Why I'm in love with The Ordinary?

If you haven't heard about this brand yet then you're in luck because they're fantastic and I'm about to tell you all about them. They call themselves The Abnormal Beauty Company which is totally accurate and justified since they literally sell direct acids and one-component beauty products...weird!

So the concept? They take ingredients which have proved themselves effective and put them in a tiny bottle without any extra chemicals. Sounds strange but kinda makes a really good point. For example, if you have acne and want to get rid of it then every dermatologist and website will tell you to buy products containing salicylic acid. But why not buy salicylic acid on its own? It's literally million times cheaper and obviously it's super-effective since everyone suggests it!?!

The Ordinary does functional beauty meaning it actually works, no messing around with cool marketing and fancy labels. If a word "direct acid" scares you, then I'll assure you that they are completely safe and actually free of all parabens, sulfates, animal oils, chloride etc.

They are quite difficult to get your head around since all the bottle will say is Retinol 0.2% in Squalane, like what am I supposed to do with that information right? It's actually not that hard and you don't need to be an alchemist to use these products.

The website will actually tell you how and when to use each product, you can find the regimen guide here. Here's some bullet points to make it easier for you:

• Do not mix Vitamin C and Niacinamide since they react with eachother!

• Use products with similar pH levels. For example Salicylic Acid 2%(pH 3.2-3.5) and Advanced Retinoid 2%(pH 5-6) have very different pH levels. That's because those ingredients are only stable and active at their formulated pH levels. If you take them out of their comfort zone, they just take longer to work. Simple as that, it won't harm you though and you can still use both - for example use Salicylic Acid during your morning routine and retinoid during your evening routine.

Since I have a very oily/acne-prone skin, I got products to match my skin conditions. Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) 10%+Zinc 1% is very good for acne and brightening the skin tone. They've added some zinc because it's good balancing out sebum production. I use this in the morning under my daily moisturizer and during 2 weeks it has worked wonders on my skin. My face looks clearer, brighter and it is definitely the cheapest (5,90) and the most effective product I've ever bought for my blemished skin.

I also picked out the Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12%, which is a Vitamin C product. Vitamin C is a very powerful antioxidant and should be used for all kinds of skin types. It's anti-aging and reduces environmental damage like sun exposure and free radicals that damage our skin daily, I suggest you invest in one ASAP. Since this can't be mixed with Niacinamide, I've added it to my evening regime. I use it after washing my face and applying toner by dabbing few drops across my whole face and neck. It makes my skin super glowy and healthy-looking, I can definitely see my skintone being more even and brighter.

For a moisturiser I picked out the 100% Plant-Derived Squalane, which is a saturated and stable hydrocarbon that is naturally found in our skin. It has very high emollience, is an exceptional hydrator and can prevent ongoing loss of hydration, it's also non-comedonic so perfect for my skin type. By the way it's also said that squalane is on the same level of goodness with the cult favorite - coconut oil, yumsies.. It's a really good hydrating oil and I use it every night after applying my Vitamin C. It's simply too oily to apply on my face in the mornings, I would literally look like a lightbulb applying my make-up on top of that. Amazing for before-bed use though.

Next item on my list was the 2% Salicylic Acid - as everyone already know it's a direct acid, which is clinically proven to be the best ever for blemishes. It exfoliates the inside walls of a pore, makes it smaller and eventually makes it disappear - magic. I use it as a witch hazel after my whole facial routine at night time by applying a small amount directly on a blemish. I mean, obviously it has showed incredible results... Definitely in a favorite pile!

Lastly I couldn't resist their foundation range. They have coverage-, serum- and watercolour foundations, which all come in a million different shades so if you know your skin tone well, you can be sure to find something. I got the coverage foundation because as much as I wish to use serum foundations, at this time of the year I need a lot of coverage. It's alcohol-free, oil-free, vegan, cruelty-free and at the price of 6,90 it's pretty freaking amazing. It's not allergenic so a real gem to stock up my make-up kit with. It's also no different to your favorite high-end foundation and I really like it's simple packaging and the simplicity of the whole range. Definitely suggest everyone to have a try!

By the way, Säde should totally be the face of The Ordinary, right? Adorable!