Why I Don’t Like The Ordinary?
This is why I don´t like The Ordinary…
- It’s boring
- It’s clinical
- It doesn’t smell like roses or citrus or “luxury spa”
- It doesn’t feel indulgent
- There´s zero fragrance
- It´s all individual ingredients and not just one formula
And that’s exactly why I LOVE IT
Before 2017, skincare felt like roulette. I’d buy something that promised glow, radiance, brightness, hydration — anti-aging, anti-pigmentation, pore-minimizing, glass skin, miracle results — and instead I’d get redness, itching, tiny bumps, or full-blown irritation.
There were times my face didn’t just look like it was on fire. It felt like it was on fire.
If you have sensitive skin, reactive skin, rosacea-prone skin, or random mystery allergic reactions, you know exactly what I mean. One wrong product and your barrier is wrecked.
Over the years, I wasted so much money on products that I opened once and never touched again.
By my early 40s, it got so bad that I gave up. I literally gave up on skincare.
Why I don´t like The Ordinary – I LOVE IT!
One day in January 2017, I came across The Ordinary & NIOD and I have used these ever since because why fix something that isn´t broken?
And I need to tell you something: I have tried every single The Ordinary product and every single NIOD product that has ever been released. If it launched, I tried it.
If you´ve been a Deciem fan since the begining, you´ll also remember Hylamide. I tried every single one of these products, too. NOT ONE allergic reaction to probably around 150 products!
So why no reaction? Because there´s…
- No essential oils
- No perfume
- No mystery “natural fragrance”
Is The Ordinary Fragrance Free?
Is The Ordinary Fragrance Free? YES! And this is exactly why I love The Ordinary.
Do they smell amazing? No. Do they smell like roses, citrus, vanilla, or a five-star spa? Absolutely not. Some of them smell clinical. Some smell slightly medicinal. Some smell like nothing at all. But do I get allergic reactions? No. And I will choose boring over burning any day.
Is NIOD Fragrance Free?
YES!!! NIOD is completely fragrance-free, and this is exactly why I love it.
And again — this is why my skin tolerates it. When I strip away fragrance and essential oils, I remove one of the most common triggers for my irritation. For people with sensitive skin, fragrance is often the hidden problem.
Skincare & Fragrance
Scent is powerful. It’s emotional. Psychological. Personal. A smell can take you back to childhood. It can remind you of someone you love. It can make you feel comforted, luxurious, calm. And brands know this.
Luxury skincare brands invest heavily in fragrance because scent sells. A cream that smells expensive feels expensive. A serum that smells like citrus feels “active.” A moisturizer that smells like roses feels romantic and indulgent.
But here’s the uncomfortable truth:
Fragrance does absolutely nothing for your skin.
It doesn’t hydrate
It doesn’t boost collagen
It doesn’t repair your skin barrier
It doesn’t reduce wrinkles
What it can do is irritate sensitive skin.
Some may say The Ordinary Is Boring
I have lots of friends who have used The Ordinary and absolutely love it, but some of them love their rich scented products more, and so they switch back to other brands. And this is great if their skin tolerates it. I totally get it. I miss being able to use perfume and beautiful scented body lotions. But I don´t miss the allergic reactions? No.
The Ordinary is ingredient-focused skincare.
You can find all the skincare you need including; Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin C, Retinols, Acids, Peptipes.
Not only that but The Ordinary also now have a fabulous Fragrance Free Body Care selection including The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + Inulin, Salicylic Acid Body Serum and Niacinamide for Face & Body. Plus, they also have a shampoo which can be used as a body wash and a conditioner too.
No fluff and no fancy scent. It doesn’t feel as indulgent as some of the creams I used many years ago but it´s functional and doesn´t irritate my skin..
And when your skin has been traumatised by years of irritation, “functional” is exactly what you need.
Why The Ordinary Is Good for Sensitive Skin
If you have:
✔ Reactive skin
✔ Perimenopausal skin
✔ Post-procedure skin
✔ Compromised skin barrier
✔ Rosacea-prone skin
✔ Unexplained irritation
Fragrance-free, minimal formulas can be life-changing. Now, I am not saying you won´t have a reaction, but if you have been using skincare products including cleansers that have fragrance in them and suffering from some kind of reaction, then give The Ordinary a go.
You still need to patch-test, introduce products slowly, and check The Ordinary Conflicts and How to Layer The Ordinary. But if you´re at your wits end like I was I would recommend starting with one of The Ordinary Cleansers and one of The Ordinary Moisturizers. Go back to the very basics and then build your regimen.
Take The Ordinary Skincare Quiz here and be emailed a skincare regimen specifically for you, your skin type and concerns and according to your skincare experience. TAKE THE SKINCARE QUIZ NOW.
I don´t like The Ordinary, I love it!
The Ordinary allowed me to rebuild my routine slowly. To reintroduce actives safely. Understand ingredients. To learn what my skin actually needed.
No scent.
No drama.
No fire face.
So that´s why I don´t like The Ordinary, I love it because it gave me my skin back.
