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

  • I've used a fee products from the brand before and they work like magic! Forever recommending this brand.

  • I've purchased and finished a bottle of the Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Hydrating Serum. I don't think it improves the texture of my skin in any way but it does help add some light hydration to my skin without feeling oily or clogging pores. I may not notice any textural changes to my skin because I do have good skin to begin with. I use it before or blended with my sunscreen which never moisturizes enough. I would purchase it again because you get alot for your money and it does a decent job at hydrating your skin. I also like that there is not a long list of ingredients in this product.

  • I’ve purchased multiple serums (Vitamin C, Azelaic acid, and Hyaluronic) and you cannot beat the price. I have not noticed any breakouts or “bad” side effects, but also haven’t noticed anything great after months. The pure ingredient doesn’t have anything that actually helps the acids absorb, so you either need multiple products, or they should do some tweaking.

  • The Ordinary is great! I have the caffeine solution for the puffy eyes and it works great!

  • Decent quality products, never noticed a big difference from any of them, but at least they were super cheap. Hated the facewash though. Love that most things are in glass containers!

  • Their products are very well priced and are amazing

  • I’ve had good success using hyaluronic acid. I’ve enjoyed the AHA/BHA mask and Squalene as well. I like the brands simplicity and focus on certain ingredients. I will warn that it’s not always the nicest quality I’ve tried or the most effective.

  • I love their chemical peels! Super concentrated and very cost efficient.

  • Been an ordinary fan for quite some time and I love their products. My only complaint would be they have jacked-up prices. It was great to be able to go into sephora and purchase a quality skincare routine with larger than usual sized products for under $40 but now that is no longer the case.

  • These are great for the price that they are. They are easy to buy and come easy from Ulta or Target, my wife always gets them for me and I use them with ease.

  • Cost effective products that work

  • Good affordable products, that work well. I think that if I would recommend anything to improve upon it would be making sure that buyers know how the products can help them. The products look good, and can be taken through security at an airport.

  • Love love everything about this company and it’s products. Clean ingredients. Great products. So very affordable. Customer for life.

  • I bought the No-Brainer Set which came with 3 introductory products. It was a great way to level up my skincare habits and give their most popular products a try. Great for anyone looking for high quality and innovative skincare products but who also values having a simple routine like me.

  • The Ordinary has a wide selection of great products. The brand keeps everything simple making skincare a little easier. You can’t beat the price either! The hyaluronic acid is one of the products I can’t live without.

  • I’ve tried several products from The ordinary. It’s great for people who know what they’re doing but it can be overwhelming for those new to skincare. Overall there are a lot of products with great formulations! The hyauluronic acid is a go to!

  • Ordinary Is amazing they have really good quality and affordable skincare. I've been a customer of they 'res for a few years and keep coming back because of the cost/quality.

  • I was introduced to this brand by a friend of mine, who puts in a lot of research into her skin care. I was surprised first by the pricing and how unbelievably affordable it was and secondly the products are actually very good! I wasn’t surprised to then find out that this company is from Canada- as my experience now with all Canadian products that I’ve purchased/tried have been extremely positive

  • I’m testing the organic cold-pressed rose hip seed oil. I use it to do gua sha on my face. It makes the stone run smoothly but the smell is not very pleasant.