The Ordinary – A Recommended Routine For Every Skin Type

~ detailorientedbeauty

(This post is not an ad, sponsored or paid for and does not contain any affiliate links. All products sent for review unless otherwise stated.)

Ever since The Ordinary launched my number one question is now “what should I buy?”. People are excited and somewhat confused, which I can completely understand. Choosing the right products for your skin type and needs can be a daunting task, especially when there are so many options. In the beginning it was pretty easy since there were only ten products, but now there are over fifty (with more on the way), so it has become even harder to not only know which ones to buy, but how to use them. I wanted to create this guide of recommended regimens and example routines in the hopes that in addition to my review, it will make it as easy as possible to use these products and get the most out of them.

Before we begin, it is very important to note that everyone’s skin is unique and will react differently to the exact same products or ingredients. There is no such thing as a “one size fits all” product and these regimens are recommendations, not guarantees. Taking care of your skin is a process and results require consistency and patience, and in a lot of cases, simplicity. Even though there are a lot of products in this range, you do not need them all. I would suggest starting with around 5-7 depending on your skin type and recording your routines to track the effects before adding more.

Even though each skin type will require a different set of products to maintain a healthy dermis, there are some ingredients that I believe everyone could benefit from. Of course, sunscreen should be a priority as sun damage can cause a variety of issues both long term and short, as well as antioxidants, retinoids/retinols and moisturizing factors that support barrier function. These ingredients form the basis of a good “all-round” routine that should keep the skin healthy and able to protect and repair itself effectively.

I know many of you have only discovered Deciem since The Ordinary launch, so I want to point out that their other skincare line, NIOD, has brilliant products. Some of them will be mentioned here and I highly recommend you check them out. The Ordinary doesn’t have it all (yet), so if you’re looking for a complete Deciem routine, NIOD will definitely help fill in the gaps.

The Routines

In general, typical skincare routines look like this:

Morning: – Cleanse, NIOD SDSM and CAIS (if you use them), toner, water-based serums, emulsions, creams/balms/oil, sunscreen/primer.

Evening: – Double cleanse, NIOD SDSM and CAIS (if you use them), exfoliating toner or retinol, water-based serums, emulsions, creams/oils/balms.

***A note on Buffet/CAIS: Deciem have always stated that the copper peptide should be applied to the skin first before anything else. With CAIS I completely agree with this. If you use the Glycolic Toner you either apply CAIS and wait at least one minute before applying the toner with your hands or in a spray bottle. If you choose to use the acid toner first then you have to wait at least 30 minutes before applying CAIS. Now, with Buffet being a very different texture this may not be easy. In this case I would either skip the acid toner on the days you use Buffet or have one for night and the other for day. Or if you can, apply the acid toner and then Buffet after 30 minutes. If you like using a cotton pad with the toner then of course this will have to be done before applying Buffet/CAIS. Using these two products together can get a bit confusing so please ask if you have any further questions. In general, I am not the biggest fan of glycolic acid toners as I see them over used way too often and I think CAIS/Buffet are better for the skin.

Of course, this is not set in stone and depends on the texture of the products you are using (see The Ordinary – How To Create A Skincare Routine for more information on this) and some products are to be used twice daily, others just a few times a week and some just once a week, so please read all instructions carefully and again, keep an eye on how your skin is reacting.

Acne-Prone Skin

The goal of this routine is to calm inflammation, support a healthy functioning skin barrier, balance oil production, heal blemishes (including red marks/scarring) and prevent new ones from forming. Hydration is extremely important for compromised (acne prone) skin and improving barrier function will help it to heal and protect itself from infections and bacteria that lead to inflammation and blemishes.

Morning:

Evening:

Extras: Salicylic Acid 2% Solution to spot treat, NIOD FM as an anti-inflammatory masque and Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate 10% if it does not cause irritation as an alternative antioxidant product to EUK 134 0.1%.

Dry/Dehydrated Skin

Obviously with this skin type the goal is keeping the skin hydrated and moisturized. Each step does exactly that and should help the skin stay plump, smooth and soft.

Morning:

Evening:

Extras: Argireline Solution 10% if wrinkles are a dry skin side effect and AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution as a weekly treatment.

Oily/Combination Skin

With oily or combination skin the most important thing is balance. These products will help the skin regulate its oil production by providing it with the moisture and hydration it needs. The acids will help stop pores getting clogged by the excess oil and sebum.

Morning:

Evening:

Extras: Salicylic Acid 2% Solution or AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution as a weekly treatment.

Dull/Uneven/Hyperpigmented Skin

Improving dull skin takes time and patience, but this routine should help the skin shed it’s hyperpigmented cells revealing a bright, clear, uniform skin tone.

Morning:

Evening:

Extras: AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution or Lactic Acid 10% + HA as a weekly treatment.

Sensitive Skin (including Rosacea)

With sensitive skin the important thing is to support a healthy barrier function that will protect it from adverse reactions and keep it calm and balanced.

Morning:

Evening:

Extras: EUK 134 0.1% or Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12% for some antioxidant protection if your skin can handle it.

Mature Skin

Mature skin needs lots of hydration and targeted treatments to keep skin smooth, soft and youthful, which is exactly what these products should help you achieve.

Morning:

Evening:

Extras: AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution or Alpha Lipoic Acid 5% as weekly treatments and Argireline Solution 10% for deep wrinkles.

Normal Skin

If you have normal skin you’ll find that your skin functions very well most of the time, rarely breaks out, heals itself quickly and is generally balanced and hydrated. Because of this you don’t need an overly complicated routine, just some basics to support the equilibrium with some extras to tackle any issues you may have like sun damage, on set of fine lines or wrinkles or hormonal congestion.

Morning:

Evening:

Extras: AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution and/or any of the targets treatments mentioned above that suit your needs.

As I said earlier, skincare is not an exact science and your skin may react exactly as it should or not at all. These recommendations are a guide to help you choose the right products for you, but once you have them, it’s important you track how your skin responds and adjust accordingly. You might find you like using an ingredient more or less or some products might work really well and others not at all. The beauty of The Ordinary is that you can mix and match the products to create a routine that is perfectly tailored to you with ingredients that will address your specific issues. Don’t be afraid to experiment (with caution) and really try to discover what your skin responds to so you can be a more informed consumer.

If you would like to read more about The Ordinary then check out my other two articles:

The Ordinary – The Definitive Review

The Ordinary – How To Create A Skincare Routine

Arly

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231 thoughts on “The Ordinary – A Recommended Routine For Every Skin Type”

  1. Hi. I’ve discovered your blog today and already had a good rummage.very informative. I would appriciate your take on the matter of combining peptides and L-ascorbic acid. according to the Ordinary guideline it is best to not use peptides in the same routine as direct acids and L-ascorbic acid. but for the past 3 months ,as part of my AM routine, I have been using a L-ascorbic+ferulic acid serum and layering on top the Matrixyl 10% + HA with no problems. after reading about the restriction,I’m wondering if it’s because they cancel each other and not necessarily to do with irritation? would it better to wait 30 minutes between the vit C and Matrixyl? I am also thinking about switching the Matrixyl to the PM but I’m using an AHA serum and so the same problem of not using peptides in the same routine as direct acids still stands. please HELP :-).

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    1. Hi Orin, I think the Deciem guideline is more of a precaution against using too many actives at once. Some can interact and have a negative or reduced effect, but if you have been using those products together without a problem then carry on. You can wait, which is what I used to do when using the Copper serum with acids, but it was fine when I didn’t. I still saw great results. I don’t think it’s a problem at all, but if you are worried then definitely have a waiting time in between applying each step. Hope that helps! 🙂

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