I’m no beauty blogger. My daily regime consists of scrubbing my face with some kind of exfoliating scrub/sandpaper, moisturising, and then drawing on my eyebrows if I think I might run into my ex. Every time I step foot into a Mecca I have an anxiety attack. Not in a ‘omg I am so overwhelmed at all of the great things’ kind of way – more like a ‘omg I can’t breathe and a lady in stilettos just stepped on my toe’ kind of way.

Which is why I really like The Ordinary. Peppermayo sent UNiDAYS over a few of their products to trial and I was immediately drawn to their no-bullshit approach. The bottles aren’t boasting 159 all-natural, organic Amazonian extracts. They simply list the ingredients that are actually in the bottle. Plus, some of the products came with little dropper type application tubes, which really excited me for some reason. It’s all quite science-y.

The Ordinary Salicylic acid

Apply this one directly to any spots you have on your face. The instructions say to apply twice per day, but I’d recommend working up to that level, just because it depends on how sensitive and moody your skin is.

This products works by exfoliating (essentially removing) the dead skin from the inside of your pores, which sounds gross, and also cool at the same time. I saw an improvement in any spots I had – they disappeared faster (but not overnight).

Note: this is an acid, so your pillowcases are not safe. Make sure you either have white pillow cases, or drag some super old ones out from the bottom of your mum’s linen cupboard.

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The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA 2% Superficial Peeling Formulation

This shit is the shit. I have super temperamental skin, and am prone to breakouts. Believe me when I say that I have tried most things under the sun, and this actually worked. My skin was noticeably clearer and generally less crappy when used.

The peel works by basically shedding the old skin, leaving behind the newer, healthier looking skin. Apply a small amount before bed (again, beware of bleaching your pillowcases). There is also a stronger 10% Lactic Acid variation available, for those who think their skin can handle it.

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The Ordinary High-Adherence Silicone Primer

I’ve used primers before, and have struggled to notice the difference between them and a normal moisturiser. As soon as I applied this primer, it felt different to a moisturiser and actually made my skin much smoother.

It’s a good base to start with before applying any makeup, making application easier. My skin did dry out through the day, so maybe it’s worthwhile using it in conjunction with a light moisturiser.

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The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

This product has received an immense amount of praise all over the inter webs for its acne fighting super powers.

Like all of the other liquid solutions, this came in a glass bottle with a cropper applicator. The clear liquid has no scent, which is good as it recommends you apply it twice per day before any makeup or moisturisers. At first the liquid feels quite sticky on the skin, but is hardly noticeable after drying in a few minutes.

Unfortunately, I didn’t see any immediate results from the Niacinamide, but this might be one of those products that you need to persevere with for a while before you notice any differences.

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