A simplified guide to choosing your first The Ordinary products based on your skin type. Which The Ordinary product is best for you based on your skin type? Try my product suggestion ‘app’ to find the best The Ordinary for you…

We’ve all been there, staring at the Deciem website, confused and excited, wondering what to get. You can’t just choose one product- who does that? Also there’s the free shipping for over £25 thing. So I’ve put together sample baskets for each skin type which amounts to enough to get free delivery. 

The Ordinary is very affordable, the products are fragrance, cruelty free and alcohol free. The concentrations of the active ingredients are plainly stated. It’s a fantastic brand but it’s difficult for a skincare newcomer to break into because there is no obvious ‘serum’ that fits a particular skin type. I’ve tried to lay things put simply so it’s easier for you to make your first purchase.

How to Determine Your Skin Type/Skin Complaint-

This may well be something you know broadly, but it’s definitely something that is subject to change depending on the season, time of month or time of life. But try and pop yourself into one category based on what bothers you the most.

There is a test to find your main skin type- wash your face, don’t use any products and observe after two hours- if your skin has produced a shiny oily layer all over then it’s oily, if it still feels dry then it is dry, if it’s dry in parts and oily just across the T zone then you have combination skin and if it feel comfortable and normal, then it’s normal. These are just your general broad types, but there are many skin issues that can occur as a result of poor skincare or genetics that could send you to The Ordinary’s door. Or if you’re the lucky possessor of decent skin it might be prevention that you’re after.

The Skin Issues-

• Sensitive– This is probably the most tricky type to deal with. Prone to redness, reactions and rashiness. It could be certain things that bother you- ingredients like fragrance and preservatives, it could be anything including plant extracts. The Ordinary is a good brand for sensitive skin, they are transparent with their ingredients and nothing contains fragrance or anything unnecessary- the fewer ingredients the better.
• Rosacea– Causes redness, flushing, visible blood vessels and spots. It comes and goes in an unpredictable fashion. Hopefully you will have already seen a doctor if you suspect that you have rosacea, you’re best off with dermatological help. 
• Dry– If your skin drinks up anything you put on it, appears dull and flaky, it doesn’t seem to produce oil of it’s own then it is dry.
• Eczema prone– The key feature of eczema is itchiness. The skin is dry, inflamed and compromised.
• Excess oil– Shiny after minutes of washing, makeup doesn’t stay on, prone to clogged pores and more likely to become spotty. There are upsides to this skin type, you’re probably going to age slower for one, as your skin is naturally moisturised minute by minute.
• Acne prone– When the skin produces so much oil that the pores get blocked and infected, the spots can be on the surface as whiteheads or deep under the surface as cysts.
• Bumpy/textured– Closed comedones as they are called can lead to bumpy uneven skin. It’s a type of acne but doesn’t get inflamed, red and painful like inflammatory acne.
• Clogged/blocked pores– Open comedones or blackheads are common in those with oily skin. Not to be confused with sebaceous filaments which everyone has over their nose.
• Pigmented– Could be due to sun exposure, hormones or inflammation, causing brown or grey patches. More common in darker skins. 
• Melasma– Similar to general pigmentation but more common in women, tends to have a symmetrical appearance and can be deeper in the skin than other types of pigmentation therefore more difficult to treat. 
• Wrinkles– Deep or fine and superficial, Could be due to ageing, dryness, dehydration, movement of muscles or sun damage.
• Dehydrated– Can happen to any skin type and is difficult to diagnose. worsened by overzealous cleansing, heat, air conditioning, sunburn… It is a temporary condition that can be helped enormously with correct skincare. Causes tight, uncomfortable creepy skin.
• Compromised– Similar to dehydrated, the moisture barrier is damaged by harsh skincare causing redness, discomfort, dryness and possible breakouts.
• Acne scarred– Acne that has healed leaving pits, bumps and pigmented spots.
• Dark circles– Very difficult to solve, could be genetic pigmentation or thin skin making the skin under the eye look dark.
• Puffiness– Oedema/swelling under the eyes making the skin look puffy and giving a tired appearance.

For example my skin has a delightful combination of pigmentation, acne, excess oil and aging. I tend to focus my skincare efforts towards acne as this is more painful and obvious to me. Also, some of the acne treatments can help pigmentation and aging- such as retinoids, niacinamide and azeleic acid.

The Best The Ordinary Products

I have a few favourite The Ordinary products that I would recommend people try. All of The Ordinary are not the same in terms of texture, results and ease of use. If you’re just starting out there are a few I would recommend to everyone because they target a few problems, feel nice and don’t have tricky conflicts-

I have tried all of The Ordinary (as well as a lot of Hylamide and NIOD) and these are my absolute favourites-

• Marine Hyaluronics– A light hydrator which is great for supporting healthy skin and giving plumpness. It has no conflicts, works for all skin types and can be used to dissolve the vitamin C powder. Marine Hyaluronics £5.90 for 30mls
• Amino Acids + B5– Has an oilier texture than Marine Hyaluronics, good for supporting the skin barrier. It has no conflicts and works for all skin types. Amino Acids + B5 £5.90 for 30mls
• Niacinamide 10% + Zinc– Niacinamide has a lot of uses- it’s good for acne, inflammation, hydration, pigmentation, aging. Conflicts with pure vitamin C, although there is some controversy about this. Niacinamide 10% +B5 £5 for 30mls
• Lactic Acid 10%– This is my favourite exfoliator, it’s gentler than glycolic acid and more hydrating. It’s less likely to cause irritation than glycolic or salicylic and more effective than mandelic. Conflicts with peptides and EUK-134. Lactic Acid 10% +HA £5.80 for 30mls
• Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate 10%– I love this stuff, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate + Vitamin F 20% is probably an equal favourite. It’s an antioxidant and can help with pigmentation but also works as a moisturiser. It sinks in an makes a great base for sunscreen and makeup. MAP 10% for 30mls
• Alpha Lipoic Acid 5%– A serum with an oily texture. It’s to be used at night on it’s own and gives a nice glowing complexion the next day. It has a really satisfying warming sensation to it. It’s only £5.90, compared with other Alpha Lipoic Acid containing products (eg Dr Perricone costs around £60 for a serum containing ALA). Alpha Lipoic Acid 5% £5.90 for 30mls
• B Oil– This is my favourite oil to recommend (see my review of B Oil). I’ve stopped using oils all together due to concerns that they are clogging my pores. My skin has been better since I stopped using them in all honesty. B Oil £8.90 for 30mls

You are also going to need a good cleanser and a good SPF. I have recently written a post on cleansers that will help you choose the right one or you. The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser is excellent for all skin types. The Ordinary sunscreen- Mineral Filters is a disappointment, it’s very white and heavy. I have other sunscreen recommendations that work better. I’m also not super keen on the Hyaluronic Acid 2%, I find it sticky and don’t think it does a great job of hydrating.

The Ordinary Best Product For Your Skin Type ‘App’ Thingy

I have put together this quick questionnaire to give you the best products based on your skin type and age. It’s just to give you a quick guide, there are many different combinations of products that would work so if you fancy trying something different, that’s fine.

The only issues to be aware of when putting together a regimen is that it’s best not to combine some products with others-

• EUK-134 can’t be used with acids or pure vitamin C
• Peptides can’t be used with acids or pure vitamin C
• Copper peptide can’t be used with acids, vitamin C or strong antioxidants (Alpha Lipoic Acid, Resveratrol + Ferulic Acid and EUK 134).
• Niacinamide and pure vitamin C shouldn’t be used together

The Deciem Chatroom has a good table for checking conflicts.

Which The Ordinary Products Should You Get For Your Skin Type

I know that actives get all the glory and a lot of people go hell for leather on the acids, but hydration and barrier support is just as important as exfoliation. Prevention is far better than a cure, but unfortunately I won’t be recommending The Ordinary sunscreen any time soon so you’ll have to look elsewhere for that (links to my sunscreen recs are above).

So, when filling up your basket you could go for the Squalane Cleanser as it suits all skin types, a hydrator, barrier support, an antioxidant and an active based on your skin type. This will make up a nice routine to try and you can play around with the order and make adjustments once you have assessed how your skin responds. I’ve put together a handy couple of tables that lay everything out-

Which The Ordinary Oil is Best For Me

There are definitely products you can substitute as you wish, just be mindful of conflicts. There are no hard and fast rules but try not to overdo it with the acids and keep a close eye on your skin to check for response. A patch test and slow introduction is always a good idea. 

The bonus part of The Ordinary is the low price, which enables experimentation. For example the Acne row of the product table costs £36.70 for all six products. 

I hope I have helped guide you to to make some nice purchases and helped find the best The Ordinary products for your skin type and needs. For more information head to The Ordinary chatroom on FaceBook or email Deciem for a personalised regimen. Don’t email me asking for a regimen- I’m 9 months pregnant with my third child, time is rather on the thin side at the mo! (My post contains affiliate links which means that by clicking and spending through my blog I get a small amount of money that goes back into my blog at no extra cost to you)