Make Up Review

The Ordinary Skincare Routine: 5 Great Products For Oily Skin

by Mohammad Ali Ayaz on Jan 04, 2024

The first time I heard about The Ordinary was in 2017 on some blog post I happened to click in. Honestly, it sounded way too good to be true… an affordable brand with amazing benefits? Something doesn’t add up.

Another thing that set off alarm bells for me is how many products they have. How can all of these products be good? Not to mention, how confusing must this be for the everyday person, someone who may not even know their own skin type?

Yes, before you go shopping for any skincare products, you must know your skin type and what your specific skin type needs. It’s the only way to find the right product for your skin and not waste your money on stuff that will only amplify your skin issues and concerns.

P.S. If you’re confused about your skin type or are wondering if maybe your skin type has changed (yes, that happens pretty commonly) I want to share my free downloadable Skin Type Guide. There you will find out what is your skin type so you can better understand which product you should choose from The Ordinary or any other brand you want to try out! 

skin type guide

I also have a blog post called Skincare for Beginners that outlines the five steps to build your own skincare routine! I think it’s super helpful, not just for beginners, but for anyone who wants to revisit their skin care regime!

So anyway, back to The Ordinary skincare routine and oily skin specifically. While I don’t like to endorse any one brand, especially when I haven’t had a chance to try out all of the products for a long period of time, I know people have questions about this brand. So, I thought I’d share some of my thoughts on a few products that *might* help people with oily skin. Keep in mind, I am not an esthetician and these are just my thoughts. Some of the links are affiliate links — which is what helps me keep this content free for you!

The Ordinary Skincare Routine: My Top Five Favorites For Oily Skin

No need to drag this out, my top five favorite products from The Ordinary for oily and acne-prone skin are Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5, Niacinamide 10% + Zinc, EUK 134 0.1%, Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% and Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion. 

I get it. These names sound pretty scientific, so let’s dive in a little deeper and I’ll tell you what each one can do for your skin.

1) AZELAIC ACID SUSPENSION 10%: ACNE TREATMENT

Azelaic acid the ordinary skincare routine for oily skin

This is a cream-gel made from Azelaic Acid, which is a substance that is naturally produced by yeast that lives on healthy skin. The texture is super light, and for a lot of people, it instantly makes your skin feel softer.

Azelaic Acid is an antioxidant, and it also has anti-inflammatory properties, so it can be great for acne spots. It also helps a lot with sebum control, while keeping skin feeling hydrated.

2) HYALURONIC ACID 2% + B5: MOISTURIZER

hyaluronic acid the ordinary skincare routine for oily skin

Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 is a water-based serum. Most people can benefit from using a Hyaluronic Acid, either in serum form or in a moisturizer. They even make foundation with Hyaluronic Acid now.

The serum from The Ordinary has a light texture and shouldn’t make your oily skin feel any oilier. The B5 in it is meant to provide extra hydration and you can use it both in the morning and at night underneath your moisturizer.

3) NIACINAMIDE 10% + ZINC: ACNE TREATMENT

 

Niacinamide 10% + Zinc the ordinary skincare routine for oily skin

This is one of the best-selling products from The Ordinary. People are crazy about it. The brand has even created bigger bottles because of the demand!

Niacinamide, which is also known as Vitamin B3, helps to reduce the appearance of skin blemishes and clogged pores. It also helps to balance your sebum levels while keeping your skin hydrated.

Zinc is a great anti-inflammatory substance that also helps fight free radicals. Apart from those anti-acne characteristics, it also stimulates your collagen production, which is great to slow the aging process. I love that the texture is nice and light, even though it may feel a little sticky right after you apply it. 

4) EUK 134 0.1%: ANTIOXIDANT

euk the ordinary

EUK 134 0.1% is a powerful antioxidant. What is this good for? Well, antioxidants fight the free radicals that can damage the elastin and collagen in your skin. When these things get damaged, that’s when you start to notice fine lines and wrinkles and other signs of aging. 

Antioxidants like this one are great. You can apply it in the morning to protect your skin throughout the day (as recommended here, in my Skincare Guide). Just keep in mind that you shouldn’t use it along with strong acids because that will cause it to lose effectiveness.

5) GRANACTIVE RETINOID 2% EMULSION: ANTI-AGING AND ACNE TREATMENT

granactive retinoid the ordinary

Granactive Retinoid 2% is from the retinoids family, which basically means that it’s an anti-aging treatment. Here’s what The Ordinary says Granactive Retinoid does for your skin. In essence, it “works by accelerating the rate of skin cell turnover, making way for newer, fresher, and healthier cell growth underneath.”

Apart from being a fantastic way to prevent skin aging, it can also be an effective way to treat and prevent acne. Be sure to only apply it at night because retinoids might make your skin more sensitive to the sun. 

Which is a good reminder… don’t forget to apply sunscreen every single day, ok?!

While I haven’t tested a ton of products from The Ordinary, the ones I’ve listed above do seem to be legit. Of course, I am always naturally suspicious when the price point is so low, so I have been watching this one just to be sure. But, so far, it seems like the hype might be justified. 

The Ordinary Skincare Routine For Oily Skin: My Regimen

Part of a great skincare routine is knowing which order to use your products. I get questions on this all the time, so I thought I’d share how I would combine these five products to create a daily skincare routine so you can understand better how to use them.

the ordinary skincare

Btw, save this image on Pinterest and follow me there 😉

THE ORDINARY SKINCARE ROUTINE – MORNING

  1. Cleansing: I start my daily routine by washing my face with Vichy Normaderm Daily deep cleansing gel. It works wonders to remove the excess sebum from my skin, making it feel fresh (I know it’s not from The Ordinary, but there’s nothing from them I would replace this cleansing gel with)
  2. Serum: Next, I would either apply Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 and EUK 134 0.1% or Azelaic Acid alone.
  3. Sunscreen: Always, always, always use an SPF, preferably separate from what’s included in your foundation or primer. Personally, I don’t trust that the SPF in those products are as effective as a regular SPF on its own.

THE ORDINARY SKINCARE ROUTINE – EVENING

  1. Cleansing: Again, I wash my face with Vichy Normaderm Daily deep cleansing gel.
  2. Toning: I sometimes use Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution, also from The Ordinary. That product is not on this list because it’s honestly not one of my faves. I have other toners I like a lot more. Either way, use something that feels good and works well for you. I can give a few recommendations if you want some, just message me.
  3. Serum: I either apply Niacinamide 10% + Zinc and Granactive Retinoid 2% or Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 and Granactive Retinoid 2%.
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