My idea of “skincare” was to use soap to wash my face once a day. But recently, at an event organised by The Ordinary —a brand of skincare products— I was introduced to “regimens”, facial routines done in the morning and at night.
The folks from Canada, where the brand is from, explained that there are three components in a regiment: prep using a cleanser, treat using serums, and seal using a moisturiser.
The idea made sense. Most folks need a cleanser to wash their face and a moisturiser to protect the skin. Those with specific skin conditions can be treated with serums.
I liked how The Ordinary’s skin care product line is ingredient-centric and lacks marketing jargon.
However, this approach is a double-edged sword. Being told the active ingredient in a product is meaningless without describing what it does. Once familiar with the ingredients, knowing what works makes skincare and treatment easy and concise.
When I asked representatives at the event where someone unfamiliar with skincare and the brand would begin their “skincare journey”, no one would answer me. They kept returning to the “all skin types are different” excuse.
While The Oridnary’s cleansers and moisturisers are safe for all skin types, the serums are very specific.
After pressing further, I was told that those interested could consult a dermatologist or the sales folks at Zalora and Sephora, where The Ordinary products are sold. They can also buy the products on Shoppee once they know what they want.
Still, I was sceptical. Folks told me they wished The Ordinary would open a dedicated store as those working at stores that sell multiple brands are not as well versed with the products as they should be.
The representatives at the event didn’t tell me that The Ordinary made “starter” kits, and their website had a useful “Build My Regiment” tool. Someone else later told me that the brand promoted the kits during the last holiday season.
Intrigued, I bought “The Clear Set” to try out for myself. I got the set specifically because it is the only complete set I could find on store shelves.
Price is one of the other complaints I often hear about The Ordinary, and I can attest to that. It was not cheap at RM95.
The Clear Set includes a small tube of Glucoside Foaming Cleanser, a standard bottle of Salicylic Acid 2% Solution, and a small tube of Natural Moisturizing Factors + Beta Glucan. I would describe them as a soft but effective face soap, a chemical that washes away dead skin, and a light protective layer.
While each product in the set could have used an easier-to-understand description, the instructions were helpful. In summary, it says to use the cleanser and moisturiser twice a day and only use the serum at night—also, avoid areas around the eyes when using the serum.
However, I also felt that the instructions were incomplete. Should I dry my face before applying the serum or moisturiser? Should I let the serum sit before putting on the moisturiser? How much of each product should I use? What’s a “Spot Test”?
In my research, I preferred drying my face after washing it. One should leave a serum on for about a minute before putting on the moisturiser, and a pea-sized bead of product is enough. Also, a spot test is trying out a product on a spot of skin for three days to see how the skin reacts to it.
And that is what I think The Ordinary should improve on. If a consumer needs to research to use your product, there’s room for improvement.
The cleanser does its job and doesn’t smell like anything —a plus in my book; the serum was not as scary as I thought —being a 2% acid and all, and the moisturiser, although it feels tacky at first, feels light and does not interfere with my wudu (ablution).
My skin looks and feels better, especially around my neck (where I apply the products). It also does not affect the beard.
After over a week of using The Ordinary’s The Clear Set, I would recommend most folks start by getting the Squalane Cleanser —a hero product that combines cleanser and moisturiser— or pairing it with the Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA —the brand’s standard moisturiser, instead.
Next time, if I feel like it, I’ll step up to see what The Ordinary can do. For its price, I am looking for exceptional, not just acceptable.
Azizul Rahman Ismail 