A few weeks ago I started using some products from The Ordinary skincare and wrote an initial review. Now I’m back with a roundup post after using three of them for a whole month. Did it work?

The three products I’ve been using for one month are:

• The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%, ‘High-Strength Vitamin and Mineral Blemish Formula’ – £5.00

• The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5, ‘A Hydration Support Formula’ – £5.90

• The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil, ‘Daily Support Formula for All Skin Types’ – £9.00 for 30ml

I patch tested the products by only using them on one part of my face or body, so that I could compare the results more accurately against the untreated opposite side. It was also a useful way to make sure that they weren’t causing breakouts or irritating my sensitive skin.

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% one month review

In the initial review, I mentioned that this had started giving me obvious results after only six days. A full month on, I can happily say that this serum has been an absolute winner for me. The area of skin that I treated has become clearer and the oily areas are less oily without becoming dry. The pores appear smaller and more refined, and the surface of the skin feels noticeably smoother to the touch. It’s a bit less congested and there have been fewer breakouts.

As a nice bonus, the skin looks a little brighter and calmer, and there has been a slight reduction in fine lines. I imagine any anti-ageing effects will take a bit longer to show up than a month because that’s the way things tend to work with all skincare, but the initial appearance after just 30 days is encouraging. From now on I’ll be using it on my whole face daily because it’s working well and not causing any problems.

I will definitely repurchase this after it runs out, but that might take a while as I still have over half a bottle left. For just £5.00 it has been a proper bargain. It’s also verrrrry similar to another well-reviewed product that costs £48 for a smaller bottle, so make of that what you will…

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 one month review

This serum has a simple function, which is mainly adding water to the top layers of the skin. It had a calming effect on my sensitive neck skin within five days of use, and a lightly moisturising, plumping cosmetic effect.

I didn’t notice much additional effect after ten days, but it’s a nice soothing oil-free moisturiser and I’m now using it on my whole neck and the tops of my cheeks.

Would I repurchase? Yes, it’s a good deal for only £5.80, and I will use more of this later in the year in the Autumn when the weather turns colder and my skin is a little drier. In the meantime, some of the other The Ordinary serums also contain hyaluronic acid, including their popular Buffet product, so I might try a new one over the warmer summer months after the current one runs out.

The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil one month review

This was a pleasant ‘dry’ oil that didn’t make the skin on the back of my left hand feel greasy when I used it for a month. It was nice to use around the cuticles as well, although I have to say the results on the hand were good rather than spectacular.

It came into its own when I dabbed it onto a couple of dry, irritated patches on my face one evening when nothing else seemed to be working. By the next morning the skin there looked calmer and less red, and it didn’t feel so tight or itchy. This is how I’m going to be using it from now on, just on the drier areas.

Unfortunately I didn’t find that it sat very well over the water-based serums, often causing the products underneath to ball up and flake off. This happened whether I used thin or thick layers of serum, and it didn’t seem to matter how long I let the serums sink in for either. For this reason, I will stick to using it either lightly dabbed over sensitive skin, or by mixing a few drops of it into soothing face moisturisers or body lotions to make them a bit richer at times when my skin’s a little drier than usual.

I wouldn’t describe it as a miracle product for my particular skin type, but it’s very pure and well made plus I don’t seem to be allergic to it. I’ll keep it in a cool dry place for those occasional dry skin emergencies, but won’t be slapping it on all over every day is it currently doesn’t seem to fit all that well with my other serums.

For £9.00 this is a very reasonably-priced cold pressed, pure organic oil and a little goes a long way. It’s less than half the price of most other brands, for exactly the same thing. If you like natural skincare then this could be something that works for you.

My tips for using The Ordinary by DECIEM

My personal experience is that The Ordinary products seem to be best for adding into an already well thought out skincare regime. Everything I’ve tried so far tends to work best at the serum application stage, or as boosters to supercharge your night time moisturiser, and most of the other initial products look similar to this.

For me, it’s a cost-effective way to add a few powerful ingredients to a simple routine without spending a fortune. Here are a few tips that you might find useful if you’re new to using this range:

• Don’t buy up all the shop – it’s tempting because the prices are so low, but less is more and there’s only so much you can actually use at any one time

• Research your purchases properly before you buy – make sure you understand what the active ingredients do / can do, and pick what your skin needs most

• Don’t use more than a couple of the serums at the same time – it says up to three on the website, but it’s difficult to use more than two layers without experiencing pilling or balling-up of the product

• If they tell you to wear sunscreen, do so – some of these products are strong

• Be patient with products that are anti-ageing or reduce pigmentation – damage doesn’t happen overnight, so don’t expect it to be undone overnight either

• Don’t expect it to replace all your skincare – the range doesn’t currently include makeup remover, cleanser, sunscreen or moisturisers with SPF

What’s next?

In the last couple of weeks they’ve released several new products, including lactic acid and glycolic acid toners and serums, and I hear they are working on a range called Colours which looks like a makeup line.

I’ve just purchased some of their High Adherence Silicone Primer (£3.90) to see whether it can make my foundation last longer, and a bottle of their Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA (£7.00) to see whether it can reduce post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. The latter is likely to take at least two months to show an effect if it works for me, but expect more reviews in due course.

Several other items have caught my eye too, but I’m holding back for the moment – there’s only so much you can use at any one time.

You can buy The Ordinary skincare products directly from the UK branch of DECIEM.

Have you tried any products from The Ordinary range yet?