Hello, friends! Today, I was feeling inspired and wanted to share some of my favorites from The Ordinary skincare brand. It’s a good quality, affordable skincare line, and it’s also vegan, cruelty-free and doesn’t contain any of the gross stuff you don’t want in your skincare like parabens, gluten, and synthetic fragrances.
I’ve used products from The Ordinary for years, and you can see some of these favorites in my winter skincare routine.
The Ordinary has a pretty cool philosophy surrounding Black Friday. Since they encourage making conscious, informed decisions about the specific skincare that works well for you, they don’t partake in ordinary (see what I did there?) Black Friday sales. Instead, The Ordinary and all of Deciem’s brands celebrate Knowvember, an entire month of slow shopping and getting to know your products. Plus, everything is 23% off!
I always do a big order in November that lasts me through the year, and I wanted to share my recommendations for The Ordinary skincare and the new-to-me products I added to my cart this year. Let dig in!
The Ordinary Skincare Favorites
I always use The Ordinary’s Knowvember sale to stock up on the products I use regularly, and this year was no different. Everything listed below is a tried-and-true favorite that I’ve purchased and used for at least a year.
Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5
Hyaluronic acid is pretty ubiquitous in skincare circles nowadays, and I’m a big fan of its hydrating properties. I use this HA serum every morning after my antioxidant serum and before my moisturizer.
It’s a little stickier in texture than my other serums so I tend to press it into my skin with my fingers, though it is still glidable if that’s more your style.
The Buffet
I adore this peptide serum. I wear it at night because my morning antioxidant serum has L-ascorbic acid, which doesn’t play well with this formula. It feels so decadent when you smooth it onto your skin that it’s became a self care staple for me.
Even in your twenties like me, peptides are great for preventing fine lines, and they also help your skin stay plump and nourished.
AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution
I feel like this one is a cult classic at this point. Known on the internet as the “blood” mask, this chemical peel is supposed to be a good dupe for Drunk Elephant’s Babyfacial at a fraction of the price.
It’s a serious chemical exfoliant that I use once a week for 10 minutes to keep my pores from getting congested and promote cell regeneration. It leaves me feeling fresh and radiant plus helps keep the Sunday scaries away!
The Ordinary Skincare New Purchases
I also use The Ordinary’s Knowvember sale to try out new products and test skincare trends. Here are all the new-to-me products I’ve added to my routine thanks to this sale.
100% Plant-Derived Squalane
I feel like squalane is the new skincare buzzword, and since I’m always looking for new and improved ways to hydrate, I’m very excited to give it a try. I plan to use it in the mornings following my hyaluronic acid serum to help lock in all that enhanced hyrdation!
Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA
Earlier this year, I realized that, while I’d swapped to more “adult” skincare items for most of my daily routine, I was still using a moisturizer from my teenage years. That alone isn’t a big deal (and I’m definitely a fan of drugstore-priced skincare), but it included salicylic acid that I just don’t think my skin needs regularly anymore.
I decided to give this moisturized with hyaluronic acid a try because in case you haven’t noticed yet, moisture is the name of the game for me!
Granactive Retinoid 2% in Squalane
After I posted to my Instagram Stories with this list, my friend Michelle reached out about some of the products she uses, and I decided to give retinol a chance. I’m easing into the retinal game with this moderate strength retinoid in squalane.
Hylamide: Another Deciem Brand
HA Blur
This year, I decided to branch out and try a product from another of Deciem’s brands, Hylamide. Because I don’t seem to be able to buy anything without it, this one also includes hyaluronic acid. It’s a blurring primer that you wear on top of your other skincare and before makeup. Since I don’t wear foundation, I’m interested to see if this will minimize pores and “blur” my skin well.
The learning curve with The Ordinary skincare is the way their website is organized plus the product names and descriptions. The first time I checked out their site, I felt like I’d stumbled into a world of chemistry that I was definitely not equipped for. So, if you aren’t yet sure which products you’re interested in, here’s a tip: Do your research on a website like Sephora!
Sephora’s website is much more user-friendly and includes product descriptions and helpful videos to show you exactly what each product is for and how to use it. Then, you can head on back to The Ordinary’s website and actually buy the skincare products there, especially if it’s Knowvember and you can get everything for 23% off.
What is the one skincare product you can’t live without?
P.S. This edition of my Friday Finale monthly favorites post includes my favorite eye cream for dark circles.
Save This Post on Pinterest
Thanks for reading! Posts on An Aspiring Heroine may contain affiliate links. When you click and shop the links, we may receive a commission. Learn more.
