New to The Ordinary? Start Here.
Your Quick 30-Second Guide
Feeling overwhelmed by all the products, routines and skincare terms?
Don’t worry. After years of running Deciem Chat Room and helping thousands of people build routines, I’ve found that beginners usually need just 4 steps:
Step 1
Identify your skin type and main skin concerns.
- Ageing
- Pigmentation
- Acne
- Rosacea
- Dry skin
- Oily skin
Use this page to find your skin type
Step 2
Choose a simple routine.
Cleanser > Treatment > Moisturiser > SPF
Step 3
Learn how to layer The Ordinary products.
Step 4
Check product conflicts – products you can and cannot mix.
My Advice Before You Buy Anything
If you’re new to The Ordinary, don’t buy ten products at once. Start with a simple routine, give it a few weeks, and only add more products when you understand what your skin needs.
- Apply a few drops to cleansed skin, allowing each layer to be absorbed before applying the next.
- Stick to the AM & PM routine for a good few weeks.
- Patch-test the products before using, and when you start to layer products, take note of how your skin feels.
- Once you are more confident, you can then start to add some more products like a masque.
- Less is more!
- Enjoy your new skincare journey, and don’t forget to join us in The Ordinary & Deciem Chat Room Facebook Group.
- Before you click “Buy”, check all the latest offers and discounts here.
The Ordinary Quick Starter Guide
- Product Names
- Skin Types & Concerns
- Choosing A Regimen
- All The Ordinary Products
- Layering – How To Layer The Ordinary
- Conflicts – What does it mean when a product conflicts?
- Cleansers
- Sun Creams
- The Ordinary Reviews
- The product is pilling/flaking
- 5 biggest mistakes people make with The Ordinary
- Why You Should Start Slowly
- Patch Testing
- The Most Important Page To Read
The Names of The Ordinary Products
The names of The Ordinary products are ingredients and the percentages – simple. The Ordinary allows you to use exactly what you want to use to target your skin concerns.
Skin Type & Skin Concerns
Skin types are oily, combination, normal, dry etc and skin concerns include acne, pigmentation, rosacea, lines and wrinkles, melasma and many more. Be realistic about how many skin concerns you can tackle with a serum at once. The Ordinary For Every Skin Type
Choosing a skincare routine – The Ordinary & NIOD
Find lots of The Ordinary & NIOD Regimens here and remember to take the Skincare Quiz for a Personalised Skincare Routine.
How To Layer The Ordinary
Read all about Layering The Ordinary here, where you can see all The Ordinary products arranged by their different solutions. The general rule is from the thinnest / clearest to the thickest / opaque. This is an important step so each product can penetrate the skin.
- Water
- Anhydrous
- Oil
- Suspension
- Emulsion
- Powder
The Ordinary Product Conflicts – Products you should not use together
The Ordinary Conflicts mean that you should avoid using certain products together in the same routine. Why?
- They may cancel each other
- Because they could cause irritation
If you have products that “conflict”, you can use them in alternate routines AM/PM, or on different days. This chart lists all The Ordinary conflicts.
Cleansers The Ordinary & NIOD
A good cleanser or two is really important because it´s the foundation of your skincare routine, so you want something that´s going to leave your skin really clean and not leave it dry. The Ordinary & NIOD Cleansers.
The Ordinary SPF
It´s important to use sun cream every day and reapply when needed. You should avoid direct sunlight, especially when using acids and retinoids. Deciem have NIOD Survival Range, S10, S20 & S30 and also The Ordinary UV Filters.
The Ordinary Pilling & Flaking
When you start using your products, you might find you have ´bits´ or ´pilling´. This is the product pilling.
These are some of the most talked about products that pill.
- Azelaic Acid
- Niacinamide
- Tetraisopalmitate Vitamin C
How do I stop The Ordinary from Pilling?
- Firstly, be sure you have cleansed and rinsed well and there is no residue left on your skin.
- Only use 2 or 3 drops of serum and if you feel you need more, then add more.
- Pat or massage in until it is fully absorbed before adding your next product.
- Make a note which products this happens with and try them separately.
The Ordinary Reviews
When it comes to reviews, the truth is that some people will love a product, some will hate it, and some will think it´s just ok. You may have your favourite influencer who loves a product, but are they the same age as you? Do they have the same skin type and concerns as you? Read reviews by the Deciem Addicts, the people who have bought, tried and tested. You may even find someone with similar skin to yours. The Ordinary Reviews.
Why Start Slowly?
If you use 3 products for the first time and your skin reacts, how will you know which product caused it? That’s why it´s recommended that you introduce one product at a time.
The 5 Biggest Mistakes Beginners Make With The Ordinary
- Buying too many products
- Not checking conflicts
- Using too many actives
- Not patch testing
- Changing routines every week
Patch Testing
It is important to patch-test in case of allergic reactions. We have received a few posts in the Facebook Group from members who have unfortunately had reactions to some of these products, as you can with any brand. The majority of people don´t patch test, but you have been warned!
