Few brands have revolutionized the way we shop for skin care the way The Ordinary has. Before the Canadian brand blessed us with the best The Ordinary products, accessibility to cheap, high-quality options had mostly been restricted to makeup. Even with so much innovation among drugstore skin-care brands, few affordable finds really rival what luxury serums and moisturizers have to offer. That’s why buzz for the best The Ordinary products (like this TikTok-beloved peeling solution) refuses to die down. The brand takes a clinical, science-based approach to skin care and specializes in single-ingredient-driven products that deliver targeted results. The best part? Nothing costs more than $30. In fact, the majority of it clocks in for less than $10. This is largely in part thanks to The Ordinary’s dedication to transparency, resulting in prices that aren’t significantly marked up. But despite its low price point, the brand can be intimidating. Because the names of the products refer to skin-care ingredients–not the results they promise—they all sound like something out of an advanced medical textbook. And you’re left trying to decipher what the hell ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate (a vitamin C derivative) or epigallocatechin gallatyl glucoside (an anti-inflammatory compound in green tea) does. That’s where we come in. Our editors went through hundreds of dollars of The Ordinary skin-care products to help explain the cryptic descriptions of each and to narrow down what’s actually worth adding to your top shelf. Read on for our honest reviews of the best The Ordinary products. Did you know you can shop right here, right now on Glamour? Hit the Glamour Buy Now buttons in this article to start building your cart. Once you’re ready to check out, complete your purchase without ever having to leave the article. Best part? There’s free shipping on all orders. Happy shopping! All products featured on Glamour are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission. 1/25 The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 I read the internet, so I know properly moisturized skin depends on more than just a nice lotion. For true, deep moisture, you’re supposed to use a serum or an acid that can penetrate deeper than your standard emollient. Enter hyaluronic acid, which I’ve wanted to use for months but have never purchased because the one time I went into a store (which shall remain nameless) to shop for one, a woman there recommended a brand that retailed for $185. No! So I jumped at the chance to test this serum that includes vitamin B5 (an anti-inflammatory that can help decrease puffiness), which costs less than $10. I’ve used it for about three weeks and don’t know if I’ve detected a major difference in the texture of my skin, but I have benefited from the serious glow it imparts. It leaves my face dewy but not oily. I like the finish so much I’ve skipped makeup for most of the month. —Mattie Kahn, contributor $8 at The Ordinary $8 at Ulta Courtesy of brand 2/25 The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution Yes, part of this product’s appeal is that it looks like you’re doing an at-home blood facial (you can see what it looks like on in our full review of it), but the results are just as Instagrammable. The mix of alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs) deeply exfoliates to clear up congestion, dead skin cells, and hyperpigmentation. My skin looked brighter and smoother after one use—with no irritation to my sensitive, acne-prone skin. And for about 100th of the cost of a vampire facial? A no-brainer. —Bella Cacciatore, beauty writer $8 at The Ordinary $8 at Ulta ADVERTISEMENT WATCH This Is Fillers In 2 Minutes Courtesy of brand 3/25 The Ordinary “Buffet” I just turned 26, and I’m ready to start thinking about upping my antiaging routine. However, I’m on serious topicals for my acne, so anything too aggressive is out of the question. This serum, which uses a combo of peptides and hyaluronic acid to plump and firm, feels like a good place to start. I noticed my skin looks much brighter and bouncier when I use it, and it’s helped curb some of the irritation from my topicals. It also feels much more luxurious than the price would lead me to believe, and I look forward to using it every day. —B.C. $17 at The Ordinary $17 at Ulta Courtesy of brand 4/25 The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA 2% I’m typically a generous person (playing Beauty Santa with the samples when I'm done with them is among my favorite things about my job), but there are two products I won’t pass on to anyone, not even over my dead body: Sunday Riley Good Genes and Dr. Dennis Gross Hyaluronic Marine Oil-Free Moisture Cushion. The first is a $122 lactic acid serum, which is considered the gold standard of lactic acid (it delivers the gentlest type of exfoliation and is great for sensitive skin types like myself). The latter is a $60 hyaluronic acid (or HA. moisturizer that gives you dewy baby skin. In other words: My expectations are high. But for $7, I’ll be damned if this isn’t a wonderful alternative for someone who can’t afford to drop nearly $200 on half their skin-care routine. The mornings after I use it (usually three times a week), my skin is brighter, glowier, and a smidge bouncier. While it’s still no Good Genes, it’s a great runner-up. —Lindsay Schallon, beauty contributor $8 at The Ordinary $8 at Sephora 5/25 The Ordinary Pycnogenol 5% I came across this oddly named serum after stumbling on a viral TikTok review of how it totally transformed a girl’s acne, and I was sold. Why wouldn’t I try it when it's only $10 and my maskne has been out of control? Let me just say, the reviews don’t lie. I’d never heard of pycnogenol before, but apparently it’s an extract derived from pine trees that has the ability to boost collagen and elastin production in your skin. Plus, it’s great for hydration. My skin looks and feels healthier after using it. —L.S. $10 at The Ordinary $10 at Sephora Courtesy of brand 6/25 The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA Hyperpigmentation Serum I’ve struggled with uneven tone and dark spots since I was a teenager, and I’ve tried every kind of treatment to reduce pigmentation. This water-based solution is one of the very few products to make a visible difference. It contains concentrated alpha arbutin 2% to help even out skin tone, while that hyaluronic acid penetrates skin for enhanced delivery. My skin started to look brighter and more even after a few months of use. —Ariana Yaptangco, senior beauty editor $10 at The Ordinary $10 at Ulta Most Popular Style Jennifer Lawrence Just Embraced the Controversial Y2K Drop-Waist Trend By Emily Tannenbaum Style Kristen Stewart Goes Braless in Sheer Chanel By Emily Tannenbaum Style Dakota Johnson Is Back on Her Sheer Bodysuit Game By Emily Tannenbaum Courtesy of brand 7/25 The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil This oil is one of my most beloved must-haves. After searching for an inexpensive rosehip oil (I personally don’t believe in paying over $20 for a single oil), I finally decided to try this one, and I’m so glad I did. It’s great for moisturizing and nourishing my skin, yet it still feels lightweight. Using it in tandem with a retinol has significantly faded my postacne hyperpigmentation, and it definitely makes a difference in the glow factor. I will say it has a slightly earthy smell, but for skin this good, I’m willing to overlook it. —B.C. $10 at The Ordinary $10 at Ulta Courtesy of brand 8/25 The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution Mentally, the idea of putting something called a direct acid on my face feels disturbing. But in reality, chemical exfoliants are much gentler and better than physical exfoliants like face scrubs or loofas. This glycolic acid toner visibly resurfaces my skin, and it’s pretty gentle—though you shouldn’t use it more than every other night. Plus it’s affordable and lasts forever. —Jenny Singer, staff writer $10 at The Ordinary $10 at Ulta Courtesy of brand 9/25 The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% I’ve always been curious about azelaic acid, since I’ve heard it can treat both acne and dark spots while being safe enough to use even during pregnancy. (Although I’m not expecting, for the record.) The texture felt super luxe and absorbed nicely, and while I didn’t notice an improvement on a stubborn breakout, my postacne dark spots looked less opaque than they had. —Deanna Pai, contributor $8 at SkinStore $10 at Sephora Courtesy of brand 10/25 The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG I’ve honestly never believed a product could help with sleepy undereyes until I tried this one. While it doesn’t help with dark circles (sadly, not much will), the lightweight serum instantly depuffs and smooths out any baggage I’m dealing with. It brightens my eyes in seconds and makes it look like I got a full eight hours of sleep. —B.C. $8 at The Ordinary $8 at SkinStore Most Popular Style Jennifer Lawrence Just Embraced the Controversial Y2K Drop-Waist Trend By Emily Tannenbaum Style Kristen Stewart Goes Braless in Sheer Chanel By Emily Tannenbaum Style Dakota Johnson Is Back on Her Sheer Bodysuit Game By Emily Tannenbaum Courtesy of brand 11/25 The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid* 2% Emulsion I’m incredibly cautious with retinol because of my rosacea, but now that I’m in my 30s, I really need its skin-rejuvenating abilities. I’m happy to report that this is an incredibly gentle option. The serum is an almost milky consistency, and after a month of using it, I started to see a few fine lines on my forehead fade. It’s also been a wonder for smoothing out the texture of my skin. —L.S. $11 at Ulta $11 at The Ordinary Courtesy of brand 12/25 The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA I have medium skin that’s extremely prone to hyperpigmentation—but if you’ve ever gone down the road of lightening dark spots, you know it’s a long game. I needed an affordable and reliable treatment that I could use for a while without causing irritation, and my friend recommended this mandelic acid treatment. Mandelic acid is a type of AHA, but since the molecules are larger than other exfoliants, it’s less penetrative and thus easier on sensitive skin. I’ve used it for months and love to mix it in with my serum two to three times a week (any more than that and I get a bit dry). My blemishes are blurred, and it’s even helped improve my skin texture by evening out some pitted acne scars. Plus, the bottle is huge and a little goes such a long way. —Shanna Shipin, commerce managing editor $8 at The Ordinary $8 at Ulta Courtesy of brand 13/25 The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2% The only issue I have with this Ordinary vitamin C cream is that it doesn’t come in a larger size. I’ve been on the hunt for a strong but nonirritating option for a while, and this formula is just that. Perfect for my prebedtime ritual, it’s less than $10; plus it can be mixed with my other favorite serums to reduce its somewhat gritty texture. If you’re looking to fight wrinkles and even out your skin tone, this one is a great bet. —Sarah Morse, contributor $7 at The Ordinary $7 at SkinStore Courtesy of brand 14/25 The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% I never had acne as a teenager, but lately I’ve been getting these hormonal breakouts around my chin and forehead. I decided to give this serum a try after reading hundreds of rave reviews. The lightweight combo of niacinamide and zinc has been supereffective at controlling excess sebum (read oil) production, and after a few weeks of daily use, the blemishes that appeared out of nowhere seem to have disappeared. —Talia Abbas, commerce editor $12 at The Ordinary $14 at Look Fantastic Most Popular Style Jennifer Lawrence Just Embraced the Controversial Y2K Drop-Waist Trend By Emily Tannenbaum Style Kristen Stewart Goes Braless in Sheer Chanel By Emily Tannenbaum Style Dakota Johnson Is Back on Her Sheer Bodysuit Game By Emily Tannenbaum Courtesy of brand 15/25 The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane Squalane is fantastic for hydrating—it’s nonsticky and fast-absorbing with humectant (meaning moisture-drawing) properties that work in tandem to make your skin look crazy plump. The downside is that it’s traditionally derived from animals. But that’s not the case with this serum. Instead it’s powered by plants, so I feel even better about using it when I see dewy, bouncy skin in the mirror. —L.S. $9 at The Ordinary $9 at SkinStore Courtesy of brand 16/25 The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane Please save yourself hundreds of dollars on luxury antiaging treatments and buy a retinol from The Ordinary, which costs less than an hour of minimum-wage labor and is backed by rigorous research instead of random claims of “pearl essence” or whatever. I particularly like this one because it’s lower-strength and delivered with squalane, so it’s a bit less irritating than other choices out there. Start by using it one to three times per week, use it only at night, and know that if you don’t wear SPF after using it, it will damage your skin. Play by those rules and be wowed. —J.S. $8 at The Ordinary $8 at Ulta Courtesy of brand 17/25 The Ordinary Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate Solution 20% in Vitamin F The name of this sounds insane (and impossible to pronounce), and I’ll admit that, going in, I had no idea what it did. After a little research and a test-drive, though, I’m sold. It’s basically a form of vitamin C (which helps brighten and even out your skin tone), while vitamin F is a fatty acid rich in omega-6 that helps maintain your skin barrier (when it’s disrupted, all kinds of things like acne and redness occur). I noticed a major difference in the condition of my skin after just one use—it was noticeably smoother, firmer, and overall much brighter and more radiant. Like I said, sold. —Stephanie Griffin, contributor $18 at The Ordinary $18 at SkinStore Courtesy of brand 18/25 The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser You may be tempted to skip your moisturizer after trying this cleanser, which can remove even the most stubborn, smudging mascara. Squalane in the formula keeps skin feeling soft and smooth after cleansing, ideal for dry skin types (it me) who want skin to feel refreshed but not stripped. —T.A. $8 at The Ordinary $8 at Ulta Most Popular Style Jennifer Lawrence Just Embraced the Controversial Y2K Drop-Waist Trend By Emily Tannenbaum Style Kristen Stewart Goes Braless in Sheer Chanel By Emily Tannenbaum Style Dakota Johnson Is Back on Her Sheer Bodysuit Game By Emily Tannenbaum Courtesy of brand 19/25 The Ordinary Pycnogenol 5% IMO, anything that comes from trees has to be good—after all, they live for hundreds, sometimes thousands of years! This serum contains pycnogenol, a natural plant extract derived from the bark of French maritime pine trees. It’s packed with goodies like procyanidins, bioflavonoids, and organic acids to help increase hydration and elasticity. All the more reason to save the trees. —A.Y. $10 at The Ordinary $10 at Ulta Courtesy of brand 20/25 The Ordinary Resveratrol 3% + Ferulic Acid 3% Want to reduce the appearance of acne scars and dark spots? Have this product on deck. My dry skin isn’t the biggest fan of strong actives, so this serum-oil hybrid felt a good place to start. The formula delivers 3% resveratrol and ferulic acid—two antioxidants known for brightening and evening out skin tone. I personally appreciate that the formulation isn’t super-aggressive, but if you want even more of an antioxidant boost, you can always mix two or three drops in with your vitamin C. —T.A. $9 at The Ordinary $9 at Ulta 21/25 The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Masque This exfoliating charcoal-colored mask is the only thing that’s helped with my lingering mask breakouts. I rate it highly for both effectiveness and skintertainment: It gives me a bright, exfoliated glow without irritating my skin, and when it’s on my face, it makes me look like Dick Van Dyke doing the chimney sweep dance in Mary Poppins. There is simply nothing more I want from a product. —J.S. $12 at The Ordinary $12 at SkinStore Courtesy of brand 22/25 The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Anhydrous Solution Pore Clearing Serum My skin is a wonderful combination of horrendously acne-prone yet baby-level sensitive, so it’s particularly difficult to keep happy. This serum, however, seems to have been created just for me. It has a base of squalane oil, so it’s actively moisturizing and soothing, and it almost works as a buffer for the high percentage of salicylic acid in the formula. That doesn’t mean the star ingredient isn’t effective; instead I’m treated to gentle exfoliation that has left my pores clearer and reduced breakouts and whiteheads. My skin isn’t perfect, but for seven bucks I’m more than happy with the dent it’s made in my acne. —B.C. $7 at The Ordinary $7 at Ulta Most Popular Style Jennifer Lawrence Just Embraced the Controversial Y2K Drop-Waist Trend By Emily Tannenbaum Style Kristen Stewart Goes Braless in Sheer Chanel By Emily Tannenbaum Style Dakota Johnson Is Back on Her Sheer Bodysuit Game By Emily Tannenbaum Courtesy of brand 23/25 The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA The Ordinary’s Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA is perfect for dealing with dryness—and I like to apply a pea-size dollop after washing my face with a cleanser. The moisturizer comes out with a sunscreen-like consistency, but it blends into my skin in seconds. After a week of using it, my cheeks are plump and flake-free, probably because it has hyaluronic acid, which helps skin cells retain moisture. With such noticeable results for a low-maintenance moisturizer, I’m counting on this for the rest of the year. —Halie LeSavage, contributor $11 at The Ordinary $11 at SkinStore Courtesy of brand 24/25 The Ordinary High-Adherence Silicone Primer The first thing I noticed about The Ordinary’s High-Adherence Silicone Primer was its texture, which feels just like a creamy moisturizing lotion. Once applied, it made my skin feel so soft that I almost didn’t want to put on makeup for fear of losing the silkiness. I, of course, eventually did, and it was a good thing: My makeup went on smooth and stayed matte throughout the day. My one complaint is that I wish the labeling explained the effects it would have, since I probably would have totally passed by this in a store for that reason. But at least now you know. —Marla Goller, contributor $6 at The Ordinary $6 at Look Fantastic Courtesy of brand 25/25 The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Exfoliating Blemish Solution As someone who has struggled with acne since middle school, I’m very familiar with salicylic acid. This is a power ingredient to fight breakouts, so it’s important to be sparing and to be and gentle on skin when enlisting it. Luckily, The Ordinary’s 2% solution is as gentle as it gets, but still very effective at minimizing and preventing acne. Beta hydroxy acid (BHA) helps exfoliate and clear pores—just make sure you’re using sunscreen to prevent any sun damage, since your skin will be extra-sensitive. —A.Y.
