The Ordinary Regimen for Aging and Mature Skin

This post will be sharing The Ordinary Regimen for Aging and Mature Skin.

I initially hesitated to write this post because I don’t yet have ageing concerns I’m personally treating.

But then I’ve spent the last month creating skincare routines for my group members over at The Ordinary Skincare Fans Facebook Group, and the most predominant skin concern is ageing.

From fine lines to wrinkles and the whole nine yards.

So, I’ve decided to explore all the products from The Ordinary that target ageing and how they can be combined together.

The Ordinary Skincare Products for Aging

There are currently ten products in The Ordinary portfolio targeted toward ageing concerns. They are divided into two categories: Peptides and Retinoids.

Peptides

Peptides are essential ingredients in fighting aging. They are short chains of amino acids that act as building blocks of proteins such as collagen, elastin and keratin. These proteins are the foundations of your skin and are responsible for its texture, strength and resilience. Without peptides, our skin is less intact which can lead to a loss of firmness, the appearance of wrinkles, a change in texture and less ‘bounce’. When applied topically to the skin, peptides act as little messengers, triggering skin cells to perform specific functions such as building collagen and elastin, encouraging the skin to look and act younger. Extensive scientific research has proven that peptides can support your skin on multiple levels, for example firming, soothing and hydrating the skin.

Source

The Ordinary has four peptides in its portfolio:

• Matrixyl 10% + HA – a high-strength peptide that targets fine lines and wrinkles.
• Argireline Solution 10% – a lightweight peptide complex that targets ageing concerns around the eyes and forehead.
• Multi-Peptide + HA – a multi-technology peptide complex that targets multiple signs of ageing.
• Buffet + Copper Peptides 1% – a multi-technology peptide complex that targets multiple signs of ageing and improves overall skin health.

As you can see, they are core products that target major ageing concerns.

Retinoids

I’m sure most of us are familiar with Retinol, which is Vitamin A and is responsible for cell turnover.

Studies have shown that Retinol is the most effective topical product for anti-ageing.

So, the earlier you start, the better.

However the issue is that retinol has its own responsibilities, including side effects.

From peeling, purging and, most of all, irritation, you need to be careful with it.

To get the best and fastest results, it is recommended that you go for a prescription-strength Retinoid, which is called ‘Tretinoin‘.

But because of how strong and potent Tretinoin is, brands are formulating with Retinoid derivatives, including The Ordinary.

Even though Retinoid and their derivatives might take longer to work, it has fewer side effects.

The irritation is not as strong as the purging and peeling.

But you can still get irritated, trust me. I share my experience and how to use Retinol safely in The Ordinary Retinol Guide.

Before I shed more light on The Ordinary Retinoids, I’d like to point out the conversion steps so you can manage your expectations on how fast you would expect results.

You’ll need to be consistent and in it for the long game.

Depending on what brand you use, your retinol can come in either of these derivatives:

Retinyl Ester >>>> Retinol >>>> Retinaldehyde >>>> Retinoic Acid

So, the closer the form of Retinoid you use to Retinoic Acid, the faster and better it works.

It also means that the more potent the Retinol is, the higher the irritation.

It goes without saying that Tretinoin is the best Retinoid to go for, but you can’t just jump into it.

Instead, ease into it and move up slowly.

This is why I think The Ordinary Retinoids are a great place to start.

So, from lowest to highest concentration:

• Granactive Retinoid 2% in Emulsion
• Granactive Retinoid 2% in Squalane
• Granactive Retinoid 5% in Squalane
• Retinol 0.2% in Squalane
• Retinol 0.5% in Squalane
• Retinol 1% in Squalane

Yes, I’m sure you’re wondering where Granactive Retinoid fits all this.

According to The Ordinary, Granactive Retinoid is a Retinoic Acid ester that uses next-generation retinoid active technologies, which have been shown to achieve better reduction in signs of ageing than retinol without irritation.

The long and short story is that the Granactive Retinoid is weaker than Retinol.

Now that we understand these products better, let’s fix them into routines.

The Ordinary Regimen for Aging – AM & PM Routines

Depending on your skin concerns, here are different routines you can try;

For General Ageing, Including Fine Lines and Wrinkles

AM Routine

• Cleanse with the Squalane Cleanser.
• Hydrate with Hyaluronic Acid on damp skin.
• Treat with Ascorbyl Glucoside.
• Treat with the Caffeine Solution if you have puffy eyes or the Multi-Peptide Eye Serum if you struggle with dark circles, fine lines and wrinkles.
• Protect with the Mineral UV Filters with Antioxidants SPF 30. If you’re not a fan of the white cast from Mineral Sunscreens, try 18 Best Drugstore Sunscreens Worth Trying Now.

PM Routine

• Remove makeup with the Squalane Cleanser.
• Double cleanse with Glucoside Foaming Cleanser.
• Treat with Multi-Peptide Serum.
• Treat with the Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion if you have sensitive skin or the Retinol 0.2% in Squalane. For advanced users who have built tolerance up to Retinol 1% with no access to dermatologists, get Tretinoin here.
• Treat with the Multi-Peptide Eye Serum if you struggle with dark circles, fine lines and wrinkles.
• Moisturize with the Natural Moisturizing Factors if you have normal to combination skin, Natural Moisturizing Factors + Beta Glucan if you have oily skin or Natural Moisturizing Factors + PhytoCeramides if you have dry skin.
• Seal with Rosehip Seed Oil (optional)

For Aging and Hyperpigmentation/Rosecea

AM Routine

• Cleanse with the Squalane Cleanser.
• Hydrate with Hyaluronic Acid on damp skin.
• Treat with Ascorbic Acid + Alpha Arbutin.
• Treat with Azelaic Acid or EUK 134 if you have rosacea/redness.
• Treat with the Caffeine Solution if you have puffy eyes or the Multi-Peptide Eye Serum if you struggle with dark circles, fine lines and wrinkles.
• Protect with the Mineral UV Filters with Antioxidants SPF 30. If you’re not a fan of the white cast from Mineral Sunscreens, try 18 Best Drugstore Sunscreens Worth Trying Now.

PM Routine

• Remove makeup with the Squalane Cleanser.
• Double cleanse with Glucoside Foaming Cleanser.
• Treat with Multi-Peptide Serum.
• Treat with the Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion if you have sensitive skin or the Retinol 0.2% in Squalane. For advanced users who have built tolerance up to Retinol 1% with no access to dermatologists, get Tretinoin here.
• Treat with the Multi-Peptide Eye Serum if you struggle with dark circles, fine lines and wrinkles.
• Moisturize with the Natural Moisturizing Factors if you have normal to combination skin, Natural Moisturizing Factors + Beta Glucan if you have oily skin or Natural Moisturizing Factors + PhytoCeramides if you have dry skin.
• Seal with Rosehip Seed Oil (optional)

PM2 Routine

• Cleanse with the Glucoside Foaming Cleanser.
• Pat Dry
• Exfoliate with the Lactic Acid two to three times a week. (Start with 5% for beginners)
• Hydrate with the Hyaluronic Acid.
• Moisturize with the Natural Moisturizing Factors if you have normal to combination skin, Natural Moisturizing Factors + Beta Glucan if you have oily skin or Natural Moisturizing Factors + PhytoCeramides if you have dry skin.
• Seal with Rosehip Seed Oil (optional)

For Ageing & Acne

AM Routine

• Cleanse with the Squalane Cleanser.
• Hydrate with Hyaluronic Acid on damp skin.
• Treat with the Ascorbyl Glucoside 12% – a Vitamin C derivative.
• Treat with the Niacinamide
• Treat with the Multi-Peptide Eye Serum if you struggle with dark circles, fine lines and wrinkles.
• Protect with the Mineral UV Filters SPF 30 with Antioxidants

PM Routine

• Remove makeup with the Squalane Cleanser.
• Double cleanse with Glucoside Foaming Cleanser.
• Treat with Multi-Peptide Serum.
• Treat with the Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion if you have sensitive skin or the Retinol 0.2% in Squalane. For advanced users who have built tolerance up to Retinol 1% with no access to dermatologists, get Tretinoin here.
• Treat with the Multi-Peptide Eye Serum if you struggle with dark circles, fine lines and wrinkles.
• Moisturize with the Natural Moisturizing Factors if you have normal to combination skin, Natural Moisturizing Factors + Beta Glucan if you have oily skin or Natural Moisturizing Factors + PhytoCeramides if you have dry skin.
• Seal with Rosehip Seed Oil (optional)

PM2 Routine

• Cleanse with the Glucoside Foaming Cleanser.
• Pat Dry
• Exfoliate with the Salicylic Acid Solution twice a week. Alternate it with Lactic Acid for textural irregularities. (Exfoliation shouldn’t be more than three times a week)
• Treat with the Niacinamide.
• Treat with the Multi-Peptide Eye Serum if you struggle with dark circles, fine lines and wrinkles.
• Moisturize with the Natural Moisturizing Factors if you have normal to combination skin, Natural Moisturizing Factors + Beta Glucan if you have oily skin or Natural Moisturizing Factors + PhytoCeramides if you have dry skin.
• Seal with Rosehip Seed Oil (optional)

If you prefer to add an eye cream to your routine, here are 8 Best Eye Creams For Dark Circles And Wrinkles

Quick Tip

Whatever skin concern you’re treating, if you’re not 30 and above and need a full anti-ageing regimen, you’re better off just including Matrixyl or Argireline Solution or Multi-Peptide + HA into your routine.

They all treat fine lines and wrinkles.

They can fit nicely into your routine without using them with Vitamin C or Direct Acids.

If you prefer not to use Peptides, you could always start with the lowest percentage of Retinol.

In Conclusion,

I hope you have found this post on The Ordinary Regimen for Aging and Mature Skin helpful.

I’ve tried to break down the products and terminologies to the best of my abilities.

I hope it will help you make a more informed decision in the future and take proper care of your skin in the future.

If you’re feeling completely intimidated and overwhelmed by The Ordinary skincare I recommend taking Extraordinary Skin With The Ordinary. The Ordinary speed training created by my scientist friend Cheryl Woodman. Cheryl’s helped hundreds of ladies see real-life results, first hand. Click here to find out more about the course and see their reviews.