As I reflect back on writing this post….I’ve come back to the top to say….grab a cuppa….have a seat…you’re in for a long read!  Hahaha!

My first post about the products from The Ordinary was back in March….The Ordinary Skincare, everyone, blogger or not, was raving about new releases from this highly affordable, no frills brand.    Now, in July, there’s no let up in the excitement that new product announcements create from this brand as they release serums, onto primers, onto acids, onto foundations onto the next anticipated product of SPF……the list goes on and on!

I have been using The Ordinary for around 5 months now and have made my mind up on some products, not sure on others and am desperate to try some more!

So…lets start….(some of this information is in my previous post also)

Buffet

 

Buffet is a peptide fuelled anti ageing serum that contains: (as taken from The Ordinary website)

• Matrixyl 3,000 peptide complex with palmitoyl-pentapeptide 35
• Matrixyl Synthe’6 peptide complex with palmitoyl tripeptide-38
• Syn-Ake peptide complex with dipeptide diaminobutyroyl benzylamide diacetate
• Relistase peptide complex with acetylarginyltryptophyl diphenylglycine
• Argirelox peptide complex with acetyl hexapeptide-8, pentapeptide-18
• Probiotic complex with lactococcus lactis lysate
• A base of 11 skin-friendly amino acids and multiple hyaluronic acid complex

This lightweight serum is designed to target multiple signs of ageing.  I use just one drop of this serum both morning and night as part of my skincare routine.    The clear liquid has no harsh smell, absorbs quickly and does not leave my skin tacky.  I generally don’t need to leave more than a minute before I can apply the next layer of my skincare.

Since using, I have found this serum does not interfere with the application of any other product that I use.  It doesn’t cause pilling or any other adverse affect on my skin.

The main area I have noticed a difference where I believe this product comes in, is with lines on my forehead.  I have to admit, I frown quite a bit!  Haha!  Stress-induced, meaning I was noticing lines appearing on my forehead.  When I was considering my review of this product, I realised the difference I personally have noticed in that area.

I am on my second bottle of Buffet and am about to order my third.  This is definitely a staple in my routine and given the ingredient list, it’s possible to knock a product or two out of my routine too.

Hyaluronic Acid & B5

Having oily/combination skin, hydration can often be ignored.  Just because skin isn’t ‘dry’ doesn’t mean it is ‘hydrated’.

Hyaluronic Acid, HA, can attract up to 1,000 times its weight in water. The molecular size of HA determines its depth of delivery in the skin. This formulation combines low, medium and high-molecular weight HA, as well as a next-generation HA crosspolymer at a combined concentration of 2% for multi-depth hydration in an oil-free formula.  This HA system is supported with the addition of Vitamin B5 which also enhances surface hydration.   Taken from Victoriahealth.com

This is another clear, lightweight, serum of which I use one drop all over my face.  When I first started using this, I was using a bit too much and it was leaving a sticky residue behind.  Using one drop … adding more if needed fixed this.  It doesn’t have much slip and does work into the skin quite quickly but takes a little longer to dry than Buffet for example.

I was using this morning and night but I have been looking more at what my skin needs at the time I apply my skincare rather than having products 1,2,3,4,5,6 and 7 and applying them religiously twice a day!  I have found I only really use this at night and in honesty, I am thinking that as much as this is a lovely serum, I don’t think I ‘need’ it in my routine.  This is because the Buffet serum does contain Hyaluronic Acid, as does the hydrating mist part of my routine.  There are no adverse effects happening on my skin, and I will know if I need it when I stop using it!  I will continue to use what I have on this basis….it’s not harming my skin…and it’s potentially something I would reintroduce in the winter to give my skin that extra hydrating boost.  This is my second bottle of this serum.  At the moment I will be leaving it at that (unless I notice a difference when I stop using it).

Niacinamide & Zinc

This was not a product that I had when I wrote my initial review of The Ordinary products.

Another clear, lightweight, water based serum, I had high hopes for this one!  Niacinamide is Vitamin B3 and is used to reduce blemishes and congestion in the skin, supported by Zinc to help balance sebum also.   My skin isn’t too bad in terms of blemishes, especially when I compare it to even a year ago.  However, I do suffer with hormonal breakouts on my chin and I was hoping that this serum was going to help with that.  In my opinion, I am not 100% convinced that it is helping at all but The Ordinary do point out that this is not an acne treatment.  It feels nice on the skin and it’s possible it is helping with how bad my chin was getting, but I think I perhaps need to try something like an acid rather than this, something a little more direct!

One thing I noticed with this serum is that despite being water based…when applying it to the skin, it was almost a little ‘soapy’ for want of a better description.  Having spoken to other users of this, I know I am not the only one to experience this….yet I’m not sure of the cause.   Again I will use the rest of this bottle and see what my skin is like when I stop using it.  If my chin gets worse again then I know this was helping but unfortunately it’s not at the top of my list of products to rush and replace!

Being a part of group discussions on product interactions, so many people comment about the interaction of Vitamin C products with Niacinamide.  If you read the website information, it is pure Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) that is advised may be degraded if you use them together.   Some people are of the opinion that your skin will react badly to it and so on. I use a moisturiser booster that contains vitamin C straight after this serum.  Based on what I have read, vitamin C derivatives are not affected by using them alongside Niacinamide, however L-ascorbic acid can be.

Two interesting links for the thoughts on using these together are:

Caroline Hirons Skincare Q&A youtube video and also Kind of Stephen which is a very scientific but summarised information sheet on this…have a read!

Advanced Retinoid

This is my first bottle of this and it is lasting a while as it is a nighttime product only.

I use one drop of this every other night whilst my skin gets used to it.  I am in no hurry to increase it to nightly as I do use other products that I also enjoy but at some point I will step it up.

It is a milky-white liquid, that I’ll be honest, has quite an unpleasant smell to it, however, this does not last!  (Thank goodness!)   Once absorbed, you cannot detect the strange smell that comes with this serum!

The science behind retinols and retinoids isn’t really in my domain however what I do understand is that retinols are used as an anti-ageing product thanks to their cell turnover and elastin production qualities.  Retinols are long associated with purging of the skin, sensitivities, reactions and so on, generally from going in too harsh from using nothing to then hitting the skin hard!  Skin needs to be introduced to these products and from what I have seen when looking into these products, the Advanced Retinoid serum is a stable, more gentle formula to begin with.

Please check The Ordinary website for the technical side of this product!  In terms of a user view, this product I believe is working wonders for my skin.  It is designed for anti-ageing and acne prone skin, so again this serum may well be the reason I am noticing a difference in my skin.  This product / type of product will be staying in my routine and at some point I will move to retinols but I don’t feel the need to at the moment.

Major thing to note and I have mentioned this before…..using acids, retinoids, retinols and any other resurfacing products will increase the skin’s sensitivity to the sun…..SPF is vital!

Cold-Pressed Rosehip Oil

I’m starting this one with…..the smell isn’t great but it feels lovely on the skin!  Ha!  I just wanted to get that out there….it has a very strange smell to it but given how lovely this product is, I am willing to put up with it and I would highly recommend trying it however off putting the smell is!

Being cold-pressed, the process in producing this oil has retained the  linoleic and linolenic acids and pro-vitamin A which would otherwise be degraded when subjected to a heating process.  This oil helps to reduce signs of ageing.  It is classed as a ‘daily support formula for all skin types’.  Personally I love this oil used on top of the Advanced Retinoid.  Again I only use 1 drop of this and find it is plenty for covering my face.  If there’s something to note about this oil it is that the only way I have found I can apply it is to pat it on.  Massaging it into the skin causes pilling no matter how little product I use.  Patting it on is absolutely fine.  This does of course mean it sits on the skin much longer but in honesty, I am not bothered by that…I am applying it and going to sleep!    Some people do also use a moisturiser over the top of this….I don’t but that is purely because I don’t feel my skin needs it.

Caffeine solution

This is a new one for me so I cannot add much comment on this one other than to say I was given this by a friend who noticed no difference in using it.  I have been using it morning and night around the eye contour.  I have to admit there is nothing to report on this as yet.  It is a serum-like formula which can be a little tricky to apply to just the eye contour!  I suffer with dry under eyes which is more my concern rather than dark circles and puffiness.  The skin under my eyes is starting to feel a little softer but can I put it down to this solution so quickly?  I am not sure so will aim to report back on this.  Here is the info for this product:

This light-textured formula contains an extremely high 5% concentration of caffeine, supplemented with highly-purified Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside (EGCG) from green tea leaves. Independent studies have shown that topical use of each of caffeine and EGCG can help reduce looks of puffiness and of dark circles in the eye contour. Additional studies have shown that caffeine can also reduce the appearance of cellulite.   The Ordinary

I was going to talk about the High Adherence Silicone Primer and Colours but to be honest, my views on these haven’t changed and I’m sure if you followed my note at the top and made a cuppa before reading this…you’d be needing a top up by now anyway!

Please follow these links to see my thoughts on The Ordinary Foundation First Impressions Review and The Ordinary High Adherence Silicone Primer – a review!

Final thoughts

The Ordinary is certainly a brand that has something for everyone.  If you are unsure on what you need to use or what may suit your skin, send them an email and they will send you a suggested regime.   It is quite daunting to look at such a scientific looking website and try to figure our the difference in ingredients and what they might do for your skin and what you can and can’t mix it with.  I think there’s a lot of people out there who are buying a basket full of products not knowing a)….if it will suit their skin concerns and b)…how the products will fit into their current routine.

There are plenty of products from The Ordinary that may well suit my skin concerns but in honesty, I love other products too!  I enjoy skincare and don’t necessarily use the same thing every morning and every evening.  The products I would like to try next are Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution and Natural Moisturising Factors…..have you used either of these?  If so what are your thoughts?

For anyone interested, my typical routine placing these products are;

AM: Cleansing, Acid Tone, Hydrating Tone, Buffet, Niacinamide, Moisturiser, Caffiene, SPF 

PM: Cleansing (double cleanse if necessary), Acid Tone, Hydrating Tone, Buffet, Hyaluronic Acid, Advanced Retinoid (every other night), Rosehip oil (on same night as Advanced Retinoid).  (Alternate nights to this would be another serum plus moisturiser)

If you have made it to the end of this post, Thank You and Well Done!  I appreciate you taking the time to read my thoughts on these products.

Have you used any products from The Ordinary?

Thanks for reading! Let me know what you think in the comments box below or on my facebook page. Follow me on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook…links below xx

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