From A-Z: Everything You Need To Know About The Ordinary

From A-Z – how to apply, when to apply, what it does – everything you need to know about every skincare product from The Ordinary.

– Best for pigmented and scarred skin​

– Alpha arbutin is a (safe!) skin lightening ingredient

– Helps to fade the red marks left behind by breakouts​

– Includes hyaluronic acid to help the alpha arbutin to absorb properly

– Use morning and/or night

– Apply to clean skin after toners and water-based serums and before oil-based serums and moisturisers

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– Best for fading pigmentation and scarring​

– Ascorbic acid is derived from vitamin C – it helps to brighten skin, fade pigmentation, shield skin from the impact of pollution, and keep skin looking younger​

– Alpha arbutin is a safe skin-lightening ingredient which fades scars and marks

– Use morning and/or night (remember to use sun protection if using in the morning)

– Apply to clean skin after toners and water-based serums and before oil-based serums and moisturisers

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– Best for improving skin texture and colour if you have bumps/swelling/rosacea/acne etc​

– Anti-inflammatory’ so brings down redness and swelling​

– Kills bacteria, fades pigmentation (red marks left behind from spots) and brightens dull skin

– Use morning and/or night (remember to use sun protection if using in the morning)

– Apply to clean skin after toners and water-based serums and before oil-based serums and moisturisers

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– Best for anti-aging/mature skin​

– A lightweight peptide serum – the skincare equivalent of a food buffet!​

– A blend of peptides (proteins that strengthen skin) and amino acids (water-binding agents with antioxidant properties)​

– Targets dehydration, lines, wrinkles, and sun pigmentation​

– Copper peptides are not a preventative, they focus on repairing and improving existing problems

– Use morning and/or night

– Apply to clean skin after toners and water-based serums and before oil-based serums and moisturisers.

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– Best for dark circles and puffiness in the eye area​

– A powerful blend of antioxidants and anti-inflammatories​

– Caffeine can easily penetrate skin and has a constricting effect on blood vessels which tightens loose skin​

– EGCG is sourced from green tea – it has skin-soothing and antioxidant properties and is particularly good at improving the appearance of sun-damaged skin

– Massage a small amount into the eye contour, morning and night

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– Best for anti-aging/mature skin​

– A strong and stable form of vitamin C which ahs faster visible results​

– Helps to achieve a radiant, healthy-looking skin tone

– Use morning and/or night

– Apply to clean skin after toners and water-based serums and before oil-based serums and moisturisers

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– Best for fading marks and scars, unblocking pores, and brightening dull skin​

– One of the strongest AHAs (chemical exfoliants) because it has small molecules which can absorb deep into skin.

– Glycolic acid dissolves the substance that holds cells together, so the dead skin cells drop away, leaving the top layer of the skin clearer and brighter​

– Use this as a toner, applying with a cotton pad to clean, dry skin

– Apply in the evening, and use no more than once a day (remember to use sun protection the morning after)

– After cleansing, use a cotton pad to sweep the formula across your face (avoid the eyes and lips)

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– Best for treating wrinkles, pigmentation, and acne​

– Derived from vitamin A​

– Stimulates cell turnover ro reveal fresh, healthy skin cells​

– Apply in your evening routine as sunlight deactivates​

– Apply to clean, dry skin​

– Retinol can lead to dryness, redness, and flaking, so you should slowly ease into using​

– Don’t use with exfoliating acids​

– Gentler and less irritating than retinol (best for beginners)

– Available in 5% strength

– Use in the evening and not in conjunction with any other retinol products (remember to use sun protection the following morning)

– Apply to clean skin after toners and water-based serums and before oil-based serums and moisturisers

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– Best for dry/dehydrated skin but all skintypes can benefit from using this

– Draws moisture into the skin and retains it better than any other hydrator​

– Each molecule has the ability to hold up to 1000x its weight in water​

– Makes your moisturiser more effective

– Use morning and/or evening

– Apply to skin after cleansing and before serums, oils, and moisturisers

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– Best for fading marks/scars, unblocking pores, and brightening dull skin​

– An AHA (chemical exfoliant) which works in the same way as glycolic acid but isnt as strong (the molecules are bigger so they can’t penetrate as deeply)​

– Dissolves the substance that holds cells together, so the dead skin cells drop away, leaving the top layer of the skin clearer and brighter

– Use in the evening (remember to use sun protection the following morning)

– Apply to clean skin after toners and water-based serums and before oil-based serums and moisturisers

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– Best for anti-aging/mature skin​

– A peptide, but more effective than most because it continues to work after application​

– Stimulates collagen production (collagen plumps skin up which smooths out lines and wrinkles and makes them look less obvious)

– Use morning and/or night

– Apply to clean skin after toners and water-based serums and before oil-based serums and moisturisers.

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– Best for dry/dehydrated skin, especially if skin is visibly dry, flaky, and tight-feeling​

– Mimics substances naturally produced by the skin’s uppermost layers ​

– Keeps skin smooth, hydrated, supple, and healthy looking​

– Reinforces skin’s surface so skin looks replenished and younger​

– Includes amino acids, lactic acids, and peptides

– Use morning and/or evening

– Apply to clean skin after toners, serum, and oils

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– Best for enlarged pores/blackheads/acne​

– Regulates sebum production and clears congesiont to prevent blackheads and blemishes​

– Zinc helps to heal skin​

– Most spot treatments contain this ingredient but not in as high a quantity

– Use morning and/or night

– Apply to clean skin after toners and water-based serums and before oil-based serums and moisturisers.

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– Best for treating wrinkles, pigmentation, and acne​

– Derived from vitamin A​

– Stimulates cell turnover ro reveal fresh, healthy skin cells​

– Apply in your evening routine as sunlight deactivates ​

– Apply to clean, dry skin​

– Retinol can lead to dryness, redness, and flaking, so you should slowly ease into using​

– Don’t use retinols with exfoliating acids

– Available in different strengths so you can build up your use

– Use in the evening (remember to use sun protection the following morning)

– Apply to clean skin after toners and water-based serums and before oil-based serums and moisturisers

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– Best for dry skin and hair​

– Rich in vitamins C and E and fatty acids (so amazing for hydration)​

– Massage into dry/flaky areas of skin or the dry ends of your hair​

– Absorbs quickly because it’s a dry oil

– Use in the evening

– Apply to clean skin after toners and water-based serums and before moisturisers

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– Best for breakout-prone skin​

– A BHA which helps to shed dead skin and exfoliate inside the pore as well as on the surface of the skin​

– Address the causes of acne and breakouts​

– Effective for reducing breakouts, blackheads, and whiteheads

– Use morning and/or night (remember to use sun protection if using in the morning)

– Apply in a small dot directly to spots

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– Best for dry/dehydrated skin​

– Natural hydrating ingredient which prevents moisture loss and hydrates skin in the long-term​

– Can also be used in hair for heat defence

– Use morning and/or night

– Apply to clean skin after toners and water-based serums and before oil-based serums and moisturisers.

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– Best for dull skin that needs brightening​

– This is a very high concentration of Vitamin C​

– Vitamin C is only effective in a concentration of 20% or more​

– Helps to brighten dull skin and helps with scars too​

– Creamy texture can be mixed with moisturiser

– Use morning and/or night

– Apply to clean skin after toners and water-based serums and before oil-based serums and moisturisers

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