Or you want a quick look: The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5
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 $20. 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.
[external_link_head]But despite its low price point, the brand can be intimidating. Because the names of the products refer to skin-care ingredients–not results—they all sound like something out of an advanced medical textbook. Meaning 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 narrow down what’s actually worth adding to your top shelf. Read on for our honest reviews of the best The Ordinary products.
[external_link offset=1]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.
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 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 with 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. And if that doesn't sell you, maybe this will: Out of all the options out there, Glamour readers voted this the best hyaluronic acid serum in our 2020 Beauty Awards. —Mattie Kahn, culture director
Courtesy of brand
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 associate
[external_link offset=2]courtesy of brand
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 in with 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
