Because it’s an oil free formulation, it doesn’t feel very moisturising, so as I said previously, if you have dry skin this might not be the right foundation for you. It’s not a suit all foundation, and while I can get away with this if I use a lot more moisturiser, when looking super close up, I could see a little bit of catching on my dryness around my nose. You could always try adding a drop of facial oil into the serum foundation to give it a little more slip and add hydration, but I do understand that’s a bit too much faff for some people. To sum up it’s a nice foundation, not my favourite and one I probably won’t reach for on a daily basis but I think that has more to do with it being very different to what I had imagined it would be like, and I prefer foundations with a more dewy finish.

I had been meaning to get my hands on The Ordinary’s Serum Foundation for some time, so while for many this is old news, I thought I’d throw my two cents into the mix. I picked up two shades knowing that shade matching via the internet is always risky, and so ordered the shades 1.2 N and 2.0 N in the hope I could mix if needed, which sure enough I did. The Ordinary also make a Full Coverage Foundation but alas that’s not really my thing so I chose to focus on this.

TEXTURE, COVERAGE & FINISH
The texture is a runny liquid, so careful if you’re applying it to the back of your hand first. I think this works well with a brush or fingers, but I tend to use it most with the Zoeva Face brush to really buff it in. Being a serum foundation, for some reason I had expected this to have a little glow in it, but it’s much more on the satin side in terms of finish. It’s also incredibly light weight but does offer some coverage, more than I had anticipated. I think I had presumed this was going to be like a dewy tinted moisturiser, and it definitely isn’t either if those things. It is a proper foundation with a light to medium coverage that you can actually layer pretty well. It covered my redness and gave my skin a unified look and it did last on me.
While I like it, I don’t think I would reach for it everyday, I would describe my skin as normal and dehydrated, and I definitley needed more moisturiser than normal with this, especially around my nose to prevent the product catching. I actually think if you have normal to oily skin this could be pretty as an everyday foundation, but if you have combination skin, or dryness you may find this catches to dry patches, and if you have very dry skin I would say best to avoid this one. I think this is also a nice foundation for normal to oily skins who want something that feels breathable and lightweight, but gives a medium coverage, great for the office and or evening.

POSTIVES
The shade range is amazing for such an affordable foundation, with 21 shades with a range of undertones available, although I would have picked it up from a store had I had one near me to ensure the correct shade. The packaging has a minimal feel to it that I actually think looks pretty high end, I love how neat and tidy it is and you get a pump! Always a bonus. It is incredibly purse friendly at $6.70, so great for anyone looking for a medium coverage foundation that’s lightweight and more on the matte side.

It ticks all the boxes and whilst the tube is small, you only need a small amount as it expands once it has transformed. Having said that, a larger tube is in the works as I mentioned at the top.

The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser Features
This cleanser is super gentle and has been formulated to thoroughly clean the skin of makeup and impurities:
Formulated to target makeup removal
Leaves the skin feeling smooth and moisturised
The formula incorporates Squalane with a range of other lipophilic esters
The blend is efficient in dissolving makeup and facial impurities
It is super gentle and also are gentle, moisturising
Transforms from a balm-like feel to a clear oil-like consistency when warms between the palms
This allows the emulsifying sucrose esters to trap the dissolved makeup &amp; impurities in the formula, ready to be rinsed away with water
The soap-free, this formula is designed to respect the integrity of the epidermal lipids
Suitable for all skin types
£5.50 for 50ml

I noticed one change in my skin, almost immediately. Initially, I could not be sure whether it came down to one or more of the products from The Ordinary, or if it was simply due to layering products. (Or possibly even because the weather was finally warming up and becoming less dry.)

But my cheeks were no longer dry flaky. It went away, just like that, practically overnight. I struggled with flaky cheeks all winter, and boom, it was gone.

Within perhaps a week, I started to notice that my skin was getting super plump in the mornings. Smooth and plump! But was it just retaining water, or something? I have pretty chubby cheeks normally, so it was a little hard to tell, ha! I suspected the plumping was down to the hyaluronic acid, but when I did a little testing (by switching over to some other skincare products for about a month), it seemed that “Buffet” was actually responsible for much of the plumping. Applying hyaluronic acid with “Buffet” definitely seemed to enhance the plump factor, though

I applied the “Buffet” right after cleansing, so that the product was closer to the skin and was more likely to penetrate it. I preferred the hyaluronic acid to be sandwiched between two watery products, since the hyaluronic acid molecule can bind something like 1,000 times its own weight in water. The worry is that it can draw water away from the skin if there isn’t enough available on the surface; I have no idea if this is legit but I’m guessing it couldn’t hurt to be careful.

As you can see, this is a fair amount of product layering for someone who normally only uses a cleanser and a moisturizer, and occasionally a facial oil!

“Buffet” has a very light, gel-like texture. It’s clear, and smooths onto the skin well. The apothecary-style glass bottle and dropper are perfect for application. I use about 2–3 drops for my face and upper neck. The product dries quite quickly and leaves a slightly sticky feeling, though I apply other products over this, so that doesn’t bother me in the least

I was a bit suspicious when I saw this new The Ordinary Salicylic 2% Acid Mask, I’m not gonna deny it… I was scared it was some kind of harsh scrub mask, and therefore not really my cup of tea

Apparently, I’m in a salicylic acid phase!

I really find this ingredient particularly effective and my skin really enjoys it. I almost never feel irritated with it, unlike some of the most active AHAs that can still tingle quite a bit on application, even if I’m used to them.

However, this is the first time I used it as a rinse-off mask. Usually, I’ve come across it more as a treatment I leave on my skin.

I was a bit suspicious when I saw this new The Ordinary Salicylic 2% Acid Mask, I’m not gonna deny it… I was scared it was some kind of harsh scrub mask, and therefore not really my cup of tea

But on closer inspection, I understood that it was more of a 2 in 1 product, exfoliating thanks to acids (therefore without grains) while being also a deep cleansing mask!

With my combination skin, this is the type of product I use regularly, especially in summer when my skin gets clogged faster with pollution and extra layers of sunscreen! But I usually use an exfoliant first, then a cleansing mask.

So I was very curious to try this practical 2-in-1 version and when the brand suggested to send me one to try, I quickly jumped at the opportunity!

When I first started using this product I loved it, it helped reduce the amount of oil on my very oily skin and made my face less shiny. It minimised the appearance of my pores that whenever I skipped it during my routine I’ll always notice. It didn’t do so much for my hyperpigmentation but I didn’t buy it for that, so it’s fine.

But recently, it’s been doing the opposite of all these to my skin, and that’s confusing. It does not break me out or give me any weird rashes but when I apply it, I get this slight burning sensation and it immediately starts pilling on my skin and feels rough when I rub it in. It does this even when it’s the only serum on my face or even when I apply it after hydrating products like Hyaluronic acid or Snail Mucin. So now I only use a tiny drop of it, 2 times a week, and sometimes I don’t because it seems like a lot of work.

What is it – The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Serum

What it claims to do – Reduces the appearance of skin blemishes and pore congestion. Evens out bumpy skin texture and brightens the skin.

Key Ingredients – Niacinamide and Zinc PCA

Aqua (Water), Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Zinc PCA, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum, Xanthan gum, Isoceteth-20, Ethoxydiglycol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin.

Broadcaster Verdict: Love it or hate it you can’t deny that the Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% serum by The Ordinary is an absolute cult favourite in the skincare community! I’m currently on my second bottle and I couldn’t be happier with the results. Not only did it fade my acne scars but it also controlled my skin’s oil production and brightened my skin overall. However, since my skin type is oily, I could tolerate the high concentration of niacinamide. If you have dry or sensitive skin, this serum may sting a little and be a bit much for your skin to handle. Another way I like to use it is to mix it in with a thick fragrance-free moisturiser and use it as an eye cream. It helps brighten my under eye area and moisturise it at the same time. If you ask me, this serum would be my desert island beauty product!

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