The Ordinary Quick Starter Guide
The Ordinary Quick Starter Guide. So, you´ve probably just heard about The Ordinary and are super excited but totally confused too. Don´t worry, you are not alone. It is confusing, particularly for those who are just starting out with a skincare routine.
Here´s The Ordinary quick starter guide and I really hope it will help you.
Brand New! You can now build your own regimen
I know you´re super excited to get on and buy The Ordinary, but please spend a little time reading this page and I guarantee it will save you time, money, stress and maybe your skin.
Don’t want to read and just want to get on?
- Build your own skincare routine here or buy a complete routine.
- Layer the products in the order of the regimen provided by The Ordinary.
- 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.
- Once you are more confident, you can then start to add some more products like treatments.
- Less is more!
- Join The Ordinary & Deciem Chat Room Facebook Group
The Ordinary Quick Starter Guide
- The Ordinary Names
- It´s all so confusing
- Skin Types & Concerns
- Find your skin type
- Choosing A Regimen
- All The Ordinary Products
- Layering – How To Layer The Ordinary
- Conflicts – What does it mean when a product conflicts?
- The Ordinary products you can and cannot use together
- Cleansers
- Sun Creams
- The Ordinary Reviews
- Product is pilling/flaking
- Keeping It Simple
- Why You Should Start Slowly
- Patch Testing
- The Most Important Page To Read
The Ordinary Names
The names of The Ordinary products are basically the names of the ingredients and the percentages. You have more than likely used them already in your other skincare products. The beauty of The Ordinary is that you can pick and choose what goes on your skin unlike a cream full of different ingredients.
The Ordinary is so confusing
If you are finding it all confusing, the easiest thing to do is build your own skincare regimen or one of these skincare routines. If you do not buy a complete regimen, you may find yourself spending hours scrolling through the website and Facebook Group posts, becoming totally overwhelmed and spending more money than you really need to. You´re also likely to buy products that conflict too that could cause irritation to the skin or possible allergic reaction.
Skin Type & Skin Concerns
Firstly, think about your skin type and concerns. If you don´t know what your skin type is, have a look at The Ordinary products for every skin type here. Be realistic about how many skin concerns you can tackle at once with a serum. Skin concerns include acne, pigmentation, rosacea, lines and wrinkles, melasma, eczema, and many more. Read more about The Ordinary Regimens.
What each of The Ordinary Products Target
Here I have created a chart listing all The Ordinary products for all different skin concerns.
Choosing A Regimen – The Ordinary & Deciem
You’ll find lots of different Deciem Regimens here plus 100s of personalized regimens the group members have been sent by The Ordinary. Browsing through these will give you a good idea about which products to use together and how many to use in one regimen. Deciem does not recommend more than 3 serums in one 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; Water, Oil, Anhydrous, Suspension & Emulsion. The general rule is from the thinnest / clearest to the thickest / opaque.
The Ordinary Product Conflicts – what does it mean when products conflict?
Conflicts mean that you should avoid using certain products together in the same routine. They may cancel each other or they could cause irritation. You can use them in alternate routines AM/PM or different days. This chart marks all The Ordinary products that conflict. It´s taken quite a lot of work to put together but think it´s the easiest and quickest way to see all The Ordinary conflicts together. Always check the official pages on the Deciem website and instructions as these are often updated.
The Ordinary Products You Can & Cannot Mix
For those who find the chart a bit confusing, you can now find this page which shows all The Ordinary products you can and cannot use together.
Cleansers
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 feeling really clean and hydrated. We have hundreds of posts in the Facebook Group all about cleansers. Just search #cleansers #doublecleansing.
There are 3 Deciem cleansers. 1 by The Ordinary and 1 by NIOD. You can read all about them here and reviews.
Sun Creams
It is really important to use sun cream every day and reapply when needed. You should avoid the direct sun when using these products, especially the Acids, Retinols and Retinoids. We have hundreds of suggestions for sun creams in the Facebook Group and I´m sure we can find the perfect one for you. Deciem has the NIOD Survival Range, S10, S20 & S30 and also The Ordinary Sun Creams in Factor 15 & 30.
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. Read reviews by the Deciem Addicts, the people who have bought, tried and tested. The Ordinary Reviews.
Pilling/Bits/Flaking
When you start to use your products, you might find you have ´bits´ or ´pilling´. This is the product, not your skin so do not panic. You can read all about The Ordinary pilling here.
Keep it Simple
Use The Ordinary regimen builder so you can be sure all the products can be used together. Don’t buy too many products of the same solution (water-based, emulsion) or category (acids, antioxidants, etc), and stick to the same routine for a good few weeks for the best results.
Don’t be surprised if there are only 3 or 4 products in a routine. That’s fine. Don’t forget an SPF during the day.
Why Start Slowly?
If you use 3 products for the very first time and your skin has a reaction, how will you know which product caused it? That’s why it´s recommended that you introduce one product at a time.
Patch Testing
Deciem recommends patch testing 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!
Deciem Regimen Page
If you read one page, please make sure you read the Deciem Regimen Page. It´s so important to know which products conflict, which products should only be used in the evening and how to layer. It´s also important to read the product pages before using them. They explain how to use the product and if a product is nut-free, vegan, oil-free, water-free, silicone-free, gluten and cruelty-free.
