If you’re new to skincare, building a The Ordinary skincare routine is a great place to start. With affordable, no-fuss formulas, The Ordinary makes it easy to customise an affordable routine that suits your skin. The key? Following the Prep, Treat, and Seal method – The Ordinary’s recommended structure for any effective skincare routine.
Start with essentials like cleansers, moisturisers, and SPFs, then layer in active ingredients to address your specific concerns. Not sure what order to use The Ordinary products in, how to layer them, or how to switch from AM to PM routines? This guide covers everything, including how to build a personalised The Ordinary skincare regimen.
How to Layer The Ordinary Products
Knowing how to layer The Ordinary products in your routine correctly is key to maximising results. Wait for each product to fully absorb before moving to the next layer. Apply serums from thinnest to thickest consistency:
1. Cleanser
2. Toner
3. Water-based products (lightweight serums and toners)
4. Anhydrous products (water-free, like vitamin C serums)
5. Oils (squalane or plant-derived oils)
6. Creams (moisturisers and SPFs)
Prioritise serums of the same consistency based on your main skin concerns. For example, if dryness is your main concern, use your hydrating serum first.
For a more detailed breakdown of how to build both a morning and evening routine using The Ordinary’s effective formulas, check out our guide below. This will help you understand which order to layer your favourite products for optimal results and glowing skin.
Steps to Follow in a The Ordinary Skincare Routine
No matter your skin type or concerns, your The Ordinary skincare routine should follow the simple structure of Prep, Treat, and Seal. This method ensures your products layer effectively and deliver the best results.
The Ordinary Morning Routine
Your AM skincare routine should focus on preparing and protecting your skin for the day ahead.
Prep
Prepping your skin is the essential first step in any The Ordinary skincare routine. This stage focuses on cleansing, toning, and gentle exfoliation to ensure your skin is perfectly primed to absorb all the benefits of your favourite products.
1. Cleansing:
Start with a gentle cleanser to remove overnight oils and impurities. The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser is a universal favourite, thanks to its nourishing, balm-like texture. It melts effortlessly into the skin, transforming into a clear oil that dissolves makeup, dirt, and SPF – all without stripping moisture. Massage it onto dry skin, add water to emulsify, and rinse off for a clean, refreshed base.
2. Exfoliating & Toning:
Gentle exfoliation and toning are key for smooth, radiant skin. This step helps to remove dead skin cells that can dull your complexion and ensures that your skin is perfectly prepped for the next stages of your routine.
For a mild, everyday option, try The Ordinary Saccharomyces Ferment 30% Milky Toner. Ideal for all skin types, this formula works to even out texture, reduce pigmentation (especially effective if you’re building a The Ordinary routine for hyperpigmentation), and brighten the skin – all without irritation. Simply sweep a coin-sized amount over your face with a cotton pad.
If your skin can tolerate stronger exfoliation, opt for The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toner. This formula helps to improve texture and promote smoother, more radiant skin. Use it once a day in your AM routine to reveal a brighter complexion.
Treat
This stage is all about layering in active ingredients to target your specific skin concerns. Whether you’re dealing with dryness, dullness, blemishes, or redness, this step allows you to boost your skincare routine with potent formulations. Not sure how to layer these products? We’ve covered how to layer The Ordinary products further down.
3. Hydrating Serum:
No matter your skin type – dry, oily, acne-prone, or mature – hydration is key to a healthy, glowing complexion. The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 is a must for every routine, drawing moisture deep into the skin and helping to maintain hydration throughout the day. Apply a few drops to clean skin and gently pat it in.
4. Treatment Serums:
This is where you focus on your unique skin concerns:
Brightening: For dull skin and uneven tone, The Ordinary Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12% is a great AM option. Packed with vitamin C, it brightens the complexion, boosts radiance, and helps fade dark spots.
Blemish Control: If breakouts, blackheads, or excess oil are a concern, reach for The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%. This serum helps reduce blemishes, control sebum production, and calm redness.
Barrier Repair: For irritated or sensitive skin, The Ordinary Soothing & Barrier Support Serum helps restore the skin’s natural barrier, reducing redness and promoting a smoother, calmer complexion.
Apply a few drops of each serum across the face, allowing them to absorb before moving on to the next. Limit yourself to max three treatment serums in one routine to avoid overwhelming the skin.
5. Eye Serum:
The delicate skin around your eyes is often one of the first areas to show signs of ageing. The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Eye Serum is formulated to reduce puffiness, smooth fine lines, and brighten under-eye darkness. Apply a small amount around the eye contour and gently tap with your ring finger to avoid tugging the skin.
Layering these treatments ensures your Ordinary skincare routine addresses multiple skin concerns while keeping your complexion healthy and radiant.
Seal
The final step in any Ordinary skincare routine is all about locking in the benefits of your serums and protecting your skin throughout the day. This means finishing with a moisturiser to hydrate and strengthen your skin barrier, and an SPF to shield against UV damage and environmental aggressors.
6. Moisturiser
No matter your skin type, moisturising is essential for maintaining hydration and supporting a healthy skin barrier. Even if you have oily skin, skipping moisturiser can lead to dehydration and increased oil production.
For everyday hydration, The Ordinary Natural Moisturising Factors + HA is a go-to. It’s non-comedogenic, meaning it won’t clog pores, and it works to nourish and protect the skin all day long. Prefer a lightweight texture? Try The Ordinary Natural Moisturising Factors + Beta Glucan. This gel formula absorbs quickly while still delivering deep hydration, making it perfect for oily or combination skin.
7. SPF
No skincare routine is complete without SPF. It’s essential for protecting skin from UV damage, premature ageing, and environmental stressors. If you’re using active ingredients like retinol or regularly exfoliating, SPF is even more important to protect your skin from increased sensitivity.
While The Ordinary currently don’t offer any SPFs, you should still finish off your routine with your favourite sunscreen. Need some inspo? Explore our round ups of the best face SPFs around, or for more specific roundups, check out our Australian sunscreen guide, and our picks of the best Korean sunscreens, to help you select your new favourite.
The Ordinary Evening Routine
Your PM Ordinary skincare routine is all about repairing and nourishing the skin overnight. You’ll still follow the same core Prep, Treat, and Seal steps, but with a few product swaps and additions to target overnight renewal.
Prep
1. Cleanser
If you’ve worn makeup or SPF, double cleansing is essential to ensure you remove every trace of buildup from the day.
Start with The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser like you did in the AM. Follow with The Ordinary Glucoside Foaming Cleanser. This gentle but effective cream cleanser deeply removes lingering residue, excess oil, and dirt without stripping the skin. By double cleansing, you’re ensuring your skin is perfectly prepped to absorb the active ingredients in your evening routine.
Treat
2. Mask or Peel
Targeted treatments are key to addressing specific skin concerns. Use these once or twice a week as part of your PM routine.
For acne and breakouts, apply The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Masque. It deeply exfoliates to clear pores, reduce congestion, and control excess oil. To reduce pigmentation and even out skin tone, try The Ordinary AHA + BHA Peeling Solution. It helps smooth skin texture and brighten dull complexions. If you’re using the peeling solution, skip your active serums in the evening to avoid over-exfoliating and irritating the skin.
3. Hydrating Serum
Reinforce your skin’s moisture levels by repeating your AM hydration step. The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 draws moisture deep into the skin, supporting skin elasticity and hydration overnight.
4. Active Serums
Nighttime is ideal for applying potent actives that help repair and rejuvenate the skin. Choose your serum based on your primary skin concern:
Uneven texture and dullness – Use The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% to gently exfoliate and brighten skin.
Hyperpigmentation and dark spots – Apply The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% to visibly fade pigmentation and even out skin tone.
Fine lines and ageing – If reducing the signs of ageing is a priority, this is the stage to layer a retinoid into your PM routine.
The Ordinary’s retinoids are developed to encourage skin renewal, helping to smooth fine lines and wrinkles while also tackling blemishes. Apply towards the end of your PM routine for the best results. We recommend The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion for a gentle introduction to retinol or The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% in Squalane for more advanced care. Both options will help keep your skin looking smooth, even, and radiant. But please keep in mind these two products are only suitable for older skin – best placed in a The Ordinary routine for mature skin.
5. Face Oils
For an added boost of hydration, finish your PM Treat stage with The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane. This lightweight, non-comedogenic oil mimics your skin’s natural oils to lock in moisture, strengthen the skin barrier, and improve texture.
Massage a few drops into your skin to seal in the benefits of your previous layers, ensuring deep overnight nourishment.
Seal
6. Moisturiser
Repeat the morning step with The Ordinary Natural Moisturising Factors + HA to lock in moisture overnight.
How to Build Your Perfect The Ordinary Routine
Creating your ideal Ordinary skincare routine doesn’t need to be complicated. Start by following the routine structure above and adjust your products based on your skin’s unique needs.
First, identify your skin type – oily, dry, combination, acne-prone, or mature. Second, determine your key concerns. This could be anything from reducing breakouts, tackling hyperpigmentation, improving skin texture, or targeting fine lines and dehydration.
The Ordinary’s straightforward, effective skincare is easy to customise. Whether you’re figuring out how to layer The Ordinary products or wondering what The Ordinary products to use, we can help. Use our concern-led guides to find the best products for your The Ordinary routine.
