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Their customer service is some of the worst I’ve seen. I can’t wholeheartedly recommend The Ordinary. Ultimately, the brand is very aptly named, as it is quite ordinary - a run-of-the-mill brand with a clever gimmick and some good products.
#THE ORDINARY GRANACTIVE RETINOID 2 EMULSION INGREDIENTS SKIN#
This isn’t for everyone - those with oily, acne-prone skin might want to sidestep this - but it’s a great option if you’re curious to see what this form of vitamin C can do for your skin. Their other glass bottled serums that I tried, disappointingly, didn’t show real, tangible results on my skin. The oil serum is light enough to use in warmer weather but substantial enough really nourish and brighten the skin during the winter months. I also like Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate Solution 20% in Vitamin F. Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate (a.k.a Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate) is one of the most expensive vitamin C derivatives and The Ordinary’s version, CDN$17.80 for 30ml, is barely more expensive than purchasing it as a raw ingredient.
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It’s identical in every way to HABA’s Squalane II but for a small fraction of the price - ¥2,700 versus CDN$7.90 for 30ml. It also works brilliantly at taming flyaways and smoothing dry ends without making roots lank and greasy. I use it straight or mix a drop or 2 into my moisturiser or facial oil. The colourless, scent-less “oil” (in quotation because squalane technically isn’t an oil) gives dry skin a major moisture boost without sitting heavy. After testing a good number of The Ordinary for more than 6 months, my most favourite, perhaps unsurprisingly, happens to be as simple as a formulation can be - 100% Plant-Derived Squalane - just one ingredient. Surely Deciem remembers they also have other skincare lines and they’re significantly more expensive!?Īnyway, sidetracked. Deciem’s advert for The Ordinary implies integrity equals low price. “Clinical formulations with integrity”, they state, bold statement when they have not provided evidence to support any of their clinical claims. Integrity is earned - it’s not given just by filling PR releases with science-y jargon. It implies science without actually providing the necessary proof of clinical studies and relevant data. It’s a gimmick much like the fear-mongering appeal of “green” brands, and one that I don’t appreciate. The focus on delivery systems, use of science-y jargon and chemical names, and listing percentages appeal to the wannabe scientists and the skincare enthusiasts. I don’t trust “clinical” brands any more than I trust “all-natural” ones. 2) key ingredient and it is quite clearly labelled as to its concentration, purpose and effect. The beauty (or the downfall) of The Ordinary serums is their simplicity. It’s the glass-bottled serums that I think are the best thing, though - they layer very well and can easily fit into a routine (unlike the ones that come in a tube!). And that’s why it’s such a surprise when you see the prices - they are $4.50–17.80, and everything is boxed and perfectly presented. Beautiful packaging and key ingredients that would rival some expensive cosmeceutical brand on the marketing. The products are both luxurious and incredibly affordable. Let’s start with the good, shall we? I love the white and grey aesthetic of the packaging! It’s simple but in a pleasingly luxurious way. Clever gimmick and initial hype can only go so far. They’re the skincare equivalent of (now defunct) American Apparel - plenty of hype, some truly excellent stuff, and idiocy that might just eventually sink the company. I deliberated for ages over whether The Ordinary from Deciem deserves to be a ‘Best Pick’ - I found their customer service terrible and I can’t stand their pseudo-science and exaggerated claims - but they have a couple of gems that have made their way into my regular skincare routine.