How to Build a The Ordinary Skincare Routine
Creating a The Ordinary skincare routine doesn’t have to be complicated. The best routine is one that matches your skin type, skin concerns and budget, while remaining simple enough to use consistently.
There are several ways to build your perfect The Ordinary regimen.
1. Use The Ordinary’s Official Regimen Builder
The easiest way to receive personalised product recommendations is by using The Ordinary’s official Regimen Builder. Simply answer a few questions about your skin, your skincare goals and the products you currently use. You can also upload a photo to help The Ordinary make tailored recommendations.
Responses are usually sent within a day or two.
👉 Try The Ordinary’s Official Regimen Builder
2. Browse Ready-Made The Ordinary Regimens
If you’d rather not wait, I’ve created a collection of The Ordinary skincare routines for some of the most common skin concerns, including:
These step-by-step routines explain which products to choose, how to layer them and when to use them.
👉 Browse The Ordinary Regimens
3. Buy Your Routine
Once you’ve chosen the right routine, you can shop all the recommended The Ordinary products in one place, making it quick and easy to build your complete skincare routine.
💙 My Top Tip
One of the biggest mistakes I’ve seen over the years in the Deciem Chat Room is people buying too many products at once. Start with a simple routine of 3–5 products, use them consistently for several weeks, and only introduce new products if your skin needs them. You’ll save money, avoid unnecessary irritation and be much more likely to see great results.
The Ordinary Regimen Builder – Creating a skincare routine with The Ordinary Products
To build your own routine on a laptop/pc
- Go to The Ordinary
- Bottom right of the screen, it should say “Build my Regimen”
- It just takes a minute to do
- It will ask for your name, age, skin concerns and the types of products you prefer
- At the end of the questionnaire, you will be given a morning and evening regimen.
- You can then click “add regimen to basket” and buy all the products in one go.
- If you are on a mobile, as you go to www.theordinary.com, scroll down, and you will see “Build My Regimen“.
How to Build Your Own The Ordinary Skincare Routine
Building your own The Ordinary skincare routine is easier than you might think. Before choosing products, take a few minutes to think about your skin type, your main skin concerns and your lifestyle.
Ask yourself:
Which product textures do I enjoy? Some people love facial oils, while others prefer lightweight water-based serums or creams.
What is my skin type? (Oily, dry, combination or sensitive?)
What is my main skin concern? (Signs of ageing, pigmentation, rosacea, blemishes, dehydration or dullness?)
How much time do I want to spend on my skincare routine? Do you prefer a simple 3-step routine or are you happy using several products?
What’s my budget? A consistent routine with a few well-chosen products is often more effective than buying lots of products you’ll rarely use.
Your Step by Step Guide To Building Your Own Skincare Routine
Step 1: Choose Products for Your Skin Concern
Start by browsing The Ordinary products by skin concern. Whether you’re treating rosacea, signs of ageing, pigmentation, oily skin, dehydration or blemishes, you’ll find the most suitable products grouped together to help you build your routine.
👉 Browse The Ordinary Products by Skin Concern
Step 2: Check for Product Conflicts
Before buying your products, check The Ordinary conflicts guide to make sure the ingredients can be used together safely. Some combinations, such as certain acids, retinoids and peptides, are best used at different times of the day or on alternate evenings.
👉 The Ordinary Products You Can & Cannot Mix
Step 3: Learn How to Layer Your Products
Finally, learn how to layer The Ordinary products in the correct order. This guide explains when to apply water-based serums, anhydrous formulas, oils, suspensions and moisturisers, helping you get the best results from your skincare routine.
For example, if you prefer lightweight serums, you might choose a water-based Vitamin C instead of an oil-based or anhydrous formula.
👉 How to Layer The Ordinary Products
How to Build Your Own The Ordinary Skincare Routine
Building a The Ordinary skincare routine is all about choosing the right products in the correct order. You don’t need every product in the range—a simple routine of 3–5 products used consistently is often the most effective.
Step 1: Cleanse
Every skincare routine should begin with a gentle cleanser to remove makeup, sunscreen, excess oil and daily impurities.
The Ordinary offers three cleansers to suit different skin types:
- Squalane Cleanser – Ideal for all skin types and excellent at removing makeup.
- Glucoside Foaming Cleanser – A gentle foaming cleanser for normal to oily skin.
- Glycolipid Cream Cleanser – A creamy cleanser that’s perfect for dry and sensitive skin.
👉 Compare The Ordinary Cleansers
Step 2: Exfoliate (Evening Only)
Exfoliation helps remove dead skin cells, smooth skin texture and improve the appearance of congestion, dullness and uneven skin tone.
The Ordinary offers several exfoliating acids, including:
- Glycolic Acid
- Lactic Acid
- Mandelic Acid
- Salicylic Acid
- AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution
Exfoliating acids should be used after cleansing in your evening routine, but not every night. Many acids should not be combined with retinoids, peptides or certain forms of Vitamin C, so always check The Ordinary Conflicts Guide before layering products.
👉 The Ordinary Products You Can & Cannot Mix
Step 3: Treat Your Main Skin Concern
This is where you personalise your routine.
Choose one or two treatment serums based on your main skin concern, whether that’s:
- Signs of ageing
- Pigmentation
- Rosacea
- Blemishes
- Oily skin
- Dehydration
- Dullness
For example, you might choose:
- Hyaluronic Acid for hydration.
- Niacinamide for oily or blemish-prone skin.
- Vitamin C for brightening.
- Retinoids for visible signs of ageing.
- Azelaic Acid for redness and uneven skin tone.
👉 Browse The Ordinary Products by Skin Concern
Step 4: Moisturise
A good moisturiser helps support your skin barrier and lock in hydration.
The Ordinary offers several moisturisers, including:
- Natural Moisturising Factors + HA
- Natural Moisturising Factors + PhytoCeramides
- Natural Moisturising Factors + Beta Glucan
If your skin feels particularly dry, you can also add a facial oil as your final evening step or mix a drop into your moisturiser.
👉 Compare The Ordinary Moisturisers
Step 5: Wear SPF Every Morning
Daily sun protection is one of the most important steps in any skincare routine.
Using SPF every morning helps prevent premature ageing, pigmentation and sun damage while protecting the results of your skincare routine.
Step 6: Add Weekly Treatments
Once your basic routine is established, you can add a treatment masque once or twice a week if needed.
Popular options include:
- The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution
- The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Masque
- Selected NIOD treatment masques
Weekly treatments are optional and should complement—not replace—your daily skincare routine.
The Ordinary Skincare Routine & Regimens
If you don´t fancy using The Ordinary Skincare Regimen Builder or creating your own routine, you could use one of the many existing skincare routines for all skin types and concerns.
