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The Ordinary Reviews: Transforming a Mid 40s Skincare Routine

About 18 months ago, I was trying to find skincare products to add to my mid 40s pretty basic twice-a-day wash and moisturize routine. I was starting to notice the signs of aging, and I didn’t know where to start.

After thorough research on the interwebs, consulting dermatologists, and plenty of youtube videos, I kept hearing everyone mention this brand called The Ordinary. Why was everyone so obsessed with this skincare brand? I had to seek them out and try some of their products myself.

Where to buy The Ordinary skincare?

I wanted to buy some products to try them out and I was lucky enough to find them at my local Ulta. I love their awesome return policy because you can return the product even if the product is used. I felt I had nothing to lose.

The Ordinary has such an affordable price point. It was very easy to take a chance on any of their products when the opening price was $6. After all the research I had done, I wanted to start by adding in hyaluronic acid to my routine as it is gentle on the skin and helps with fine lines and wrinkles.

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Hydrating Serum

Hyaluronic Acids are skin-hydrating products. The Ordinary uses a three-dimensional formula for its hyaluronic acid: 2% + B5. The hyaluronic acid cross-polymer comprises different molecules with different molecular weights for hydrating and plumping. Vitamin B5 helps maintain water retention.

To apply this product, it is best to apply it on damp skin to help the product absorb better. After a few seconds, the skin will feel a bit tacky or sticky but it is absorbing and ready for your moisturizer and SPF.

I suggest The Ordinary hyaluronic acid serum to everyone. There are several Hyaluronic Acid serums available on the market which can be confusing, but I love the silky soft feel of my skin after I apply this, and the incredible price point it makes it easy to give it a try.

Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution

The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution targets dullness, and texture and helps fight the signs of aging skin. This exfoliant should be used right after cleansing and before other serums, oils, and creams. It is not recommended for sensitive skin, so if you think you may have sensitivity to this, start easy with using it two days a week to see how your skin reacts.

One of the secret uses for The Ordinary’s glycolic acid toning solution is to use it on the underarms. This has been known to help the discoloration that happens under the arms and helps to keep body odor away. Simply apply using a cotton round every few days.

I didn’t believe this myself, and living in Florida we are always sweating. I can tell you, this definitely stops any signs of odor that may happen, but you will still perspire as it is not an antiperspirant.

Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Exfoliating Peeling Solution

This advanced-level exfoliating peel targets dull skin, clears pore congestion and helps improve uneven skin tone. The peeling solution has glycolic acid, lactic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, and salicylic acid all in one place. It should only be used once a week and while it can have incredible results, it also has the ability to irritate sensitive skin easily.

To apply, cleanse the face and make sure your skin is perfectly dry. You will want to put enough of this vibrant red solution on the face so that it has a medium pink color. Not too light but also not too heavy that you are close to the red you can see in the bottle.

Start out easy leaving this on for 3 minutes and rinse off with warm water. Each week do this routine and add 1 minute until you get to a maximum, and we do mean a maximum of 10 minutes. Find whatever is the best timing that your skin can handle.

Tingling will feel normal but if you feel burning at any time, remove this immediately. After you’ve rinsed this off, enjoy the baby-soft feel of your skin.

Argireline Solution 10% & Matrixyl 10% + HA

If you have those dreaded 11’s lines on your forehead, crow’s feet, smile lines, or other deep lines you’d like to treat, then Argireline solution is here to the rescue. Dubbed “Botox in a bottle”, Argireline is an anti-wrinkle peptide, that has been proven to help reduce the look of deep lines without any invasive injections. Will it do the same job as Botox? Well, no.

While this peptide does temporarily reduce muscle movement that can cause deep wrinkles, it doesn’t get as deep as Botox. It helps to increase the production of collagen, and increase moisture in the areas applied so that the skin has a more smooth appearance.

In order to get the maximum effects of the Argireline I like to follow it up with The Ordinary Matrixyl 10%. I like to think of Argireline and Matrixyl as the anti-aging superhero in my skincare routine.

The key ingredients of this skincare product are Matrixyl 3000, Matrixyl synthe 6, and hyaluronic acid which offers just the right combo that promotes the production of collagen, targeting fine lines on the face. It helps the skin to appear more firm and plump.

I personally used Argireline and Matrixyl twice a day for about a month before getting botox. The price point makes it really easy to give this combo a try. I did see some results prior to getting botox and will continue to use both in my skincare routine.

I don’t use either Argireline or Matrixyl on days when I use the AHA/BHA peeling solution. you can always check on The Ordinary’s website to see what

Does The Ordinary work?

I have definitely seen an improvement in my skin by using The Ordinary products in my routine and definitely recommend these to everyone. The science and quality of ingredients that are in each of the products combined with the price point make these must-haves in my daily routine.

If you are unsure of how to use these in your daily regimen or need to build your own skincare regimen, The Ordinary’s skincare regimen builder can be found here on its website. So click on over to see what else the The Ordinary offers.

Want to know some other things you need to know about skincare over 40? Check out my post here and follow me on Instagram for more product reviews tips and tricks.