The Ordinary launched in August 2016 with 27 products sold only online, and what stood out was how plainly they were presented: single-ingredient formulas in simple dropper bottles with the active named right on the label. Its founder, Brandon Truaxe, was a computer programmer who noticed a gap between the ingredients in skincare and what finished products charge. The brand comes from DECIEM in Toronto, the eleventh brand the company launched, and its name comes from the Latin word for ten. Formulations are developed in the company's own lab by cosmetic chemists. That ingredient-first approach is easy to see in this first group. The Retinol 0.5% in Squalane is an intermediate retinol serum, and the Granactive Retinoid 2% emulsion is another route. Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% is the serum for oily skin, and the caffeine and escin serum is for brightening and energizing. Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 and Marine Hyaluronic Moisture Lock are for hydration, and the Glycolic Acid 7% toner is a daily exfoliating toner. If you want to compare serums, this guide to finding a niacinamide serum is helpful, and retinaldehyde one step ahead of retinol covers the retinoid ladder. For a second look at the HA, two weights of hyaluronic acid is a good read.

This is the group with the bottles people talk about most. The AHA 30% + BHA 2% High-Strength Peeling Solution went viral on TikTok in early 2020, and it is the one that put the brand in everyone's feed. Estée Lauder took a minority stake in 2017 and later moved to full ownership of DECIEM. Beside it are Argireline Solution 10%, GF 15% Solution and EUK 134 0.1%, which keep the lab-style naming. The Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% is for skin elasticity and wrinkles, and four Natural Moisturizing Factors formulas, NMF + HA, NMF + Phytoceramides and NMF + Beta Glucan, cover hydration. What I would skip is using the peeling solution on the same night as a retinol serum, since two strong actives on one evening are more than most skin needs; give each its own night. It is also worth patch testing anything new on the inside of the arm before it goes on the face.

Eight sets make the range easier to approach. The Most Loved Set and The Mini Essentials Set are the broad introductions. The Renewal Set, The Hyaluronic Set, The Clear Set and The Sensitive Skin Set are built around a concern, and The Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Toner Gift Set and The Soft Lip Set are narrower. Because the brand names its formulas by ingredient, a set works like a reading list: you see what each one does and decide what to buy in full size. If you are new to actives, The Sensitive Skin Set and The Hyaluronic Set are the gentler places to begin, while The Clear Set and The Renewal Set are for when you already know what your routine needs. Read the label of each, and add one new product at a time.

The last group has the extras. The Multi-Peptide Lash and Brow Serum and the Lash Curl Finisher are for the eyes, and the Squalane + Amino Acids lip balm also works on elbows and cuticles. The 100% L-Ascorbic Acid powder and Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate solution are the vitamin C options, and 100% Plant-Derived Squalane is the simple one for skin and hair hydration. The Lip and Lash Set and The Acne Set with Salicylic Acid bring a few of these together. For the lash serum, a read on lash lift gives a good comparison. The 100% Plant-Derived Squalane is the easy one to start with, since it is a single ingredient for skin and hair.

I would begin with a cleanser, a hydrating serum and an SPF moisturizer, then add one active at a time. A look at moisturizer with SPF helps with the daytime step. Brandon Truaxe made it normal to read a label and know what is in the bottle, and a shelf built that way is easy to keep simple. That is the real appeal of the brand, and it is why I would trust the label more than a tagline.

To round out the look, see Best Skincare for Oily Skin and ILIA Makeup and Skincare.