Your Guide To Choosing The Ordinary Skincare Gifts

Finding a thoughtful and effective skincare gift is an art. Fortunately, we have a team of skincare enthusiasts and experts who have mastered it. 

This guide features practical advice for skincare shoppers from the people who know The Ordinary best: our Customer Happiness and Scientific Communications teams.

For the gift-givers who love a surprise. Instead of directly asking what skincare they need, find out for yourself using these clever approaches:

• Look for clues. Check their bathroom shelf for clues. What products do they already use? Are any bottles nearly empty? What brands or ingredients are missing? For example, if they have several anti-aging serums but no moisturizer, they might need one. 

• Observe. Listen for casual mentions of their skin concerns. For example, “My skin feels so dry lately,” or “I keep breaking out around my chin.” Once you know their top skin needs, you can find the right formulation to help. 

We asked our Customer Happiness team what clues they look out for when helping our community navigate their skincare needs. Here’s what they said:

• Which skincare brands or products do they talk about? This can help you find similar ones. 
• Is their current skincare routine simple or complex? A minimal regimen calls for more streamlined products and ingredients. 
• What’s their lifestyle like? If they travel a lot or have a busy schedule, they might appreciate low-maintenance products or the convenience of a skincare set. 
• Do they seem confused or overwhelmed by skincare? Start them off with simple products that are easy to adopt. 

When it comes to gift-giving, a little bit of snooping can go a long way. 

Sometimes the best way to know what someone wants is to simply ask. Here’s how you can be direct without spoiling the surprise: 

Bring it up in casual conversation. Ask what their biggest skincare challenge is lately, or what they’ve been wanting to add to their routine. If you keep it natural, they might not notice you’re looking for clues. 

Ask what skincare they’re using. Make it seem like you’re asking for yourself. Say you’re thinking about trying a specific product or brand, but you’re curious what their regimen is like. They’ll be so wrapped up in giving you advice, they won’t notice you’re plotting the perfect gift. 

Our Customer Happiness team asks these types of questions every day to help our community navigate their skin concerns. We asked them which questions can help lead gift-givers to the right formulation for their loved ones. 

• Is there a particular concern they want to address? Dryness, dullness, congestion? 
• Have they ever used products from The Ordinary before? If so, which ones? 
• Do they have skincare texture preferences? For example, do they like lightweight or rich moisturizers? 
• Do they have any skin goals? Maybe they want to target signs of aging or improve overall brightness. 
• How much time do they want to spend on their regimen? Multi-functional products are a great option for those who want a quick routine. 

Knowing the best questions to ask is key to knowing how to choose skincare gifts.

Some skincare formulations are known for being generally well-tolerated and beneficial for most skin types. This makes them excellent choices if you’re unsure what someone wants.

We asked Rita Silva, Senior Manager on our Science Communications team, to recommend products that are broadly effective and explain what makes them such universal solutions.

Hydrating Formulations

Rita says: “The basis of any skincare routine is hydration. This is because the skin's water content is crucial for multiple processes that keep it looking and feeling good. A combination of water and oil-loving ingredients are needed to keep skin hydrated, and these two products contain a good balance of both.”

Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 

A second-generation hyaluronic acid serum that combines ingredients for enhanced hydration, barrier support, and smoother skin. 

Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA 

A daily moisturizer that keeps the outer layer of your skin well-hydrated and protected, without leaving a greasy residue. 

A Cleanser For Everyone

Rita says: “Squalane Cleanser is as powerful as it is gentle. It effectively melts into an oil-like consistency that dissolves dirt, excess oil, and even waterproof makeup. Once you add water, lipophilic esters emulsify the formulation (and everything it picked up), allowing it to be easily rinsed off.”

Squalane Cleanser

An oil-free cleansing balm that removes waterproof makeup, SPF, dirt, and impurities while supporting the skin’s moisture barrier through hydration.

To Target Signs of Anti-Aging

Rita says: "Stronger ingredients, like retinoids, are fantastic at targeting signs of aging, but require a cautious approach to avoid the dryness and irritation that can be experienced initially as your skin gets accustomed to them. If you are unsure where to start, Multi-Peptide + HA is a great beginner-friendly approach to reducing the look of fine lines and wrinkles, as peptides are effective, yet gentle and suitable for all." 

Multi-Peptide + HA Serum 

This comprehensive age-supporting formulation combines multiple technologies to help address common signs of early skin aging, including the look of fine lines, skin elasticity, and firmness. 

Overall Skin Support 

Rita says: “Your skin barrier is your first line of defence against external aggressors, and should not only be respected, but reinforced. This serum helps strengthen the skin barrier in 2 hours and is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin.” 

Soothing & Barrier Support Serum 

This multi-active solution is designed to help repair the skin barrier, hydrate to soothe discomfort, and reduce the look of redness.

Instead of seeking out individual products, give your giftee the chance to discover a full collection of products tailored to their skin needs.

Our curated holiday skincare sets include multiple formulations that work together to target specific concerns. Your loved one can try new products, restock their favourites, or a little bit of both. Plus, it shows how much thought you put into choosing a set that aligned with their skin goals. 

If they’re new to skincare or have multiple skin concerns, we also have beginner-friendly options that provide several benefits:

• The Face & Body Set: A collection of formulations to smooth, brighten, and hydrate, head to toe.
• The Mini Icons Set: Our community’s favourite products, designed to pair well with most regimens. 
• The Lip & Lash Set: Daily essentials for hydrated lips and healthy-looking lashes.

The Winter Skin Set is also a great option, especially for the winter months. According to our skincare scientist Rita: 

“Cold winter weather makes it harder for skin to stay healthy and hydrated. Low temperatures and dry, windy air can slow the skin’s repair process and strip away moisture, leaving it dry or flaky, ” she says. “Changes in humidity and air pressure during winter also push water out of the skin, making dryness worse. Our Winter Skin Set combines our hydrating staple Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 with a gentle and equally moisturizing toner to ensure that your skin stays smooth and packed with moisture.”

Taking care of your skin is taking care of yourself. By gifting the people you love the skincare they need, you’re showing them how much you care about them, too. 

With the right questions, the knowledge of multi-functional products, and a bit of friendly snooping, you can find the perfect present. When in doubt, dig into our blog for helpful resources from our skincare experts. 

Our final tip: consider the convenience of our holiday skincare sets, so you can spend less time shopping and more time enjoying the holiday season.