Well, I finally found a moisturizer I can put around my eyes without them burning the second I sweat, so it’s already a big step in the right direction I think 
8 Likes
So when I started buying things from The Ordinary it was fairly random. I’m just beginning to figure things out now and have a question if anyone can answer. I have three different acids which I currently use about once a week each, an AHA, a Glycolic, and a Lactic. One of the other items I use from them also has Hyaluronic, so I don’t think I need that as a specific item. I wrote to the website with my list of products and they gave me a regimen. I’m not sure if they all do something different or if they do the same job just at different strengths? They’re all just peels, yes? They are all fine on my skin, no reactions or anything, so I’m wondering if once I use up this bottle, I should stop the Lactic (I think that’s the weakest one) and just use the other two?
3 Likes
Hyaluronic acid is different from the other three you mentioned and I think you want that one almost all the time? It’s a humectant, attracting water and holding water in your skin, so you’d use it every day. Usually moisturizers have it in them as an ingredient among other good things you’d want in a moisturizer, so I don’t think you’d need to use it separately. Unless you weren’t using a moisturizer that has it in it, then yes, use that. I’m pretty sure glycolic acid and lactic acid are both types of alpha-hydroxy acids so I’m not sure what exactly a product that calls itself AHA has in it that is different from the other two. Maybe other AHAs? Glycolic acid is a smaller molecule than lactic acid so that makes it able to get deeper into the skin (that’s what I read, do I know that, really? No, I don’t, but that’s something I’ve read) and I’m not sure I’d call them a peel but they are supposed to slough off dead skin cells so yes? Interestingly, they are also humectants, so they slough and hydrate. Good stuff, but I don’t know why you’d need both. One or the other. Glycolic if it doesn’t bother you skin, since it supposedly can do more by going deeper.
I personally use lactic acid once every day, and that’s because I want those good effects but I also use tretinoin which has made my skin a little more sensitive than it used to be and I’m also using a vitamin c serum (20% L-ascorbic acid) so I don’t want to push it with glycolic acid.
5 Likes
Thanks! I read that you should use vitamin C at a different time than any other acid, but both can be in a regimen so I do that. I don’t use the stronger things every day. I do use the product with the hyaluronic acid in 2x every day, plus a moisturizer, so I think I am ok there. I think I will just use one or the other of lactic and glycolic and have 1 less product on the counter. I saw a lady on youtube say that glycolic is stronger than lactic is, but maybe it depends on the % in each one? My glycolic is 7% and the lactic is 10% plus has hyaluronic in it also. Why does it have to be confusing? Might be time for another note to the lovely people working at The Ordinary. But… I am happy with my skin since I have been using this for a while now, so it is definitely worth it.
3 Likes
@turtlegirl this was helpful re: AHAs https://www.instagram.com/p/B9USXMupc8b/?igshid=1twnxcooe9t3p
1 Like
Thanks! I’m going to have to get Instagram for that account I think! And maybe like… cute cats too.
From a quick look, I have one potent one (the red one from The Ordinary) and two gentle ones so can stop one of them.
4 Likes
Oh, the red one from The Ordinary is strong. I mean, I haven’t used it, but based on the ingredients. I would say it barely compares with the basic lactic acid or a basic glycolic acid because it has a bunch of acids in it. I think the red one is meant to be a peel or a mask, something you put on and then wash off, and I would imagine not daily. Maybe weekly? The lactic acid I use daily is also from The Ordinary but it’s just lactic acid and hyaluronic acid and I rub it in good, not wash it off! I think I started with the 7% but the next bottle I bumped it up to the 10%. I do use it with the vitamin C, one right after the other and daily, but I think that’s highly dependent on each person’s skin. But I don’t want to give up either product on any given day, and my skin doesn’t seem to mind it, so I do it.
No wonder you had some confusion. Despite all being AHAs, you have some very different products there to be used in different ways. So I think now that I get better what you were asking, my amended answer would be that you could use the glycolic or the lactic interchangeably and daily, the hyaluronic as much as possible 
, and the AHA once a week as a peeling mask and wash it off after like 10 minutes max.
4 Likes
Thanks! I’m on my second bottle of the red one and it is strong but my face doesn’t mind it. I do only use it about once a week, but it is definitely not for sensitive or broken skin which burns something fierce. I’m using the same 10% lactic acid as you, and might quit the glycolic and keep that. I’ve got almost full bottles of both, so I have time to decide I guess. I’m getting hyaluronic acid in my Alpha Arbutin and presumably in my moisturizer which are both used twice daily. My skin looks better, so it’s all worth doing, but it’s still confusing getting to know things. I did get excited and bought too many things though, so I’m trying to pare that down a bit.
3 Likes
I try not to go overboard, but I do quite enjoy having all these little potions to play with! There’s always something new and interesting to try…
2 Likes
I used my first AHA last night! Lactic acid, 10% by the Ordinary.
I am still struggling with some dryness so moving to Cetaphil as a cleanser to see if thats better for my winter skin.
3 Likes
That’s the one I use. It’s got Hyaluronic acid in it too which someone here said is for moisture so maybe that will help too. Good luck with it!
1 Like
Remind me if you use it for daily use?
I have it and I use it about weekly. Postpartum when I was recovering my youth I alternated it daily with a weak retinoid.
3 Likes
Yes, I use it every day. Except for the days when I’m too lazy to do anything at all. But officially, every day. I have the 10% with HA from The Ordinary as well.
What cleanser were you using before switching to Cetaphil?
2 Likes
I use Klair’s Rich Soothing Cleanser. It smells so lovely and it doesn’t make me itch or break out: https://www.iherb.com/pr/Dear-Klairs-Rich-Moist-Foaming-Cleanser-3-4-fl-oz-100-ml/79915?gclid=CjwKCAiA6aSABhApEiwA6Cbm_5WYwfypf4DvPyx484yzmSG4hSkTOIxic6O2goPhYL2f5pkFmcWy_RoCnkAQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
I am wondering if maybe the tea tree oil is too much for me tho.
If I move on from cetaphil I’m going to try sebaderm’s sensitive cleanser.
1 Like
I love things that smell good! I’ve read that foaming cleansers can be drying so maybe that is it. I’ve used a foaming cleanser from Hada Labo and I didn’t find it drying, but who knows. Maybe Hada Labo is magic or maybe my skin doesn’t get dried out easily. I don’t think I’ve tried any tea tree oil products on my face but I do know it can be kind of strong in general. I used to occasionally add it to my cloth diaper loads to fight stink so yeah, I think of it as kind of bold stuff. 
3 Likes
Sooo I think I got a little confused. The klairs blog post I read it on says the pH is 5.5. buuuut sokoglam says that it is a whopping 7!!! Which would explain the tight feeling.
So maybe I try sebamed sooner…
1 Like
Early review of what I bought from The Ordinary:
Squalane cleanser - this seems fine. Cleans well without feeling tight, removes makeup well, does not seem irritating.
Buffet serum (peptide) - again, seems… fine? Doesn’t irritate me, but I don’t know that I’m looking any different/better?
Rosehip seed oil - too greasy and turns my face bright red. Does not turn my neck bright red and patch test did nothing. So I may just use this for neck moisturizer, maybe it will prevent wattle?
Caffeine eye serum - I am a broken record… fine? Feels moisturizing, but my black-eye dark circles and puffiness don’t seem any better. Maybe the puffiness is a LITTLE less.
I need a different moisturizer, I think. I might try the Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA, which is supposed to be good for redness.
Also thinking about this: https://hylamide.deciem.com/product/subq-anti-age-30ml I like that it says it has similar effects to a retinol with less irritation. I’m afraid of retinols, I irritate so easily I assume that will be immediate bright red and burning.
In conclusion, my face doesn’t look any different as far as I can tell. I still get random breakouts for no reason. No better, no worse. I’m going on 3 weeks of daily use.
I always wonder if it is too much to ask to notice any visible improvement in my appearance, and if I should just be satisfied with not breaking out more, looking worse, or having my skin feel greasy or tight or flaky.
3 Likes
A few thoughts…if I’m overstepping you can ignore me or ask me to delete.
Summary
What if your beliefs about your skin didn’t match up with what everyone else sees?
What if you look your age, or younger?
What if everyone’s best result and gushing is the same as your fine, you just have high standards (which is a good thing! Demand the best)
What if the late 99s/early 2000s focus on matte brainwashed us into thinking skin should be powdery and weird?
What if your skin is absolute perfection just as it was?
One time I was on a porn site or reddit, and there was a picture of a chest that looked horrific to me. Too real. Just like me. Stretched, blotchy and visible veins. But then hundreds of comments about how sexy and perfect those very real things were. It horrified and disgusted me and I was probably more weirded out by that than any other legal kink. I still wouldn’t enjoy that picture, but it helped me see my own distorted thoughts
4 Likes