The Best The Ordinary Products For Blemish-Prone Skin

The Ordinary is well known for its affordable and effective single-ingredient skincare products. Their ‘does what it says on the tin’ approach to skincare has won the brand millions of avid fans worldwide and helped a lot of us get to the bottom of ingredients and their benefits. But if you have blemish-prone skin, which The Ordinary products are best for helping and not hindering your skin?

We spoke with The Ordinary’s Scientific Communications Manager and skin expert, Joe Basham, to get some insider tips for those with blemish-prone skin. So if you regularly experience blemishes, congestion, and post-blemish marks, discover the dos and don’ts, and the best The Ordinary products for blemish-prone skin.

Squeezing blemishes and pimples is potentially the biggest temptation to avoid, but Joe warns us to resist the urge: “Everyone says it, but there is reasoning behind it. Squeezing or picking pimples can cause stress in the surrounding area that may lead to stubborn discolouration that can stick around.”

Two of the most well-known and effective ingredients for blemish-prone skin are niacinamide and salicylic acid. Joe from The Ordinary told us: “Niacinamide, also known as vitamin B3, is a universal ingredient that targets multiple concerns including excess oil, pore appearance, uneven tone and texture, all while supporting the skin barrier. Salicylic Acid, is a Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA) which helps to exfoliate within the pores to help remove congestion that can build up and lead to pimples.”

Squeezing blemishes and pimples is potentially the biggest temptation to avoid, but Joe warns us to resist the urge: “Everyone says it, but there is reasoning behind it. Squeezing or picking pimples can cause stress in the surrounding area that may lead to stubborn discolouration that can stick around.”

If you’re on a “my best skin” journey, knowing which products and ingredients to avoid as well as reach for is just as important. Joe recommends avoiding stripping cleansers, high pH products like soap, and over-exfoliating. He explains “They can all cause disruption to the skin barrier and leave skin feeling irritated and tight, exacerbating existing concerns. Opt for gentle cleansers and avoid over-using direct acids within your routine to minimise disruption to the skin barrier.”

From products designed to reduce the appearance of blemishes, to gentle exfoliators, here are the best The Ordinary products for blemish-prone skin.

Niacinamide has multiple benefits for blemish-prone skin because it functions in a number of different ways. The ingredient works to minimise excess oils that combine with dead skin to clog pores, and lead to spots, while also reducing the appearance of pores and uneven texture for a smoother appearance. To try the hero ingredient for yourself, opt for The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%.

When your skin is breakout-prone, sometimes the last thing you want to do is smother on a rich, creamy moisturiser. Instead, it’s recommended to opt for lighter gel-textured formulas, which still effectively hydrate skin without clogging pores. This light, soothing Natural Moisturising Factors + BETA Glucan moisturiser absorbs quickly and provides moisture without leaving a greasy residue.

This soothing Glucoside Foaming Cleanser is a gel cleanser and is perfect for deeply cleansing skin that’s prone to congestion, oiliness, and enlarged pores. Thanks to a gently foaming formula, it wicks away oil, dirt, grease, and makeup residue, leaving skin feeling totally refreshed.

Salicylic acid is a BHA (also a chemical exfoliant) which acts a little differently to AHAs as it’s oil-soluble. This means it can penetrate deeper into skin and break down excess oil and sebum that’s clogging pores. Salicylic acid works alongside charcoal and kaolin to absorb excess oil and impurities, for a clearer, smoother and more even appearance. Try it with The Ordinary’s Salicylic Acid 2% Masque.

Mandelic acid is an AHA (a chemical exfoliant) which gently exfoliates the upper layers of the skin to remove dead skin cells. In doing so, it can help to keep pores clear of buildup and smooth rough skin texture. Plus, unlike stronger AHAs like glycolic and lactic acids, mandelic acid is very gentle meaning it’s less likely to irritate blemish-prone skin. Try the ingredient for yourself with The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA.

Because salicylic acid is one of the most effective ingredients for targeting congestion, it’s often found in targeted treatments for blemish-prone skin. This water-based Salicylic Acid 2% Solution exfoliates pores for brighter, smoother and clearer skin.

Designed to be applied all over the face, this gentle Salicylic Acid 2% Anhydrous Solution provides the powerful exfoliating and skin-clearing benefits of salicylic acid via a soothing squalane blend – which means it also helps to soothe and nourish skin at the same time.

The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% is another good all-rounder. It has a lower irritation potential than other direct acids, making it ideal for daily use, and helps even skin tone and texture for smoother, more even skin.

If you have post-blemish marks you’d like to fade and reduce the appearance of pores, then the Aloe 2% + NAG 2% Solution could be your new favourite serum. It features N-acetyl glucosamine, known as NAG, which has been shown to target uneven skin tone. Aloe barbadensis leaf juice is also included to hydrates skin, and peptide technology to target uneven skin tone and support the skin barrier.

The Balancing & Clarifying Serum from The Ordinary leaves skin visibly clearer, which is just the ticket for blemish-prone skin. A bit of a wonder product, it reduces the look of enlarged pores, oil, and uneven texture, as well as minimising shine and hydrating the skin’s barrier to avoid stripping skin. It also gets to work reducing visible post-blemish marks to leave skin looking more radiant and brighter.