Introducing Skincare Acids | The Ordinary

For most of my adult life my skincare products were all plant based and I concentrated more on keeping my routine minimal and simple. However, over the past year to 18 months I have grown my skincare collection to include a range of products which now include skincare acids. The reason for changing up my beauty skincare routine has been for a few different reasons which include:

1. Anti-aging
2. Uneven skin
3. Open Pores
4. Acne Scars
5. Congested skin

This year I was very conscious about turning 30, especially as my skin has always been such a problem for me. I wanted to see what else was out there to help with my skin concerns and branch out from my comfort zone of repurchasing the same skincare products.

One thing I have changed and now started to include in my daily routine are a handful of skincare acids. I have a few different brands that I am currently using but I wanted to share my thoughts on the famous skincare acid brand The Ordinary.

Over the years I have seen this brand circling on social media, with positive reviews and simple yet eye catching packaging, so I decided it was time to do some research and start to slowly introduce skincare acids into my daily routine. So when I was ordering some bits off of my usual go to site Cult Beauty I treated myself to three of The Ordinary skincare products.

1. Salicylic Acid 2% Solution
2. Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
3. AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution

Before I start explaining what I use each one for, I want to just put a disclaimer out there:

1. Firstly, be cautious about using skincare acids especially if you have sensitive skin (patch test before use).
2. Give your skin time to get used to a product by introdocuing one at a time and slowly over a course of a few weeks.
3. I have a combination/oily skin so I have picked these products to help with my skincare concerns.

THE ORDINARY – SALICYLIC ACID 2% SOLUTION

Salicylic Acid is one acid I have used in the past, for years I used the Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions Clinical Clearing Gel which compared to The Ordinary’s £4.20 is quite pricey retailing at £22 for a 30ml.

This Salicylic Acid solution is silicone alcohol free, vegan and cruelty free. It is also a beta hydroxy acid which exfoliates the skin to help reduce the appearances of spots/blemishes and helps to prevent them becoming aggravated and sore. There is nothing worse than putting a product on your face and it stinging and drying your skin and I was pleasantly surprised that this formula is so gentle and soothing as it includes extracts of Witch Hazel.

I use this product anytime a blemish appears and gentle tap on a small amount a few times a day to keep the area from becoming inflamed. As the texture is so light and non sticky it fits in perfectly with my other skincare products and has become my go to to help with my congested pores.

NIACINAMIDE 10% + ZINC 1%

This high strength vitamin and mineral blemish formula is one I was a bit sceptical about because of the mixed reviews but after some research I decided to give it a go to help decongest my pores and prevent more blemishes. Niacinamide, also known as a Vitamin B3, has a small amount of Zinc to help balance the sebum activity within the skin.

I use this product a couple of times a week in replacement of my usual serum to help keep blemishes at bay or if I can feel my skin needs a decongest.

AHA 30% + BHA 2% PEELING SOLUTION

This product is the one I was most worried about. The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution is a 10 minute exfoliating facial in a bottle and I haven’t experienced a product like this before. I may have spent 10 years working as a skincare specialist but the brands I worked for were all plant based and never have I used skincare acids before using this product.

Another concern I had was the amount of different ingredients within this one product – 30% Alpha Hydroxy Acids (Glycolic, Lactic, Tartaric, Citric), 2% Beta Hydroxy Acid (Salicylic Acid), Hyaluronic Acid Crosspolymer, Vitamin B5, Black Carrot and Tasmanian Pepperberry. So for my first use I only left the product on my face (avoiding the mouth and eye area) for 5 minutes, half the recommended time of 10 minutes. On application I started to feel my skin tingling and sometimes I still feel this on my skin but this subscides after the first few minutes. Obviously, if you feel this tingling turn into a burning sensation remove the product with warm water and then splash on some cold water and pat your skin dry.

I use this product once every two weeks to three weeks, to help keep my skin smooth and even. Over the past couple of months I have noticed my pores are less congested and my acne scars have started to fade.

HOW MY SKIN FEELS USING SKINCARE ACIDS

After a few months of incorporating skincare acids into my skincare routine, I’m so pleased I took the plunge to buy these 3 products. My skin is looking and feeling so much better, more radiant as well as smooth and even. I don’t suffer with severe acne but I do have trouble with regular spots/blemishes and I use these products alongside a daily and regular skincare routine. Check out some of my other posts for day and night skincare routine advice. One thing I do really want to exaggerate is always make sure to wear sun protection of at least SPF 30 on your skin (which you should be doing already, rain or shine) but especially if you are using skincare acids as the skin will be more vulnerable to sun damage if you don’t take precautions to protect your skin after using this products.

I am so pleased I tried The Ordinary skincare products and I still have my eye on some other bits I eventually want to try. This brand is so affordable and a great price to “just give it a go!”

Have you tried anything from The Ordinary yet?

Pinar xo