Problem Solvers

Curate your skin care wardrobe with these potent problem solvers

Delivering rapid, tangible results without costing the earth (almost everything’s under £10!), {The Ordinary} is the perfect way to customise your go-to skin care ritual. A comprehensive range of targeted treatments to correct the catalogue of common skin concerns, this comprehensive edit makes it easy to curate a skin care wardrobe, allowing you to tailor your regime to suit the ever-changing needs of your complexion. So whether you’re battling a breakout, fighting the give-away signs of fatigue or in need of an intensive brightening ‘boost’, these vials of pure, potent cosmeceutical ingredients can be mixed and matched with your existing skin care favourites to ensure you always put your very best face forward…

{The essentials}

The white t-shirt and jeans of your beauty regime, these ‘basics’ are the cornerstones of healthy, glowing skin.

In the morning, apply a couple of drops of {Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5} ahead of a thin layer of {Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2%}, to infuse skin with moisture and maintain vitality. Attracting up to 1000x its own weight in water, hyaluronic acid helps replenish cells’ reservoirs – increasing ‘volume’ to plump wrinkles from within while boosting ‘bounce’. The vitamin C then exhibits a powerful brightening benefit – dispelling signs of dullness while protecting from the everyday environmental stress.

In the evening, reach for an AHA toner – The Ordinary’s {Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution} is a gentle yet effective way to ‘melt’ the bonds that bind dulling dead cells to the skin’s surface – promoting luminosity and stimulating cellular regeneration. Follow up with {Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%} – also known as vitamin B3 – which works to fortify skin’s natural defences while combatting blemish-causing bacteria, to increase skin’s resilience and maintain health and clarity.

{The supplements}

If you feel a breakout brewing… reach for {Salicylic Acid 2% Solution}, which penetrates the pores to ‘unclog’ and prevent potential uprisings. It can be applied on-the-spot or all over the problem-prone areas, to zap zits and stop spots from ruining your day.

If you need a radiance boost… reach for {Lactic Acid 10% + HA 2%} which chemically exfoliates to refine your skin’s tone and texture while you slumber. An overnight treatment, this is the ultimate foil for lacklustre complexions – restoring luminosity and uniformity to dull skin types.

If your skin feels dry, ‘tight’ or uncomfortable… reach for {Natural Moisturising Factors + HA} which replenishes skin’s levels of its NMAs, to ‘cling’ to precious moisture and bring quick relief from chronic dehydration.

If you’re concerned about fine lines and wrinkles… supplement your evening skin care ritual with {Advanced Retinoid 2%} – a vitamin A derivative, that ‘bothers’ lazy skin cells into action; stimulating synthesis of building blocks like elastin and collagen, to prolong skin’s ‘stretch’ and increase density so lines are lessened.

If you’re bothered by prominent furrows… you need {Matrixyl 10% + HA} – an anti-ageing peptide complex that helps ‘pause’ the subliminal muscular movements that cause pronounced expression lines. Apply around the eyes and to the forehead to help reduce depth of deep frown lines and crow’s feet.

If you’re plagued by pigmentation… reach for {Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate Solution 20% in Vitamin F} – a mild, non-irritating form of vitamin C which helps to gradually fade existing sun speckles and dark spots as it strengthens you complexion’s natural defences.

And if your skin is oily or congested… rely on {High-Adherence Silicone Primer} to hydrate, blur and mattify while ensuring your make up stays immaculate until you decide otherwise. With advanced silicones, this ‘intelligent’ formula grips your make up while minimising shine.

SHOP THE ORDINARY >>



Verity Douglas

Verity Douglas

Content Editor

Cult Beauty’s Content Editor and a Cult Beauty OG, Verity loves nothing more than the marriage of language and lip balm. A quintessential Libran, she’s a self-professed magpie for luxury ‘must-haves' and always pursuing the new and the niche — from the boujee-est skin care to cutting-edge tech. Balancing an urge to stop the clock with her desire to embrace the ageing process (and set a positive example for her daughter), Verity's a retinol obsessive and will gladly share her thoughts about the time-defying gadgets, masks and treatments worth the splurge...