Welcome to our beginner’s guide to The Ordinary. If you’re new to skincare or simply curious about us, you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, we’ll let you know a little bit more about us, and why we do what we do before introducing you to some great products if you just don’t know where to start.

At The Ordinary, our mission is to democratize skincare. We want to formulate quality and efficacious products, with integrity. We are a team of skincare experts and enthusiasts who seek to lead the way in beauty with our very own lab to produce skincare products that are clinically tested, vegan, and cruelty-free.

Our commitment to transparency means that we provide you with straightforward, science-based information about our products and their active ingredients. We provide no-frills formulations that target your skin concerns at honest prices.

With our ingredient-focused products, The Ordinary can help you build a skincare regimen customized to your specific needs. Whether you’re looking to target fine lines and wrinkles, searching for solutions for congested skin, or just an everyday simple routine, we’ve got you covered.

Fine lines, wrinkles, and loss of skin firmness are natural signs of aging that may appear as we get older. Here’s a simple 3-step age-supporting regimen using some of our most-loved products:

AM & PM Step 1: Prep
Start your regimen with a gentle cleanse to remove dirt, makeup, and any impurities on the skin. We recommend our Squalane Cleanser, a moisturizing all-in-one cleanser that uses squalane — a molecule that mimics our skin’s natural oils — to remove oil and makeup. It’s good for all skin types, won’t clog your pores, and is gentle and soap-free.

AM Step 2: Treat
Once your skin is cleansed, we can follow up with your treat products. In the morning and evening apply our Multi-Peptide + HA Serum. Formerly known as “Buffet”, this multi-function serum combines four well-suited peptide technologies, skin-friendly amino acids, and multiple hyaluronic acid complexes to target signs of aging. The water-based Multi-Peptide + HA Serum improves skin’s smoothness, skin elasticity and firmness while improving the look of crow’s feet.

PM Step 2: Treat
In the evening, after you’ve applied Multi-Peptide + HA Serum, apply Retinal 0.2% Emulsion. Our highest-strength retinoid, this serum rapidly firms and smooths skin, noticeably improving the look of dark spots while refining skin’s texture. Further, you’ll see improved skin firmness and improved look of lines and wrinkles, including crow’s feet, frown lines, and forehead wrinkles.

AM & PM Step 3: Seal
Lastly, complete your skincare routine by sealing in those skincare benefits with a moisturizer such as Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA which helps to support your skin's hydration barrier. Our Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA is good for all skin types. It works through a collection of ingredients that appear naturally in your skin, like amino and fatty acids, triglycerides, ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and more.

Skin becomes congested when there is a buildup of dead skin cells, sweat, impurities or sebum in our pores. When our pores are congested they can appear visibly larger, develop pimples and blackheads, and appear irritated. We can target these concerns with ingredients focused on exfoliating while also supporting our skin barrier. Try this 3-step regimen below:

AM & PM Step 1: Prep
Just like with the previous regimen, we want to start with a cleanser such as our balm-to-oil Squalane Cleanser. If you double-cleanse, you may want to follow with a second cleanser such as the Glucoside Foaming Cleanser -- A gentle, foaming cleanser that effectively cleanses the skin whilst maintaining the skin’s moisture barrier.

AM & PM Step 2: Treat
After cleansing, follow with a targeted serum such as Balancing & Clarifying Serum, which can be used in the morning and evening. This formulation features seven technologies, which together help to reduce the look of pores, excess oil, and uneven skin texture. It also provides all-day hydration and strengthens the skin barrier. This serum is a simple way to treat multiple concerns at one time.

Weekly Step 2: Treat
Once a week in the PM, you can apply our Salicylic Acid 2% Masque to exfoliate after cleansing. This masque is infused with charcoal and clay to combat dull tone and improve texture leaving skin clean and refreshed. The salicylic acid in this formula targets pore congestion and helps to remove dead skin cells and excess oil, which promotes soft, smooth skin.

After Salicylic Acid 2% Masque, you can apply Balancing and Clarifying Serum before the next step.

AM & PM Step 3: Seal
After cleansing and applying any serums, seal your skin with a moisturizer. Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA is our original hydrator, but if you’re looking for something a little more lightweight you can try our Natural Moisturizing Factors + Beta Glucan. Our gel moisturizer is suitable for all skin types, but because of its lightweight texture, it is especially suited for oily and combination skin. 

If you truly don’t know where to start, don’t fret. This regimen is for you. This regimen is ideal if you’re simply looking to start a simple regimen to keep your skin happy, healthy-looking and hydrated.

AM & PM Step 1: Prep Once again we’ll start with the basics. Cleanse your skin with the Squalane Cleanser or our new Glycolipid Cream Cleanser which uses plant-derived cleansing agents to cleanse the skin without stripping, and supports the skin barrier to maintain hydration.

AM & PM Step 2: Treat Next, we enter the treat phase with Aloe 2% + NAG 2% Solution. This lightweight serum is formulated for post-blemish skin. It reduces the appearance of post-blemish marks by targeting both tone and texture, helping to even them out. It also helps hydrate skin.

For even more moisture, follow with Soothing & Barrier Support Serum. The skin’s barrier recovers two hours after application, and it provides an immediate 86% boost in skin hydration. It also soothes skin by helping reduce the look of redness and dryness, and helps to even skin tone and texture.

AM & PM Step 3: Seal Last, we’ll seal in our skin benefits with Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA. For even more hydration, try our Natural Natural Moisturizing Factors + PhytoCeramides which is our most nourishing moisturizer with four times more moisturizing emollients, and two times more humectants than the original Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA.

With all of our regimens, we always recommend applying sun protection in the morning. Especially when using any exfoliating or resurfacing products such as Retinoids and Acids to ensure your skin is fully protected.

Treat your body’s skin like you do your face with this regimen. While our face and neck area account for about 5% of our skin’s surface area, our body accounts for 91%. Our body care regimen features ingredients you may recognize from our facial formulations, like niacinamide, salicylic acid and natural moisturizing factors.

Niacinamide 5% Face and Body Emulsion is formulated to work on both face and body skin. It  targets the look of uneven skin tone, feel of skin texture, and the appearance of dark spots on body skin. After cleansing, use 1-2 pumps for the face and/or use a thin layer on the body; repeat morning and night. This formulation is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin.

Salicylic Acid 0.5% Body Serum has been formulated for use on the body to exfoliate the skin, help unclog pores, and smooth skin texture. Its lower concentration allows for application to a larger area of skin. Salicylic acid can be used on all skin types, including oily skin. Apply as needed for clearer body skin.

Natural Moisturizing Factors + Inulin Body Lotion is The Ordinary’s first body lotion, and it provides both immediate and long-term hydration, and strengthens the skin barrier after one application. It keeps skin hydrated, even after washing. This lotion is suitable for all skin types, including those with dry skin. Use anywhere on your body that needs extra moisture support.

Before introducing any new skincare products into your regimen, including The Ordinary, patch testing is always recommended. Patch testing can be a way to help ensure that your skin is compatible with the new products before fully incorporating them into your routine. Check out our step-by-step guide on how to perform a patch test. 

Patch-testing is not fool-proof, and you can still experience a reaction, but there are some additional steps to try and ensure you have the best chance for success with your new products. 

Start gradually:

So you bought a new set of products. You’re excited (we are too!) but the key is to go slow. Incorporate one new product at a time into your regimen. This approach allows you to monitor how your skin responds to each addition, and if there’s something it doesn’t like you can better identify which product it may be.

Frequency: We’ve got a theme going on here - go slow. With new products, your skin has to adjust. Incorporating a new product every other day and building up daily or twice daily use will allow your skin to become accustomed to it.

Adjust as Needed: We could give you all the tips in the world, but only you know your skin best. If you feel discomfort or like something just isn’t working, it’s okay to take a break or to stop altogether.

To learn more, review our Regimen Basics or create your own regimen with our Regimen Builder. Browse our Bestsellers to discover some of the most-loved products from The Ordinary.