Lyss;

Well, it's safe to say that in the last six months my skincare routine has somewhat gone down the drain. I was always one to invest in products that benefit my skin more-so than makeup products, but a good skincare routine can get pretty expensive, especially if you want to put only the best on your face. I'm sure all my fellow beauty lovers know exactly what I'm talking about. So, in an attempt to save some money here and there, a few of my well loved products were not repurchased. I didn't know how much I loved a luxurious regimen until it was gone. I decided I couldn't go on like this much longer so I am currently making an attempt to get my routine and products back up to par, but there's a catch; I want to do this without totally breaking the bank.  

I don't know about you, but I've been seeing the hype over a new beauty company that is apparently reinventing the meaning of good skincare; The Ordinary. This brand claims they want to put integrity & honesty back into functional beauty. I mean, their motto is, "clinical formulations with integrity". What could be better than that!? They take technologies that are known & effective in the skincare world and offer them at honorable prices. Prices that, in my opinion, no other brand can even compete with. It all sounds too good to be true, right?

Well, maybe not...

I decided to go ahead and take the plunge & see what all the hype is about. I ordered four of their products and my total came to a whopping $30.20! Honestly, if you take a trip to Sephora or Ulta, it's difficult to find even ONE quality product for less than that price. With The Ordinary, the most expensive product I ordered was $9.80, and the rest were around $5, $6, and $7 each. It's a skincare lovers dream come true!

The four products I ordered are:

Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%

Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG

100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil

Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA 

Another cool thing about this brand (as you can see from the above list) is that what you see is what you get. There's no fancy shmancy packaging or names. The names on their products are exactly what they are & what's in them. Now, this can be a little intimidating, because if you're like me you probably have no idea what half of these things do or what they even are. Don't let that turn you away, though. Their website is super helpful and easy to follow. All the products are put under categories and each has a description of exactly what it does. They even have a regimen guide to help you understand in which order you should be applying your products. I used this guide myself in order to make sure I'm not going to mix products that may cause a reaction when used together.

After I cleanse and tone my face I go in with Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%. I use this only at night because it can cause irritation if worn in the sun. I take about a pea size and put this over my cheeks, jawline, nose, and forehead. It goes on super smooth and kind of has the consistency and feeling of a primer. I let this sink in for five to ten minutes before I continue with the rest of my routine to really let my skin absorb all of the greatness. Immediately after, my skin feels velvety, soft, and as though all the unevenness of my skin has disappeared. That's exactly why I picked this as one of my first products to try. It's goal is to brighten and improve the skin's texture. Texture has always been my biggest skin issue. I have KP, which leaves me with tiny little bumps on most of my face. This is one of only a handful of products that has actually made a difference with these bumps. For anyone who suffers from the terribly annoying bumps like I do, I seriously recommend you try this out, or anyone who's looking to improve the texture of their skin.

After I let the Azelaic Acid sink in I follow with the Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG. This sounds weird, I know, because usually eye treatments come last in most routines. According to their regimen guide this should be applied before any oils or creams. So, I went against my better judgment and followed their suggestion. It comes in a convenient dropper like many of their products do. I take one drop of this between my ring fingers and pat & massage it into my under eye area. Trust me; a little goes a long way. Unlike many eye creams or gels that I've tried, this doesn't leave my eye area feeling greasy or sticky. It sinks into the skin super fast and leaves my under eyes feeling smooth and tight (a good tight). I've been using this for a little over a week and already see a difference in the dark shadows under my eyes. Oh, and did I mention it's only $6.70!? This stuff may have me saying goodbye to my Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Eye Concentrate. Sorry Kiehl's!

Next is my new favorite part in my skincare routine! 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil. This stuff is amazing. Rose hip seed oil is great for age prevention & rejuvenating the skin. So, what I'm saying is that it can be incorporated into anyone's skin care regimen. I take the dropper and drop a little bit all over my face. I tend to use this product to really massage my skin and get some blood flow to my face. I do this anywhere from one to three minutes every night. It's like a facial at home, because who doesn't like a little pampering!? You could probably get away with using this just once a day depending on your skin type, but I like to use this in the morning and at night. Mostly because I suffer from dry skin and this really helps to moisturize and plump. I also love the glow & slight dewiness it gives me underneath foundation. This was the most expensive product I purchased from The Ordinary at $9.80. That is still a great price for an organic, cold-pressed oil. Five stars for the rose hip seed oil!

Lastly is the Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA . This stuff is good, but not great for me. As I mentioned, I have pretty dry skin. If I wanted to use this as my main morning & night moisturizer it wouldn't work, because it's just not hydrating enough for me. That's not to say that I don't like this product and don't have room for it in my regimen. This moisturizer is a surface hydrator, making it great to use as a barrier on the skin to lock in moisture and keep the outer layer of the skin hydrated and protected. I like to use this on no makeup days. I'll apply this after my oil to keep my skin hydrated and protect it from harsh outdoor elements. If you already have a moisturizer that you love you could use this as a second step to keep all that goodness locked in & to help keep your skin from losing moisture throughout the day or night.

Well, there you have it. The low-down on the new kid on the block in the skincare world. Whether you're just starting out in skin care or are looking to replace or add products in your routine, The Ordinary definitely has something for everybody. Most of us skin care junkies love having a luxurious regimen, but it's hard to achieve that without dropping some serious coin. Now, with this brand, it doesn't have to be. I will certainly be keeping all the products I purchased in my routine, and may even look to try out some more of their products. They do make foundations and primers.
Just sayin..