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

  • This product line is perfect for the beginner skincare addict. You can reach out to customer service to come up with a routine. It's inexpensive so you can try many different product types,

    Feedback

    Reach out to customer service to come up with a routine for you.

    Experience
  • I use to The Ordinary a lot back when I first got into skincare so it’s great for beginners. I realized I prefer more put together formulations but the brand is great when you’re looking for simple more targeted products. I always keep their Copper Peptides in my stash since it’s a very affordable copper peptides compared to their more expensive NIOD version. They’ve also come out with some new products that I highly recommend everyone checkout. Great brand for those wanting to dip their toes in skincare since it’s literally the most affordable brand on the market.

    Feedback

    I think they’re doing a great job currently of coming out with some innovative and simple products. Keep doing what you’re doing!

  • Half of my skincare mini fridge is The Ordinary. I started by using the Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA and it's easily one of my favorite moisturizers. I now use that plus the Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% and the Glycolic Acid 7%Toning Solution daily.

  • The Ordinary offers a great range of products for some of the most affordable prices on the market. Some standout products from them are the niacinamide and zinc serum or the hyaluronic acid serum.

    Feedback

    Typically each product only contains one or two active ingredients, meaning you’ll probably need to layer multiple products in your routine. Given the wide variety of products and that you’ll probably be using multiple, it can be a little confusing which pair together and what order to use them in.

  • I’m a huge fan of The Ordinary and cannot recommend their products more highly. I was initially skeptical of the quality because of the price (isn’t self-care supposed to be debilitatingly expensive?!?) but finally gave in to my friends urging and tried a few products. Now I’m a lifelong stan — such great quality, impressive results, and clean, sleek packaging. Love love love.

    Feedback

    The formulations can be a bit confusing to differentiate from one another, but once you find the right combo for your needs you’re good to go.

  • Their stuff is AMAZING quality, good price for what you get

    Feedback

    Love this brand

  • I do enjoy using the products but so far I haven’t discovered a product that I would repurchase. I have recently purchased the The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG 30ml (which is enjoyable to apply, but tends to get a bit more ‘sticky’ while drying), and I have had the The Ordinary AHA 30% en BHA 2% Peeling Solution and the Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution for a while now and both are kind of the same story. Enjoyable to use but not necessarily game changers for me. Although I might try to use the toning solution as a deodorant as some have suggested/tipped.

    Feedback

    Price-quality wise I think the products are definitely worth it, although for me personally I haven’t noticed much difference whilst using the products.

  • I like that this company has affordable versions of skin care products, but sometimes the ingredients lists make me wonder how helpful they actually are for your skin. The hyalauronic acid serum tends to pill on my skin, but I am a fan of their multi peptide “Buffet” serum.

  • The products are affordable but less effective than I would like. I would rather pay a bit more for a better quality product.

  • When I turned 35 I promised to myself to start taking care of my skin to keep it youthful. I had heard about The Ordinary products and decided to give them a try. I turned 41 this last January and am still using The Ordinary products! I love the pricing- very affordable- and IT WORKS!

    Feedback

    Finding my perfect regimen is a bit confusing still even after using the products for 6 years- the quizzes always seem to give me conflicting results so I have been just trusting my gut, and for the most part its been working out for me, but I would think that better guides on how to create a good skin regimen would be benefical

  • I really love their caffeine serum for the eyes, and i’ve tried a bunch of other products. Really amazing prices.

  • I absolutely love this brand. they’re cruelty free, inexpensive and effective. This is the only brand that has balanced out my skin as i have combination and very sensitive skin. I never have to worry about not being able to afford these products either because they ensure they’re products are accessible.

  • Really good value for the price! Can’t really share bad comments considering how much I paid for the products. Love the fact that they are a lot of different products to choose from. Would recommend for a minimalist skincare routine.

  • The ordinary is affordable, consistent and offers a huge range of products. I love the sizing of their products as well. In a few words the ordinary is simple, clean, no frills.

    Feedback

    Im not super familiar with product stability, but I have seen conflicting information about the packaging the ordinary uses.

  • Love the packaging, the array of products. I’ve used multiple products before and they work really well. And feel clean and luxurious.

    Feedback

    Nothing

  • The Ordinary has been a life-saver for my acne prone, combination skin! The products are high quality at an affordable price. I highly recommend for anyone looking to up their skin care routine without breaking the bank!

    Feedback

    It’s take a bit of research to determine what skincare options are best suited for your skin type and what serums can be used together and which to use on alternate days or AM vs PM.

  • The best place to get skincare from you can never go wrong!

    Feedback

    It changed my skin!!

  • I don't know how to exactly summarize my experience with this brand-- as I have tried so many of their products over the years. I do love what this brand is trying to achieve: simple products that work at a reasonable price point. To this day I still use the hyaluronic acid serum, natural moisturizing factors moisturizer, and caffeine eye serum. I remember liking some of their other products, but they didn't work the best for me or just weren't worth the price. However, I do plan on purchasing from this brand in the future!

    Feedback

    Definitely consider your skin type and concerns before buying anything. I know some people who hate the products I use-- but I love them.