{"id":15184584,"date":"2026-06-28T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-28T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/ive-used-the-ordinary-since-day-one-these-are-the-products-worth-your-money\/"},"modified":"2026-06-28T06:00:57","modified_gmt":"2026-06-28T10:00:57","slug":"ive-used-the-ordinary-since-day-one-these-are-the-products-worth-your-money","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/ive-used-the-ordinary-since-day-one-these-are-the-products-worth-your-money\/","title":{"rendered":"I've Used The Ordinary Since Day One\u2014These Are the Products Worth Your Money"},"content":{"rendered":"
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There are few skincare<\/a> brands that have disrupted the beauty industry quite like The Ordinary<\/a>. When it launched back in 2016, it completely changed the conversation around skincare, putting ingredients<\/a>\u2014not marketing buzzwords\u2014front and centre. Suddenly, shoppers were discussing niacinamide, retinol<\/a> and glycolic acid<\/a> in the same way they might talk about a new lipstick launch, and perhaps most impressively, we could buy these ingredients for a fraction of the price of many competitors.<\/p>\n

The brand’s affordability is no accident. Rather than investing heavily in elaborate packaging, complex formulations or lengthy ingredient lists, The Ordinary focuses on tried-and-tested actives, straightforward formulations and simple clinical-looking bottles. By stripping away many of the extras, the brand is able to offer effective skincare at prices that still feel refreshingly accessible, even in today’s beauty landscape.<\/p>\n

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\"Grace<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>

(Image credit: @thatgracegirl<\/a>)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I remember being introduced to The Ordinary right before it launched. A friend who worked in PR told me that DECIEM\u2014the company behind one of my favourite skincare brands, NIOD\u2014was about to release something that would shake up the industry. At the time, it sounded ambitious, but it’s fair to say that she wasn’t wrong. What followed was one of the most influential beauty launches of the last decade.<\/p>\n

Since then, The Ordinary has become a permanent fixture in my skincare collection. While the brand initially built its reputation on ingredient-led facial skincare, its range has expanded significantly over the years to include everything from cleansers and moisturisers to bodycare and haircare<\/a>. With so many products now available, it can be difficult to know where to start\u2014or which formulas are genuinely worth adding to your routine.<\/p>\n

As someone who has tested skincare for a living and used The Ordinary products for almost a decade, I’ve worked my way through a significant portion of the range. Below, you’ll find the products I continue to recommend, repurchase and reach for most often.<\/p>\n

The Best The Ordinary Products<\/span><\/h3>\n
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  1. Best Overall: <\/strong>The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%<\/a><\/li>\n
  2. Best Cleanser: <\/strong>The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser<\/a><\/li>\n
  3. Best Toner: <\/strong>The Ordinary Saccharomyces Ferment 30% Milky Toner<\/a><\/li>\n
  4. Best Serum: <\/strong>The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum<\/a><\/li>\n
  5. Best Moisturiser: <\/strong>The Ordinary Natural Moisturising Factors + HA<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    1. The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%<\/h2>\n
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    \"AzelaicBest Overall<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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    The Ordinary<\/div>\n
    Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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    Key Ingredients: <\/strong>Azelaic acid, dimethicone, tocopherol (vitamin E)<\/p>\n

    Azelaic acid remains one of the most underrated skincare ingredients in my opinion, and The Ordinary’s Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% is one of the most affordable ways to add it to your routine. The creamy treatment helps to visibly brighten dull skin, reduce the appearance of post-breakout marks, and improve overall skin tone without the irritation that can sometimes accompany stronger acids or retinoids. I particularly like recommending this to those dealing with redness, uneven pigmentation, or persistent blemish marks, as it manages to tackle multiple concerns at once. The silicone-rich texture can feel a little unusual initially, but it layers surprisingly well after lighter serums and before moisturiser.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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    Pros<\/h4>\n