The Ordinary Vitamin C polls were taken by the Deciem Addicts on Instagram and there’s also the current scores on the Deciem website.
- Ascorbic Acid & Alpha Arbutin 79% love it. 4.3/5 Deciem Website
- L-Ascorbic Acid Powder 72% love it. 4.6/5 Deciem Website
- Vitamin C 23% 64% love it. 4.0/5 Deciem Website
- Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate 61% love it. 4.0/5 Deciem Website
- Ascorbyl Glucoside 59% love it. 4.2/5 Deciem Website
- Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate 58% love it. 3.9/5 Deciem Website
- Ethylated Ascorbic Acid 55% love it. 4.2/5 Deciem Website
- Vitamin C 30% 52% love it. 3.9/5 Deciem Website
UPDATE
There is a lot of confusion at the moment regarding Vitamin C derivatives & Niacinamide. Here´s a quick rundown;
- The Ordinary launched in 2016. The derivatives had no conflicts.
- There were even regimens with both products in the same routine.
- In 2020, when The Ordinary Niacinamide Powder was launched is when derivatives started to have conflicts.
- In November 2020, Deciem said not to use any of their vitamin c derivatives in the same routine as Niacinamide (serum & powder).
- March 2021 – the new website does not include conflicts mentioned in the video. I would continue to follow the November conflicts. (The Deciem regimen guide only says this on the niacinamide powder, not on the derivatives section.
What should I do?
You can check directly with Deciem or stick to the PDF’s conflicts below for the time being. Deciem switched over to a new website on 1st March, and there are a few glitches.
The Ordinary Vitamin Cs
There are 8 The Ordinary Vitamin C products, and they vary in solutions, strengths and price. The cheapest vitamin c is 5.80$, and the most expensive is 18$.
How do I choose which vitamin c to use?
- If you’re new to skincare, I would advise going for one of the derivatives.
- You might choose a particular vitamin based on its solution. If you already use an oil in your routine, you may wish to go for a water-based vitamin c or emulsion.
- Check your current routine to see which ones will not conflict.
- When do you want to use vitamin c? In the morning or evening?
- You may choose on price. All can be seen in $ as an example below.
Conflicts
On the Deciem regimen page, not mention all of these conflicts are mentioned. It is a regular comment not to use Acids, Retinol & Vitamin C in the same routine. You may find this page useful – The Ordinary products you can and cannot mix.
| Vitamin C | Solution | Conflicts | Targets | When | Price |
| L-Ascorbic Acid Powder | Powder | Niacinamide, EUK 134, Direct Acids, Peptides, Retinoids | Uneven Tone Signs of Ageing Antioxidant Support | Ideally PM | 5.80$ |
| Ascorbic Acid 8% + Alpha Arbutin 2% | Anhydrous | Niacinamide, EUK 134, Direct Acids, Peptides, Retinoids | Hyper-pigmentation, Dark Spots, Uneven Tone, Signs of Age, Antioxidant Support | AM & PM | 10$ |
| Vitamin C 23% Vitamin C 30% | Suspension | Niacinamide, EUK 134, Direct Acids, Peptides, Retinoids | Uneven Tone, Signs of Age, Antioxidant Support | Ideally PM | 5.80$ 6.80$ |
| Ethylated Ascorbic Acid | Anhydrous | Niacinamide EUK Peptides | Uneven Tone Signs of Age Antioxidant Support | AM & PM | 18$ |
| Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate Solution (derivative) | Oil | Niacinamide powder | Dullness, Uneven Tone, Signs of Aging, Antioxidant Support | AM & PM | 17.80$ |
| Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (derivative) | Emulsion | Niacinamide powder | Dullness, Uneven Tone, Signs of Aging, Antioxidant Support | AM & PM | 9.60$ |
| Ascorbyl Glucoside (derivative) | Water-Based | Niacinamide powder | Dullness, Uneven Tone, Signs of Aging, Antioxidant Support | AM & PM | 12.90$ |
The Current Deciem Regimen Page (3/2021)
You’ll notice that Deciem has not listed all conflicts in their current regimen page that have been mentioned in their video below. To be safe, stick to the chart above.
The Ordinary Vitamin Cs & Polls/Reviews
Vitamin C 23% Reviews
The Ordinary Vitamin C 30%
- Targets
- Uneven Tone
- Signs of Age
- Antioxidant Support
The Ordinary L-Ascorbic Acid Powder
- Targets
- Uneven Tone
- Signs of Ageing
- Antioxidant Support
Ethylated Ascorbic Acid 15% Solution
- Targets
- Uneven Tone
- Signs of Age
- Antioxidant Support
Ascorbic Acid + Alpha Arbutin
- Targets
- Hyper-pigmentation
- Dark Spots
- Uneven Tone
- Signs of Age
- Antioxidant Support
Ascorbyl Glucoside
- Targets
- Dullness
- Uneven Tone
- Signs of Ageing
- Antioxidant Support
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
- Targets
- Dullness
- Uneven Tone
- Signs of Aging
- Antioxidant Support
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
- Targets
- Dullness
- Uneven Tone
- Signs of Aging
- Antioxidant Support
Total Confusion With The Ordinary Vitamin Cs, Derivatives & Niacinamide
In November 2020, Deciem released a new video, A Guide to Vitamin C. There are many contradictions between the information in the video, answers on social media, and the new regimen guide. This is mainly between vitamin c derivatives and niacinamide.
From Deciem. 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 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.
The Deciem Vitamin C Master Class
The Ordinary Vitamin C Questions Answered by Deciem
Please note that there may be some contradicting answers here regarding conflicts. Please refer to the new chart above.
Can you mix The Ordinary Vitamin C 23% with The Ordinary Resveratrol & Ferulic Acid and Pycnogenol? Yes, you may!
I would like to know if I can mix The Ordinary L-Ascorbic Acid Powder with Alpha Arbutin. Yes you may, it’s a great combination
If my skin can tolerate The Ordinary pure vitamin C powder (mixed in with an essence/toner product) and Matrixyl 10% in the same routine, is it still not recommended? Will they affect each other’s effectiveness? We would recommend separating the products into two different routines for optimal results.
More FAQS
Can I use the L’Ascorbic Acid Powder combined/mixed with the hyaluronic acid serum? Yes you may.
Deciem advises using The Ordinary 23% as the last step as it’s a suspension. What does this actually mean? A Suspension means the active is not dissolved and suspended instead for maximum stability. We suggest using Suspensions as the final step in a routine as they are thicker than a moisturizer or oil. We hope this helps to clarify
Which of The Ordinary Vitamin Cs would be best for a first-time user? Which Vitamin C is preferred? You may wish to begin with The Ordinary Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12%. This is a brightening, water-based serum with stabilized Vitamin C derivative to visibly target uneven skin tone, dullness, and signs of ageing.
Can I use The Ordinary Ascorbic Acid 8% + Alpha arbutin 2% and Lactic Acid 10% on the same routine? Ideally, the two should be separated into two different routines.
Is it ok to combine The Ordinary Ascorbyl Glucoside solution 12% after direct acids (aha or bha) in the same routine? And if yes, should there be a waiting period between the two as they differ in ph? You may indeed combine both products together. There is no need to wait a certain amount of time in between the application of products. As long as each product is massaged into the skin until absorption, you are welcome to apply the next product!
Other Deciem Vitamin Cs
The Ordinary Skincare Routines & Build Your Own Regimen
If you’re still confused, you can ask Deciem for a routine or you can now build your own personalised routine.
You can also look through all these different regimens here including some brand new ones.
