I’m a big fan of The Ordinary. Whilst I don’t have a ton of its products in my holy-grail skincare routine, I love the fact that it’s affordable skincare and is still effective. Standout products for me include the Glycolic Acid Toning Solution, which is seriously potent but on skin that’ll tolerate it and will bring clarity and radiance after just a few uses, and the super-gentle Squalane Cleanser, which lifts grime and makeup off of even the driest or most sensitive skin types. If you know exactly what your skin needs, then The Ordinary makes it easy to shop in an ingredient-led way with less fluff and more facts. However, if you are unsure about what your routine lacks or what ingredients mesh well, shopping The Ordinary can be a bit of a head-scratcher.
When I heard the brand was launching more haircare, I was intrigued. Its foray into hair was with the Multi-Peptide Serum for Hair Density, which is loved for its proven ability help with scalp issues and in some cases help hair look thicker from the root. As someone with hair so thick I have broken combs, I wasn’t interest in the launch for myself but was impressed with reviews from my peers.
As the skinification of haircare becomes more prevalent, it made sense for The Ordinary to expand in this category, so what better way to do this than with targeting the hair cleanse and moisturising portion of your hair routine. So I tried all three of its new products, and these are my honest thoughts.
If you’ve ever rolled your eyes at a man for using two-in-one shampoo, then you might have to reserve your judgement, as this is a top-to-toe cleanser. While it seems like the whole haircare world has turned away from sulphates, The Ordinary has put the ingredient at the forefront of its shampoo. The brand highlights sulphates’ cleansing ability, the way it biodegrades and the way it reacts with the skin barrier as reasons it’s a featured ingredient, choosing SLES-2 (sodium laureth sulphate-2) as its sulphate of choice. With a 4% concentration, it’s a gentle amount of sulphate, enough to cleanse the scalp without disrupting the skin barrier. If you see your hairwashing routine as a chance to indulge in a bit of a sensorial experience, this isn’t the shampoo for you, and if you have been avoiding a high-lather shampoo because you have dry hair or a dry scalp, you also might want to avoid. This shampoo is good for a no-frills cleanser if you use a lot of silicone- or butter-based styling products that cause build-up on the hair and scalp. The haircare range focuses on scalpcare, so if you are using as directed and massaging into your scalp, not your mid-lengths and ends, your hair shouldn’t feel too dry after use. My hair didn’t feel silky-soft when I rinsed it out, but it felt clean and not too tangled, which leads me to the conditioner…
This conditioner is going to be perfect for you if you need something light to make your hair feel hydrated and easy to style. For my natural Afro hair, it wasn’t moisturising enough, especially teamed with a foaming shampoo, but when I used the duo on my European, straight, textured clip-in extensions, they were more than enough of a solid cleanse-and-moisturise pair.
This scalp treatment takes inspiration from The Ordinary Skincare moisturiser that uses similar ingredients to hydrate the skin. This soothes and improves the skin barrier on the scalp without weighing the roots down, so if you suffer from a dry or itchy scalp, then this will be your hero product from the new range. It feels light and easy to apply, and honestly, I’m keeping it for when I have braids in the summer when my scalp is overworked and neglected, but as someone with a healthy scalp in general, I won’t be reaching for it on the regular. Overall, this range is to haircare what the brand’s skincare offering is to your skin routine: simple and effective. It’s not indulgent or luxe by any means, but if the formulas work for your hair type and concerns, you’ll love it.
The hardest-working The Ordinary product by far. It is a heavy-duty toner for exfoliating the face but can also be used to exfoliate the scalp, bacne and dry heels. Definitely one for the bathroom cupboard.
I often find that concealers that can be used all over the face (i.e., not just the under-eye area) will crease quickly on me. This one lasts hours and is super smooth to apply, leaving all dark circles in the dust.
A super-light-coverage foundation that you’ll fall for if you aren’t looking for coverage per se but want an all-over glow.
If you have hyperpigmentation, this is a great gel-textured serum for brightening without overly-sensitizing the skin.
This cleanser easily removes makeup and dirt but doesn’t strip the skin, as it doesn’t contain soap. Instead, the base is a soft balmy-oil texture. Perfect for winter-inflicted skin.
Argan oil is so good to have in your hair kit for glossing the ends of dry hair. Add a little of this oil to the palm of your hands, warm it up, and then run through the end of your hair when damp or dry.
This please-all moisturiser is excellent for paring back your routine if you have been overdoing actives. It is on the heavier side texture-wise but still does layer well over serums and beneath SPF.
This gets its name from the buffet of benefits that you can expect from continued use. The formula includes 11 amino acids and hyaluronic acid to smooth and add hydration back into the skin. Next up, how to stop your hair shedding, according to experts.