The Ordinary Decoded: Which Serums You Actually Need for Your Skin Type
There’s a certain kind of overwhelm that only The Ordinary can produce. You go to their website or stand in Sephora, looking at rows of clinical-looking bottles with names that read like chemistry homework—Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%, Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5, Granactive Retinoid 2%—and you think: I have no idea what I’m doing.
You’re not alone. The Ordinary democratized skincare by making active ingredients affordable. But they also assumed we all understood what those ingredients do, when to use them, and how to combine them without making our faces fall off.
Consider this your translation guide.
First: Understanding Your Skin Type
Before we talk products, we need to talk about you. Different skin types need different things, and using the wrong actives—even good ones—leads to the kind of frustration that makes you want to give up on skincare entirely.
Dry skin: Feels tight, especially after cleansing. May have visible flaking. Drinks moisturizer like it’s water in a desert.
Oily skin: Shiny by midday. Prone to enlarged pores and congestion. Makeup slides off. Blotting papers are a close personal friend.
Combination skin: Oily in the T-zone (forehead, nose, chin), dry or normal elsewhere. Requires strategic product placement.
Sensitive skin: Reacts to new products easily. Redness, stinging, or irritation are common. Fragrance is the enemy.
Aging concerns: Fine lines, loss of firmness, dullness, hyperpigmentation. May overlap with any of the above.
Got it? Good. Now let’s build your routine.
The Ordinary for Dry Skin
Your skin needs hydration, moisture, and gentle support. Harsh actives will make things worse.
The Must-Haves
[AFFILIATE: The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5]
This is your hydration workhorse. Hyaluronic acid holds up to 1,000 times its weight in water, pulling moisture into your skin. Apply to damp skin—this is crucial—and follow with moisturizer to seal it in.
Use: Morning and/or evening, on damp skin.
[AFFILIATE: The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA]
A moisturizer that reinforces your skin barrier with amino acids, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid. Not glamorous, but effective. Affordable enough to use generously.
Use: Morning and evening, as your final step (before sunscreen in AM).
The Nice-to-Haves
[AFFILIATE: The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane]
An oil that mimics what your skin produces naturally. Lightweight, non-comedogenic, sinks in without sitting on top growing. A few drops mixed with your moisturizer transforms dry winter skin.
Use: Evening, mixed with moisturizer or applied after.
Avoid for Dry Skin
– Salicylic Acid (too drying)
– High-strength retinoids initially (too irritating)
– AHA/BHA peels (too aggressive)
The Ordinary for Oily Skin
Your skin produces excess sebum, clogs easily, and needs ingredients that regulate oil without stripping.
The Must-Haves
[AFFILIATE: The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%]
The cult favorite for a reason. Niacinamide regulates sebum production, minimizes pores, and calms inflammation. Zinc adds antibacterial properties. Most people with oily skin see visible improvement within weeks.
Use: Morning and/or evening, before heavier products.
[AFFILIATE: The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution]
Oil-soluble, meaning it gets into pores and cleans them from inside out. The key to preventing blackheads and keeping congestion under control.
Use: Evening only, 2-3 times per week to start.
The Nice-to-Haves
[AFFILIATE: The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution]
The famous red peel. Use once a week maximum, for 10 minutes, to dissolve dead skin and clear pores. Not for sensitive skin, not for the faint of heart, but transformative for those who tolerate it.
Use: Once weekly, evening only, 10 minutes max. Follow with hydration.
Avoid for Oily Skin
– Heavy oils (may cause breakouts)
– Over-using actives (oily skin still needs moisture)
The Ordinary for Combination Skin
The challenge: treating different zones differently. The solution: strategic layering.
The Must-Haves
[AFFILIATE: The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%]
Use on the T-zone where oil lives. It won’t dry out drier areas if you skip them.
[AFFILIATE: The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5]
Use everywhere, especially on drier cheeks. This doesn’t add oil—it adds water.
The Nice-to-Haves
[AFFILIATE: The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA]
If you have dark spots or uneven tone, this brightens without irritation. Works for all skin types.
Use: Morning and evening, after cleansing.
The Strategic Approach
Think of your face as zones. Exfoliating acids go on oily zones. Hydrating products go everywhere. Oils only on dry zones. It sounds complicated, but after a week it becomes second nature.
The Ordinary for Sensitive Skin
Less is more. Gentle is everything. Your barrier is probably compromised, so strengthening it is priority one.
The Must-Haves
[AFFILIATE: The Ordinary Amino Acids + B5]
A hydrating serum that’s almost impossible to react to. Amino acids support skin repair, B5 soothes. Boring in the best way.
Use: Morning and evening.
[AFFILIATE: The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA]
Barrier support without fragrance, without actives, without anything your skin might object to.
The Nice-to-Haves
[AFFILIATE: The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil]
Rich in vitamins A and C, but gentle. Supports repair without irritation. If your skin tolerates oils, this is the one to try.
Use: Evening, as last step.
Avoid for Sensitive Skin
– AHA/BHA peels (too strong)
– Vitamin C in high concentrations (irritating)
– Retinoids above 0.5% (too much too fast)
– Anything with fragrance (The Ordinary is already fragrance-free)
The Ordinary for Aging Concerns
Fine lines, loss of firmness, dullness, dark spots. Retinoids and vitamin C are your friends here—used correctly.
The Must-Haves
[AFFILIATE: The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion]
Retinoid without the harshness. This formula delivers results with minimal irritation, making it perfect for retinoid beginners or those who’ve been burned by tretinoin.
Use: Evening only, start 2-3 times per week.
[AFFILIATE: The Ordinary Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12%]
A stable, gentle vitamin C. Won’t oxidize as fast as pure ascorbic acid, won’t irritate like some forms. Brightens, supports collagen, protects against environmental damage.
Use: Morning, before moisturizer and sunscreen.
The Nice-to-Haves
[AFFILIATE: The Ordinary Buffet]
A multi-peptide serum that targets multiple signs of aging at once. Peptides signal your skin to produce more collagen. Layerable with most other products.
Use: Morning and evening, after cleansing.
[AFFILIATE: The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA]
For dark spots and hyperpigmentation. Works gradually but consistently.
How to Layer The Ordinary Products
The rule is simple: thin to thick, water to oil.
General Order:
1. Cleanse
2. Water-based serums (Hyaluronic Acid, Niacinamide, Alpha Arbutin)
3. Oil-based serums (Granactive Retinoid, Squalane)
4. Moisturizer
5. Face oil (if using)
6. Sunscreen (AM only)
Wait times: Most products don’t require waiting between layers. Exception: strong actives like acids should sit for a few minutes before adding the next step.
The Combinations to Avoid
Not everything plays nicely together:
| Don’t Mix | Reason |
|———–|——–|
| Vitamin C + Niacinamide | May cause flushing in some people (morning/evening split works) |
| AHAs/BHAs + Retinoids | Too much exfoliation, barrier damage |
| Multiple strong actives same night | Irritation, damage, undoing your progress |
When in doubt, simplify. Your skin has its whole life to try everything. Tonight, it just needs to heal.
A Sample Routine
Morning:
1. Gentle cleanser
2. [AFFILIATE: The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5] on damp skin
3. [AFFILIATE: The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%]
4. Moisturizer
5. Sunscreen
Evening:
1. Cleanse (double cleanse if wearing makeup/sunscreen)
2. [AFFILIATE: The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion] (3x weekly)
3. [AFFILIATE: The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA]
4. [AFFILIATE: The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane] (optional)
The Honest Truth
The Ordinary works. The prices are almost suspiciously low for ingredients that genuinely deliver results. But the brand requires homework—understanding what you’re putting on your face and why.
That understanding is worth having. Not just because it saves money (though it does), but because skin that responds to intentional care looks and feels different from skin that’s been product-burned by random purchases.
You don’t need everything. You need the right things, used consistency, given time to work.
Start with two or three products. Use them for eight weeks. Then assess. That’s the unglamorous path to genuinely better skin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which The Ordinary products should I use together?
Stick to water-based serums together (niacinamide, hyaluronic acid) and oil-based together (rosehip, squalane). Don’t mix direct acids with retinol, and don’t use niacinamide with pure vitamin C.
What is the best The Ordinary product for aging skin?
Retinol 0.2% in Squalane is effective for anti-aging, starting low and slow. Pair it with the Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 for hydration and the Natural Moisturizing Factors for barrier support.
How do I build a routine with The Ordinary?
Start with three products maximum: a hydrating serum (Hyaluronic Acid), one treatment (Retinol at night OR Vitamin C in morning), and a moisturizer. Add products slowly over months, not days.
Products Mentioned
– [AFFILIATE: The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5]
– [AFFILIATE: The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%]
– [AFFILIATE: The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion]
– [AFFILIATE: The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA]
– [AFFILIATE: The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane]
– [AFFILIATE: The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution]
– [AFFILIATE: The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution]
– [AFFILIATE: The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA]
– [AFFILIATE: The Ordinary Amino Acids + B5]
– [AFFILIATE: The Ordinary Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12%]
– [AFFILIATE: The Ordinary Buffet]
– [AFFILIATE: The Ordinary Rose Hip Seed Oil]
Which skin type did you identify with? I’d love to know what you’re currently using and what’s working (or not).
Leave a Reply