The Ordinary Skin Care Regimen For Acne Prone Skin

Review & First Impression : The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution, Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Blemish formula, Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion

Natural Remedies did not work for me to great extent to control acne. I remember how clogged my skin had been all these years when I was trying to be as mild with my skin as I could. Within last few months, I realized, Acne prone skin, does not need mild care because it is under attack of p-bacteria, a bacteria that feeds upon clogged pores. Not every acid is bad. Acid could be good, specially for a broken skin. I also discovered that instead of promoting BHA as the savior of acne prone skin, AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acids) do better.

If you remember, I have been running clear of clogged pores and hence acne since I started using Globus Purifying Glycolic and Salicylic Acid face wash and Kaya Acne Clear toner. Recently I also introduced The Ordinary skin care line which is mostly acids. This introduction has been quite gradual because I did not want to overdo it, which I am quite prone to. The Ordinary is a brand from DCIEM which came into existence back in 2013 only. The brand has several lines for beauty concerns available at very reasonable prices.

The Ordinary – The Abnormal Company

So, the people at The Ordinary, are all into chemistry and bio chemistry and that’s how they bring out products that are mostly acids. But these acids are not to burn your skin but differ in strength so that you can start from the mil version and go higher as your skin gets used to it. They have several products such as Retiniods(varying in strength), Vitamin C, Direct Acids, Antioxidants, Hydrators, Sun care & Hair care.

This is the first time I am using The Ordinary products. I got my hands on The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution, Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Blemish formula , Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion, LHA 5% & LHA 10%. I have not started using LHA so it will be excluded from today’s article. But literally it was a big step for me to include even these three products given how fragile my skin is.

The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution

Glycolic acid is not new to my skin. I  have used a lot of glycolic acid based face washes before. But this is the first time, I have been using a toner that too with such a high percentage (7%). It literally stings whenever I put this on my skin. I use it on alternate nights. I still have Kaya Acne Free toner, which contains Mandelic acid, another great exfolliant but milder than Glycolic acid. So, this way, I am exfoliating my skin using acids every single night while trying to balance between a strong acid and a milder one.

The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution has water like clear consistency. It’s very runny. So it’s easy to work with it. It spreads easily and sinks into my skin within a minute. Even though I feel a sting, it does not turn my skin red or dry it out because it contains Aloe Vera & Ginseng also.

The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution is strong. On a skin that does not have any experience with Glycolic or any such acid, it might feel really harsh. So going slow is the key.

Packaging: The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution, comes in a transparent bottle of 240 ml. It has a nozzle fitted at the top to that you can squeeze out the product easily. There is definitely no wastage with such an efficient packaging. Ingredients & other information about the toner are mentioned on the outer packaging. This 240 ml bottle would last for at least 3 months or more the way I have been using it.

Price: You can buy the product from The Ordinary at about 12$. The product is also available on Amazon.

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Blemish Formula

Niacinamide is a form of Vitamin B3(Niacin) and it is a great ingredient for acne prone skin. It brings down inflammation and helps to heal the skin faster. Topical application of Niacinamide is a common treatment for acne. Similarly, Zinc is great for acne prone skin as it kills bacteria and improves skin’s immune system.

Combining these two ingredients into an anti blemish formula is definitely a great idea. The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Blemish Formula, is another beautiful product that is good for acne prone skin. It supplies vitamins & minerals to broken skin which heels it faster. Since I started using this solution, I feel great about my skin. I use it once every morning before using my sunscreen over it.

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Blemish Formula,  is a clear water like solution that is non sticky and non oily. But somehow it manages to give my cheeks bit of sheen which I admire in this winter time. Not sure how my skin is going to behave in the upcoming summer season. But, I am sure my skin would be at it’s best if I kept on using this solution.

Packaging:

The Ordinary products come in glass bottle with a white label. There is a dropper to take out the product fitted on the mouth of the bottle. So it’s quite convenient and hygienic as well. I just love such kind of packaging. The ingredients and other details are provided on the outer packaging of the product.

Price: Priced at 9.80$, for 30ml, it’s very affordable. Buy at The Ordinary or Amazon.

The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion

It’s my first time with Retinoids too. I had no idea if it would be a great idea to pick this product but now I feel it’s great that I did. It’s non sticky and non oily 2 %  Retinoid emulsion which means the strength is very mild. The whole 30ml solution contains only 2% emulsion. I am not sure how effective this could be but I think it’s great that I am starting with a low percentage to get my skin used to it.

The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion, is off white in color and quite easy to spread on skin. It sinks into skin within a minute and skin feels matte afterwords. I do not feel to apply any moisturizer afterwords, but I anyway I apply. This solution is supposed to help with wrinkles and improve skin texture. I don’t have wrinkles yet but I would like to see if it could help me with my skin texture that has been deteriorated due to acne.

Packaging : The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion also comes in a 30 ml glass bottle with a dropper. The bottle is dark colored so that it the solution does not react with light.

Price: Priced at 14.90$ for 30 ml. Buy at The Ordinary or Amazon.

The Ordinary products are very specific to concerns. If you pick the right products, you might never need to look for any other brand. Just make sure to start from least strength and then add more as you get comfortable. I will update this page after a month or so, to let you know guys how my skin liked these solutions.

 

This was my first impression of The Ordinary. I am liking it so far and hope to stick tot he brand and explore more of it. If you have any experience with the brand or any questions, do let me know here.

Nisha Malik ❤

Facebook | Instagram