If you haven’t heard of The Ordinary, where have you been?! I discovered this brand by Deciem years ago, but never committed to buying their products. It wasn’t a matter of price, because let’s face it, they’re so affordable, but a matter of already having too many skincare products. Having worked in the cosmetics industry, I had so many products that I couldn’t justify buying to add to the stockpile. Fast forward a few years, I noticed that I was still breaking out and experiencing adult acne. I’m grateful that my breakouts aren’t major or all over the face, but I would constantly have a big pimple to deal with. Once I thought I had it under control, another one would appear on the other cheek.

Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

So many people rave about The Ordinary’s Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Serum, explaining how it completely changed their skin. I finally bit the bullet and purchased a bottle to see for myself. In essence, although it’s not an acne treatment, Niacinamide helps to reduce the appearance of blemishes as well as sebum activity. All in all, your skin should be less oily (and shiny) and less congested.

After cleansing and toning the skin, I patted a drop of the product on my entire face and my skin drank it up so quickly! My face felt plump without the dewy look. I followed with their Hyaluronic Acid for hydration. I proceeded with my makeup application and went on with my day. My skin felt comfortable, but I didn’t notice anything groundbreaking. In the evening, I followed the same routine, except I swapped out the hyaluronic acid with their Rosehip Oil. A few days went by and I actually freaked out a little, as pimples surfaced. It wasn’t a major breakout, but I read articles on Niacinimade and how your skin can purge at first. In other words, pimples that were dormant and that would have eventually surfaced will do so. I don’t know if this is best practice, but I used Mario Badescu’s drying lotion to minimize and treat my blemishes. Overnight, they disappeared! It’s been about a month since I’ve incorporated the Niacinamide in my routine and I can’t see myself ever phasing it out.

One thing to note about using Niacinamide is that it shouldn’t be used in the same regimen as Vitamin C, as the former can affect the integrity of the latter and thus cancelling the benefits of using either out.

Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5

To hydrate my skin, I wanted to use an Ordinary product to have a complete routine from the same brand so I apply the Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5. Hyaluronic Acid appears in many moisturizers on the market, and it’s actually naturally produced by our bodies to retain moisture in our skin. As we age, the amount of HA that our body produces decreases, thus the importance of this ingredient in moisturizers. This product also includes Vitamin B5 to enhance surface hydration so that the skin remains plump and supple.

The texture is a little sticky but immediately disappears deep in the skin. I use the HA + B5 in the morning and use the 100% Organic Rosehip Oil in the evening before bedtime.

100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rosehip Oil

Using an oil on oily and acne-prone skin should be a big no no, but The Ordinary’s 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rosehip Oil works for acne, as it uses fatty acids and antioxicants to soothe irritation, fade acne skin and control oil production. I use this product particularly in the evening to allow the product to do its thing on a makeup-free skin. The skin has time to rest and to regenerate at night, so it’s the perfect time to apply the Rosehip Oil.

Overall, I’ve seen a significant difference in my skin, in that I don’t have to pat down excess oil throughout the date, and I don’t get as many blemishes as I used to. I’ll keep using it and provide an update later on! Do you use Niacimamide or any other The Ordinary products? Please let me know if you have any recommendations in the comments below!

100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rosehip Oil acne-prone skin Hyaluronic Acid Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Niacinamide 5% + Zinc 1% review Rosehip Oil skincare The Ordinary