The Ordinary reviews and discussion

4.5

93% of reviewers would recommend to a friend

Reviews mention

  • Effective acne-clearing serums
  • Noticeably brighter, smoother skin
  • Minimalist, clinical formulations
  • Clear, straightforward labeling
  • Sticky serum textures
  • Potential irritation from actives
  • Hit-or-miss product efficacy
  • Confusing product naming

The Ordinary earns strong reviews for effective, ingredient-forward skincare that improves texture, hydration, acne, and glow—with standouts like Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%, Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5, Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution, and the AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution. Reviews also flag weaknesses: some formulas feel sticky, can pill or irritate sensitive skin, high actives may overwhelm newbies, results can be hit-or-miss, and product naming/usage can be confusing.

AI summary based on Thingtesting reviews

2,516 reviews and posts

  • High quality products with still fair prices

  • This is my favorite skincare brand! The ingredients are clean on most of their products and very affordable too! I love how minimalistic they’re packaging is too. Very good quality!

    Friends with The Ordinary
  • The Ordinary's glycolic toning solution has been a game-changer for me, smoothing out both my face and arms' skin texture noticeably. It's effective and affordable and is my new skincare staple.

  • Purchased this at Ulta for my 17-year-old with troubled skin. Worked OK but was very drying.

  • I LOVE the Ordinary's products! The packaging is sustainable, the ingredients are simple and evidence-based, and most importantly the products work! I have been trying new products from The Ordinary for years, and I have loved them all. I use several in my daily routing. As someone who shops on a shoestring budget, I love the Ordinary's accessible price point and number of options.

  • Good skincare for reasonable prices.

  • I got the ordinary squealing cleanser and unfortunately it didn't do what I needed it to do but it wasn't bad either. The product removes makeup cleans the skin it's sort of like an oil that melts in the face as you rub it in. However I had decided on it over a different product because I've been trying to use more natural ingredients on my skin and I was told that it would be effective at listening up and cleaning pores and blackheads. Typically after I would use my cleanser that definitely has ingredients that are not good for skin and then use a blackhead strip remover everything would come out. However with this natural guy it wasn't very effective. I mean my face so clean it was great but it just was not effective in terms of the purpose I purchased it for.

  • I love the ordinary! Fuss-free and focused on good ingredients. You do need to educate yourself a bit around what sort of active ingredients are suitable for your skin, but you get rewarded with highly affordable and effective skincare. Always recommend!

  • Love this brand. They make up probably 90% of my skincare. Will always continue to repurchase because you can’t beat the simple, effective ingredients at great prices.

  • Most of the products I've tried are good and seem to do the job at an affordable price point. Serums are especially nice and I use several daily.

  • I love all my Ordinary products. Such an affordable price point for quality skincare. My favorite is the Niacinimide. Would highly recommend to those both new to and experienced in skincare!

  • This was the first skincare brand I’d ever used and I loved it! Well priced skincare that does what it says on the tin. Simple design which is sleek and well known. Most of their products are vegan and cruelty free which is great!

  • Very high quality products at a very affordable price. No gimmicks, no excess marketing, just exactly what you are looking for which i really appreciate.

  • Great value and products! The HA is very nice.

  • Like the after feel , cooking skin.

  • Love them so much. The price is absolutely incredibly for the product, and I love that you can chose exactly what ingredients you want - unlike other brands that mix stuff together, which for my super sensitive skin can end dramatically. The only downside is that there's a bit of a learning curve - you have to do your research to find out what products you want to use, but I find that fun and love that I can tailor every tiny ingredient to exactly what I need

  • Best Retinol squalene serum. Other similar products are so expense; this retinol with squalene is amazing and great for daily use.

  • The ordinary products are really good. They make my skin feel good and healthy. The products are high quality and affordable. Plus the ingredients are not harmful and good.

    Friends with The Ordinary
  • I’ve been using this products from this brand for several years and I’ve been pretty happy with just about every product I’ve tried. They are so, so affordable and well worth the money.