April 2025
The Ordinary Products You Can & Cannot Mix – This is your quick guide to the products you should avoid using in the same regimen and the products you can use in the same regimen. It may sound confusing, but don’t worry, you’ll get there! This page includes all the latest products including the Multi-Delivery Essence and Multi-Antioxidant Radiance Serum. Oh and there´s a new SPF coming soon too!
The Ordinary Products You Can & Cannot Mix
So maybe you´ve just heard about The Ordinary, bought a basket full of products, and then been told to check the conflicts. This is good news because you found this page and you don´t want to make your skin worse, do you?
When products say they conflict, it´s one of 2 reasons. 1. They could cancel each other out. 2. They could cause irritation. Therefore, if you have products that conflict, you could use one in your morning routine and one in your evening routine or use them on alternate days. Everyone’s skin is different, so I suggest you keep track of the products you use and how your skin feels/looks.
This chart lists all The Ordinary Products You Can and Cannot Mix in the most easiest format possible. This is just a guide, and it is recommended that you always refer to the official The Ordinary website, as conflicts are regularly updated.
The new products, including Retinal 0.2%, Balance & Clarifying Serum and Milky Toner, have all been added to the products you can and cannot mix pdf.
Here’s your quick PDF guide to The Ordinary Products you can & cannot mix.
This page is regularly updated. Therefore, when sharing, please link to it rather than screenshot it. Always read the instructions before using them and patch-test products.
FAQS about The Ordinary Products You Should & Shouldn’t Mix
Here are some responses from The Ordinary answering questions about products you can and cannot mix and why.
2. Why can’t I use Vitamin C derivatives with Niacinamide?
The Ordinary: We do not recommend combining Vitamin C (L-Ascorbic Acid, Ethylated L-Ascorbic Acid or Vitamin C Derivatives) with Niacinamide with Direct or Ethylated Vitamin C and Vitamin C Derivatives. This is due to the formation of a salt complex that has the potential to reduce the integrity of both compounds. If you wish to combine both products into a regimen, we recommend using them on alternate days and/or nights.
This is confusing because vitamin C derivatives and niacinamide were often in the same regimen. In November 2020, The Ordinary said to avoid using them together. A few days later, they posted a story with these products in the same routine. Many people questioned this, and they responded that you can continue if you have used them together without irritation.
3. Why can’t I use Vitamin C, Retinoids & Direct Acids in the same routine?
The Ordinary: If you wish to incorporate multiple Vitamin C’s, Retinoids, and/or Direct Acids into your skincare regimen, we suggest using them on alternate evenings and waiting until your skin has adjusted to one before introducing another.
4. Why can I not use more than 1 of The Ordinary Acids together?
The Ordinary: We do not recommend combining this masque with other direct acids in the same regimen due to the subjectivity of skin tolerance. With salicylic acid in the formula at high concentrations, combining it with different acidic and high-strength formulas may increase the skin’s sensitivity. If you decide to incorporate this masque with other direct acids, we recommend you perform a patch test of the combination before completing the facial application.
5. Why can’t I use The Ordinary Buffet with Acids & Vitamin C?
The Ordinary: This is because (at a low pH) the peptides undergo processes such as deamination and oxidation, which compromise their activity. Our recommendations are meant to be a preventative measure to avoid incompatibility between those combinations (due to various concentrations and formats offered within our range) and because skin tolerance is subjective. If you have been combining them and this has been working for you, you may continue to do so, as the combination will not harm the skin.
6. Why can’t I mix The Ordinary Direct Acids & Peptides?
The Ordinary: We would not recommend combining direct acids with peptides due to the susceptibility of peptides to hydrolysis (which breaks the bonds between peptides, reducing their efficacy and making them into individual amino acids). At low pH, the peptides undergo processes such as deamination (the removal of an amide group) and oxidation, which compromise the activity of the peptides. Having said that, if you have previously combined peptides with acids and have not experienced any adverse side effects or discolouration, you may continue to combine the two products so that the combination does not pose any potential harm. Our recommendations are meant to serve as a preventative measure to avoid incompatibility between those combinations because skin tolerance is subjective.
7. Copper Peptides & Antioxidants, Direct Acids & Peptides
By Prudvi: Our rule against combining strong antioxidants only applies to our copper peptide products. We would not recommend combining direct acids with peptides due to their susceptibility to hydrolysis (which breaks the bonds between peptides, reducing their efficacy and making them into individual amino acids). At low pH, the peptides undergo processes such as deamidation (the removal of an amide group) and oxidation, which compromise their activity.
By Prudvi: If you have previously combined peptides with acids and have not experienced any negative side effects or discolouration, you may continue to combine the two products so that the combination does not pose any potential harm. Our recommendations are meant to serve as a preventative measure to avoid incompatibility between those combinations because skin tolerance is subjective. I hope this helps!
The Ordinary Products You Can & Cannot Mix
Conflicting Information
The more you read on the internet, the more conflicting and confusing information you will find. If you’re new to skincare, I would advise you to follow the advice given by The Ordinary or NIOD. Then, you will be more confident and able to make your own choices.
Patch-Testing Skincare Products
It is important to patch-test products before using them. Read how to patch-test here.
NIOD products you can & cannot mix
You can find the new NIOD Conflicts Chart here. Like The Ordinary, the NIOD conflicts are regularly updated. Therefore, it´s always a good idea to double-check the official website, www.niod.com, before using products.
