Since lockdown began, I've been trying to use my time sensibly and get some things that have been on my to-do list for a long time done, finally. One of those things was to sort out my skincare routine. I've had the same routine for years now and I'd be lying if I said it wasn't working - with my current skincare routine, I rarely get spots and my skin has the right level of hydration. But there are certain things that still bug me about my skin and I figured that lockdown is the perfect time to try and find solutions to them.
So I did some research and I hopped onto BeautyBay and checked out The Ordinary. I'm sure most people have heard of the brand, which has become a cult favourite and is taking the beauty industry by storm. I've been using these products for a few days now so I thought I'd share what I bought and give some first impressions.
So, what did I buy?
The Ordinary Ascorbic Acid 8% + Alpha Arbutin 2% £10 [BeautyBay]
Why? Described as a serum to brighten the skin and reduce visible signs of ageing, I chose this product because of the brightening function - as, luckily, at the age of 21, I'm not currently having issues with ageing skin but, unfortunately, do have an uneven skin tone and a few dark spots on my face.
First impressions? Amazing. I haven't been using these products for long and I'm already noticing that my skin is brighter and some of the darker areas on my face are lightening after using this. I'm super impressed and would definitely recommend it.
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% £5 [BeautyBay]
Why? This product is supposedly really great for blemishes, controlling breakouts and decongesting pores et cetera so, being that my pores are typically really visible on my nose, this - if it's a success for me - would be a dream.
First impressions? So far, so good; I like it. It's still early days so to say I'd noticed a huge difference in my skin would be a lie, but I have started to see changes in the visibility of my pores - especially on my nose, so that's a good sign - right?
The Ordinary Amino Acids + B5 £5.95 [BeautyBay]
Why? This product is described as a 'nourishing facial serum' which maintains healthy, balanced skin and helps out in terms of hydration and has anti-irritant functions. I picked this up primarily for it's anti-irritant and skin repair functions.
First impressions? Another pleasant experience with this product. Although I haven't really noticed too much of a difference yet, my skin seems to be reacting well to this product. And, although the packaging notes that you may experience a tingling sensation after application, I haven't had any issues with this and it's completely bearable. This is my favourite serum to apply lastly, prior to my moisturiser.
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 £5.95 [BeautyBay]
Why? The product description says that 'moisture retention, lipid barrier strength, and surface hydration are all improved, leading to smoother, softer and healthier skin' and one of my main skincare concerns is the texture of my skin - while I don't get spots very often, my skin isn't all that smooth in places.
First impressions? Again, it's looking good so far - my skin definitely feels smoother so it's a success at the moment!
The Ordinary Serum Foundation (shade 'Fair') £5.75 [BeautyBay]
Why? I've been on the hunt for a lighter coverage foundation for a while, now and The Ordinary has great reviews and is very reasonably priced so I thought I'd give it a go - especially being that the weather is getting warmer and I don't want to be wearing a heavy foundation all the time.
First impressions? I like it! It's really lightweight on my skin and the shade matches really well. I also am loving the fact that it's a very buildable coverage so you really can make the product work for what you're feeling on that day. I am still very much in love with my L'Oreal Infallible foundation, though, so I do think that will remain as my go-to foundation but this is a great alternative for the days where I want something - but not a lot - on my face and it'll definitely be staying in my make up collection.
The Ordinary High-Adherence Silicone Primer £3.95 [BeautyBay]
Why? Similarly to the foundation, I've been trying a few different primers lately and I do have some favourites but sometimes the price tag can be a bit off-putting so that's why this one from The Ordinary was so appealing to me - being priced at only £3.95.
First impressions? I hate to say it but I'm really not a fan. I can't quite put my finger on what I don't like about the formula but I don't enjoy the sticky-ness on my skin after application and I've found that it makes my foundation have a very strange texture when I apply it on top of the primer - which, obviously, is not what I want from a primer. I'm really disappointed about this one because I've read some really great reviews for this product but oh well - can't win them all, can we?
On the whole, I'm really impressed with the products I picked up from The Ordinary. It's clear to see why the brand is so popular - not only is it extremely well priced but the quality is there as well. I'm really interested to see what the long-term effects of using these products will be and I'll be sure to post a skin update in a couple of months or so, with some more conclusive feelings about the products - and a full skincare routine at some point, too.
Let me know what some of your holy-grail skincare products are!
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