citrus peel on your face. Don’t let anyone say you should. It has some different moisturising oils, but it’s not pure Roseship by any means. The colloidal gold is for prettiness I guess, rather than any skincare benefit.

Revolution Skin Blemish and Pore Refining Niacinamide 10% + Zinc PCA Serum Vs The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc PCA

Niacinamide also known as Vitamin B5 is a fantastic allrounder. It could be of benefit to all skin types. Niacinamide is hydrating, anti ageing, anti inflammatory, regulates oil, reduces acne aaaand helps with pigmentation. You’ll love it. 10 % is quite strong, some people find it makes their acne worse, it might be a good idea to mix it with something else when you start using it.

Revolution Skin Niacinamide

• Comes in a clear dropper bottle
• Active ingredients- Niacinamide, Zinc PCA (for oil regulation and help healing)
• Available for £6 from Revolution

The Ordinary Niacinamide

• Comes in a clear dropper bottle
• Active ingredients- Niacinamide, Zinc PCA, Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum (an antioxidant, good for anti ageing)
• £5 for 30mls from Deciem

The Revolution Skin version of Niacinamide is really very similar. This is one of the products I bought to suss the whole thing out.

I have to say the formula feels very similar. The Revolution version is slightly thinner in texture, same sort of colourless odourless gel though.

The Ordinary version is a pound cheaper and has the added benefit of an antioxidant added in the form of Tamarind. 

Revolution Skin Plumping and Hydrating 2% Hyaluronic Acid Serum Vs The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% +Vitamin B5

Hyaluronic Acid is the skin’s own plumping molecule. It attracts 1,000 times it’s own weight in water. It is what fillers are made of, usually. When smeared onto the skin it’s unlikely that any of the HA will be absorbed, the particles are too big. It simply serves to draw water to the skin’s surface and keep it hydrated.

I’m not that fussed on The Ordinary’s HA. I find it sticky, and I have other products that do a better job of keeping my skin hydrated- like Marine Hyaluronics by TO.

Revolution Skin Hyaluronic Acid

• Comes in a clear glass dropper bottle
• Active ingredients- Sodium Hyaluronate and Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer- 2 forms
• Costs £6 for 30mls from Revolution

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid

• Comes in a clear glass dropper bottle
• Active ingredients- Sodium Hyaluronate and Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer- 2 forms of HA, Panthenol aka vitamin B5 (for skin conditioning) and Ahnfeltia Concinna Extract (an algae extract that moisturises and is an antioxidant)
• Costs £5.90 for 30mls from Deciem

Again The Ordinary seems to have little bonus ingredients for that added touch. There’s only ten pence difference in the price. I’m not going to buy the Revolution’s HA just to see the texture difference but going by the ingredients, I bet they’re really similar.

Revolution Skin Mild Exfoliator 5% Lactic Acid plus Hyaluronic Acid Vs The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA

This is the other Revolution Skin product I splashed out on. Like Niacinamide, Lactic Acid is one of my all time faves. It’s gently exfoliating so can help with texture, acne and blocked pores. Lactic Acid is naturally found in our own skin, so it’s well tolerated. It also draws moisture into the skin and has hydrating properties. A 5% Lactic Acid is the perfect exfoliator for sensitive and dry skin types.

This is one of those skincare products you really need to use sunscreen alongside, as it increases your sensitivity to the sun.

Revolution Skin Lactic Acid 5%

• Comes in a clear glass dropper bottle
• Active ingredients- Lactic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Cross polymer, Anti inflammatory Antioxidant Tasmanian Pepperberry.
• £6 for 30mls at Revolution 

 The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5%

• Comes in a clear glass dropper bottle
• Active ingredients- Lactic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Cross polymer, Anti inflammatory Antioxidant Tasmanian Pepperberry.
• £5.50 for 30mls at Deciem

The Revolution and Ordinary versions of Lactic Acid 5% are really similar. The active ingredients are the same. They both have the addition of Hyaluronic Acid and Tasmanian Pepperberry. They look the same- the Pepperberry gives the same light apricot colour. They smell similar. 

I have the old version of The Ordinary’s Lactic Acid, apparently it’s become runnier of late because of a formula change. The texture of the Revolution’s Lactic is a light runny gel.

It’s a proper dupe, the only difference is 50p in The Ordinary’s favour.

Revolution Skin Fine Line Correcting Retinol 0.2% Serum vs The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% in Squalane

Everyone needs a retinoid in their life. Retinol and other Retinoids have the power to reverse signs of ageing and just improve the look of skin in general. They can be a bit tricky when you first start out- causing peeling and dryness. 

 You have to use a good sunscreen on a daily basis if you use Retinol, as they make you more sensitive to UV damage.

Revolution Skin Retinol

• Comes in a clear glass dropper bottle, This isn’t ideal as Retinol breaks down in sunlight.
• Key ingredients- Triglycerides (moisturising), Coconut oil, GrapeSeed Oil, Sunflower Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Retinol
• £6 for 30 ml from Revolution

The Ordinary Retinol

• Comes in a UV protected dropper bottle
• Key Ingredients- Squalane (a plant oil from olives, it doesn’t go off easily unlike some plant oils), Triglycerides, Retinol, Tomato Fruit Extract (antioxidant), Jojoba Oil (anti inflammatory and vitamin rich moisturising oil)
• £4.20 for 30 mms from Deciem

I would definitely always recommend The Ordinary’s Retinol over Revolution Skin’s. It’s superior in every way. TO’s has better ingredients. The packaging is better. Revolution skin’s Retinol is going to go off pretty quickly in that clear bottle. It contains coconut oil which is known to block pores and cause acne. Deciem also does stronger versions of Retinol so you can build up in strength.

Revolution Skin Multi Targeting and Firming Multi Peptide Serum Vs The Ordinary Buffet

These serums are based on peptides. Peptides are small molecules that signal to the skin to do something, or stop doing something. A multi peptide serum is a good addition to a skincare regimen to prevent ageing. Peptides won’t give instantaneous dramatic results but used long term they can help prevent visible ageing.

Revolution Skin Multi Peptide Serum

• Comes in a clear glass dropper bottle
• Key Ingredients-Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Dictate (Synake- a botox like peptide), Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38 (aka Matrixyl Synthe’6, it boosts collagen), Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 (Matrixyl 3000- signals to the skin to produce more collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid)
• Costs £10 for 30 mls from Revolution

The Ordinary Buffet

• Comes in a clear glass dropper bottle
• Key Ingredients- Probiotic base- Lactococcus Ferment Lysate to support skin health, Matrixyl 3000, Matrixyl Synthe’6, Synake, Argirelox (botox like peptide), Pentapeptide-18 (another botox like peptide), Relistase (a peptide that supports collagen), Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer (hydration), Sodium Hyaluronate  (hydration), Allantoin (soothing),  Natural Moisturising Factors- Sodium Lactate, Urea, Sodium PCA, PCA, Amino Acids (skin support), Fruit Sugars (hydration), Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin (skin lifting)
• Costs £12.70 for 30mls from Deciem

Deciem’s Multi Peptide serum has many more beneficial ingredients than the Revolution one. There isn’t anything bad in the Revolution version, but there just isn’t as much good stuff and there are fewer peptides. The Deciem one is £2.70 more expensive, but you get more for your money.

The Revolution “Buffet” doesn’t contain Castor Oil , some users of the Ordinary Buffet complained of “Buffet Beard”, possibly because of the Castor Oil, but I feel any hair growth is more likely to be because of the peptides themselves.

Revolution Skin- The Rest of The Line

Revolution Skin Superfruit Extract Antioxidant Rich Serum

• Has a pretty pink iridescent label, also acts as an iridescent primer as well as an antioxidant serum
• Ingredients-AQUA/WATER/EAU, PROPANEDIOL, GLYCERIN, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, PARFUM/FRAGRANCE, XANTHAN GUM, TAMARINDUS INDICA (TAMARIND) SEED POLYSACCHARIDE, SODIUM BENZOATE, MICA (CI 77019), POTASSIUM SORBATE, DISODIUM EDTA, SILICA, VACCINIUM ANGUSTIFOLIUM (BLUEBERRY) FRUIT EXTRACT, EUTERPE OLERACEA (CABBAGE PALM) FRUIT EXTRACT, LYCIUM CHINENSE (LYCIUM) FRUIT EXTRACT, SAMBUCUS NIGRA (ELDER) FRUIT EXTRACT, GLUCOSE, TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891).
• Contains antioxidant fruit extracts but also unfortunately has fragrance. Shame really, I quite liked the look of this.
• Costs £10 for 30mls from Revolution

Revolution Skin Skin Nourishing CBD Oil

• Contains oil from the hemp seed. This doesn’t contain any mind altering properties! Hemp Oil is moisturising and contains Omega 3 and 6 for soothing and repairing skin.
• Ingredients-CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, VITIS VINIFERA (GRAPE) SEED OIL, PRUNUS AMYGDALUS DULCIS (SWEET ALMOND) OIL, HELIANTHUS ANNUUS (SUNFLOWER) SEED OIL, COCOS NUCIFERA (COCONUT) OIL, HYDROGENATED VEGETABLE OIL, CANNABIS SATIVA (HEMP) SEED OIL, CANNABIDIOL.
• This is more of an oil blend that contains CBD oil rather than pure CBD oil (which I’m sure you can get hold of quite easily). It contains Coconut Oil, which is highly pore clogging
• Costs £10 for 30mls from Revolution

Revolution Skin Lightweight Hydrating Gel Cream

• Fragrance free gel moisturiser
• Ingredients-AQUA/WATER/EAU, CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, SHOREA STENOPTERA (BORNEO TALLOW NUT) SEED BUTTER, PHENOXYETHANOL, SODIUM ACRYLATES COPOLYMER, LECITHIN, TOCOPHEROL, CHLORPHENESIN, SODIUM HYALURONATE, CITRIC ACID
• Key ingredients are Borneo Tallow Nut- this is high in moisturising fatty acids. Also Hyaluronic Acid for hydration. It sounds like a pretty good moisturiser to me. It comes in a tub.
• £8 for 50mls from Revolution

Revolution Skin Gentle Quinoa Night Peeling Serum

• Billed as a gentle overnight skin brightener
• Ingredients-AQUA/WATER/EAU, ALCOHOL DENAT., GLYCERIN, PROPANEDIOL, ASCORBYL GLUCOSIDE, SODIUM BENZOATE, HYDROXYETHYLCELLULOSE, VACCINIUM MYRTILLUS (BILBERRY) FRUIT EXTRACT, POTASSIUM SORBATE, SACCHARUM OFFICINARUM (SUGAR CANE) EXTRACT, DISODIUM EDTA, CITRUS AURANTIUM DULCIS (ORANGE) FRUIT EXTRACT, CITRUS LIMON (LEMON) FRUIT EXTRACT, HYDROLYZED OPUNTIA FICUS INDICA FLOWER EXTRACT, CHENOPODIUM QUINOA (QUINOA) SEED EXTRACT, ACER SACCHARUM (SUGAR MAPLE) EXTRACT, ALOE BARBADENSIS LEAF JUICE, PHENOXYETHANOL, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN.
• Contains a brightening vitamin C derivative, antioxidant fruit extracts, soothing Aloe Vera, vitamin rich Quinoa. But also drying alcohol and potentially irritating citrus extract.
• Costs £8 for 30mls from Revolution

Revolution Skin Conditioning EGF Serum

• EGF aka Epidermal Growth Factor is naturally produced by skin and promotes wound healing and skin health.
• Ingredients-
• AQUA/WATER/EAU, PROPANEDIOL, GLYCERIN, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, XANTHAN GUM, SODIUM BENZOATE, POTASSIUM SORBATE, PHOSPHOLIPIDS, DISODIUM EDTA, LEUCONOSTOC/RADISH ROOT FERMENT FILTRATE, RH-OLIGOPEPTIDE-1
• Radish Root Ferment Filtrate is a natural anti microbial, rh-Oligopeptide-1 is the EGF. It would be nice to know what percentage EGF is in there, It would give us more information about how effective it’s likely to be. There are no bad ingredients in this. For more information on EGF check out this post
• Costs £10 for 30mls from Revolution

Revolution Skin Vs The Ordinary- Conclusion

Most of The Ordinary products that Revolution Skin has duped have superior ingredients. The Lactic Acid serum is really similar, there’s nothing to choose between them. 

Both brands are cruelty free, vegan and paraben free.

I wouldn’t recommend getting the Revolution Roseship because there are some irritating ingredients. Or the Retinol, because it’s not UV protected and Revolution have put Coconut Oil in it.

The Revolution packaging is a bit prettier, with it’s rose gold details. The main benefit of Revolution Skin is it’s availability. If you can get it easily in stores across Britain, that’s definitely one up on The Ordinary.

For more information on The Ordinary and how to incorporate the actives in the Revolution Skin range head to my The Ordinary Cheatsheet or The Deciem Chatroom