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You are here: Home / Style / My Favorite Ordinary Products

My Favorite Ordinary Products

August 7, 2020 By Anna Groves 2 Comments

OK! So I asked you guys if you needed a guide for using the Ordinary products, and you overwhelmingly said YES. Like thousands of you! On another post, I created a generic guide for the order of use of any skincare products that I think are necessary, and you can use some of these Ordinary products to plug into the formula. I am also posting an IGTV explaining everything.

This is a list of The Ordinary products that I have tried and tested. This is not an exhaustive list of their products, however it is a list of products that I have incorporated into my routine. This list will change as I try new products, so I will keep you up to date. Use what works for you- this is not a hard and fast list, because I will only share products with you that I have tried and think are effective.

  • CAFFEINE SOLUTION
  • NIACINAMIDE
  • SQUALANE OIL
  • RETINOID + SQUALANE
  • PEPTIDES + COPPER
  • PEELING SOLUTION

The first on the list is the Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + ECGC. As you may know, I don’t really use eye creams often. Most of them irritate my eczema and I believe you can put most things you use on the face, on the eye. This stuff, and Shani Darden Eye Cream I’ve been able to use. Other than that, I will use La Mer Original Moisturizing Cream, or Doctor Rogers Restore Healing Balm, on my eyes. The caffeine solution smooths, de-puffs and brightens. It has ECGC (from the green tea leaf) and it absorbs quickly, and I can layer my moisturizer over the top.

The second thing on my list of The Ordinary products is the Niacinamide 10% + Zinc. I love this and it can be used day and night. If you like vitamin c, you can use vitamin c during the day, and this one at night. This is a vitamin B3 derivative and reduces skin blemishes and congestion. it also evens skin tone!

Number three on my list is the 100% Plant Derived Squalane. This oil is perfect for all skin types because it is lightweight and does not break you out. It is found in our skin naturally. I like several different oils, but this is high on my list due to the price point and simplicity in ingredients (just one). You can also use this on hair for heat protection and to reduce breakage!

The next one is Granactive Retinoid 2% in Squalane. Retinoids are important because they help with fine lines and wrinkles, collagen production, and exfoliation over time. Retinols are a must have in my book. I like several different retinols but this one really is amazing to me because it does not irritate the skin like others. This one apparently is more affective than the others, and has almost no irritation. It is encased in Squalane oil, which makes it that more hydrating. This one is a big winner in my book. Use at night only. You can alternate, and use a peptide on opposite nights.

Speaking of peptides, this one is awesome. It is called Buffet + Copper Peptides 1% and targets multiple signs of aging all at the same time. Copper Peptides are a power house as far as healing and anti aging is concerned. They are found in human plasma and help with immune function, collagen production, and fibroblasts (that’s your firmness and elasticity y’all!) plus it is anti-inflammatory! This formula is so good because it also has probiotics and hyaluronic acid and a bunch of amino acids. Like I said, it’s awesome.

Finally, I think everyone should be doing a deep exfoliation weekly. This one here, the Peeling Solution AHA 30% + BHA 2% is incredible. It takes care of fine lines, evens skin tone, and the BHA digs down to dissolve oil and black heads. This is a deeper peel, and won’t cause irritation as long as you are used to using AHA’s/Glycolics etc. If not, I suggest using a lower concentration until you work up to this. You leave this on for 10 minutes (it stings at first, but it subsides) and then rinse. Then follow with a simple hydrating routine.

With all products, you need to make sure you are using the right thing at the right time, since some products and ingredients should not be mixed. I have included a link and a screenshot to a site that lists all Ordinary products and conflicts- what should and should not be used together.

And there you have it- my favorites from The Ordinary! I will add to this list as I try more products. Please make sure you do what is right for YOUR skin. These are what I use, and not all things work for all people, but I am happy to share what works for me. I hope that you’ll have some great results as well! Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a post!


Filed Under: Beauty, Style, Wellness Tagged With: how to use the ordinary, the ordinary

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Comments

  1. molly says

    August 13, 2020 at 12:10 am

    I cannot believe these price points…what?!?!?! If you didn’t recommend them, I would think they were fake LOL THank you, anna, for helping us all stay beautiful 🙂

  2. Ashley Ramirez says

    August 23, 2020 at 3:49 pm

    LOVE. Thank you for breaking down what can and Cant be used together

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I LOVE this Grilled Peach Salad with Lemon Blackbe I LOVE this Grilled Peach Salad with Lemon Blackberry Honey Dressing! #sponsored Everything’s from @aldiusa which means fresh, affordable, high quality ingredients for summer grilling and entertaining! I picked up the Crofton acacia wood bowl and wood block in ALDI Finds aisle, too! #ALDILove 
 
Here’s what you’ll need for the salad: (Serving Size: 2 Cups) 
1 package Simply Nature Organic Arugula & Spinach Mix  
6-8 small peaches  
4 Simply Nature Organic Chicken Breasts, cooked to your desire  
1 cup blackberries  
1 Emporium Selection Goat Cheese Log 
1 cup Southern Grove Shelled Pistachios, roughly chopped  
2 tbsp Simply Nature 100% Avocado Oil 
 
For the salad dressing:  
1 small lemon, zested and juiced 
2 Tbsp Specially Selected Raw Honey  
1/2 cup blackberries  
3 Tbs Priano Balsamic Vinegar 
1 1/2 tsp salt  
1/4 cup Simply Nature Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil 
 
1. Preheat grill to 400 degrees.  Slice peaches in half and remove pits.  
2. Brush halved peaches all over with avocado oil, and place sliced side down on preheated grill. Let cook 3-4 minutes, moving as needed to achieve more grill marks. Flip over and cook 3-4 more minutes. Meanwhile make salad dressing.  
3. Take peaches off the grill and assemble the salad.  Place greens in bowl. Salt and pepper to taste. 
4. Slice peaches and add to top of greens. Lay sliced chicken on top.  
5. Slice and add the goat cheese, then sprinkle on blackberries and chopped pistachios. Drizzle with a little salad dressing and serve with additional dressing.  
 
While peaches are grilling, make your dressing:  
1. Pour lemon juice and zest in small bowl.  
2. Add honey and salt. Mix until combined. 
3. Add 1/2 cup blackberries and smash with a fork. Add balsamic vinegar.  
4. Whisk mixture while slowly drizzling in the olive oil until emulsified.
Lots of q’s about this dress- it has pockets…. Lots of q’s about this dress- it has pockets…. Because as you know, we carry lots of important things in our dress pockets 😂 A perfect vacay dress if you’re going somewhere warm- Tarte gifted it to me when I was in Miami (swipe) and I’m gonna bring it with me to florida when I go again pretty soon ! Linked in stories and LTK for you:)

#liketkit #LTKtravel #LTKSeasonal
@shop.ltk
https://liketk.it/3I8i5
Wanna know a fun fact? Something about Rob that I’m super grateful for?  
 
He was born 10 years before his three sisters. He was the best big bro and built-in babysitter… and it was the greatest preparation for being a father.  
 
Rob was always ready to change diapers, hop up in the middle of the night, feed hungry babies… he carried just as much weight as I did over the years raising our four sons.  
 
And can I be really honest? Of the two of us, he is the best parent. The most aware- always the one asking the right questions and making sure parents were present at parties.  The one who kept one eye open - not falling asleep waiting for our sons to come home safely on New Year’s Eve. The first one to check in, every single time.  
 
Rob Groves, I’m so proud to call you my partner and father to our four sons. Thank you for being a remarkable example. Happy Father’s Day to a real one!
I’ve said it to you before, but as long as there I’ve said it to you before, but as long as there is someone within earshot who is afraid to pursue their dream, it’s worth saying again and again and again: You have to start.  
 
I saw this picture last night and cried. I remembered that as a small child, I’d often pick up a pretend mic and speak to an imaginary crowd. I knew I was going to talk to people. I didn’t know about what, but it was a seed planted in my heart by God.  
 
It dawned on me last night that it came to pass. But not how or when I’d imagined.  
 
It didn’t happen when I was 5, or a teenager, or in my twenties, or when I turned 30.  
 
It didn’t happen when I was 37 and buying domain names.  
 
It didn’t happen when I was 38, reading blogs about how to start my own.  
 
It didn’t happen when I was 39, watching friends pursue their dreams while I was watching YouTubes about how to begin mine.  
 
It didn’t happen when I was 40, writing secret blog posts but not publishing them, paralyzed by the inner critic telling me it was too late. That I’d look dumb. That the space was too saturated.  That mocked, “They’re gonna see you fail.”  
 
It didn’t happen when I turned 41, or 42 or 43.  
 
It happened after I STARTED. When God told me to put those lies in the trash where they belong and to just GET GOING, even though I didn’t know how to do everything.  
 
It’s year three. Every morning I get up and speak to thousands on this app. I recently shot a commercial for Toyota. And yesterday, I sat down in this chair to host a web series with the same company who I purchased that domain name from.  
 
I don’t know if you want to go to med school, make pottery or teach kindergarten. I don’t know If you dream of getting your masters, or your AA. Maybe you want to design clothing, take up photography, start coding, become a nurse, or you want to write that book.  
 
Whatever it is, it’s not too late.  But if you don’t START, it’s not going to happen.  So please, take it from this 46 year old with tears of gratitude and hope streaming down her face: GET UP AND GET GOING.
Mom and Dad. 🌺🌼💮🌸 By the grace of God, Mom and Dad. 🌺🌼💮🌸 By the grace of God, we really did that. #4Boys2Men 😭
23 years ago, I remember looking at Rob and whispe 23 years ago, I remember looking at Rob and whispering, “I want a noisy house.”  
 
I was pregnant with my oldest of four, and visiting my friend’s house.  She was pregnant with her youngest of four.  Her house was filled with joy… and noise.  
 
Welp, here we are- four grown boys later. That whisper became reality.  I got that noisy house, and sometimes when I start to complain, I remember- this was my desire, and God really did deliver.  
 
Thankful for my crew and 23 years of yelling, wrestling, “look at the camera!”, bickering, tears, holes in walls, super hero comparisons (still), “did you brush your teeth?!”, music versus battles, “STOP touching me!”, video games, one word answers, “MOMMMM!!”, boy hugs, and all of my most cringy mom moments. 
 
I hope you had an amazing weekend, and if it wasn’t very amazing, please know that I thought of you on Mother’s Day, and I hold space for you in my heart.
Rob and I are in a very strange season. What we be Rob and I are in a very strange season. What we believed was “next” is no longer. Many people around us are either trying to solve it like it’s a problem to be figured out, or asking us, “So…what’s next?”   
  
I get it. We also want to know.  But the truth is, we don’t know.  We are waiting to hear from God. It’s hard. It’s uncomfortable. It certainly hasn’t been fun. We feel discouraged at times. That’s where we find ourselves.   
  
But I am thankful. For friends who are fine to sit and wait WITH us. And a God whose greatest desire is to just BE with us in every moment- especially the ones that aren’t epic. The ones when life looks plain. When it seems there is no movement, no vision, no plan, no seemingly huge accomplishment, or mountaintop moment.   
  
What a miracle it is that Peace Himself sits down beside us, scoots in close, and whispers contentment, joy and that He is proud of us into our ears. Proud of us in the mundane. Proud of us in this stillness.   
  
I receive it. I hold onto it. Let me grasp it so tightly and fully that I don’t CARE what’s next, and instead savor who is next to me.   
  
Let right now be our next, and let us find the utmost peace right here.  
  
“Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.”  
‭‭  
Psalms‬ ‭62:5‬
#3MinuteMakeupChallenge You guys this was SO hard #3MinuteMakeupChallenge You guys this was SO hard 😂😂 you gotta try this and tell me how it went!  #makeup #quickmakeup #quickmakeuplook #FearlessFriday on a Wednesday
💇🏽‍♀️Did I leave you hanging???! I had 💇🏽‍♀️Did I leave you hanging???! I had an epic April fools day hair reveal to share but then decided maybe it’s too soon in the decade for more jokes 😂 Here’s the actual new hair :) 
 
I was using black box dye, and as my grays were coming in, they were very obvious, with a line of demarcation showing the grow out.  
 
As a solution, Brittany gave me “lived in color” to camouflage my gray -instead of covering it- by subtly and strategically lightening my hair so the gray “blends.” 
 
She said that camouflage instead of covering is the more modern way of coloring and I’m here for all of the dimension!  
 
First and last slides are day 3 hair, and I kid you not, I hadn’t done anything to it since Brittany styled it on Friday!! I wish I could curl my hair like she does!  
 
Also I like seeing the different tones in varying lights- at sundown (day 1 slide 2) morning light (day 2 slide 3) and golden hour (day 3 slides 1 and 4)  
 
The goal will be less and less red and more warm browns as we progress and slowly go lighter over the coming months!  
 
Love it!
Just found out it’s husband appreciation day so Just found out it’s husband appreciation day so here’s my appreciation post for Rob Groves! Best father, friend, leader and overall person I know! Dances with me in an empty party bus before the party ever starts, puts up with my “dancing”which is saying a lot, puts God, me and our family first, makes me laugh, is always striving to grow for the better, sings Tender Roni with me (which is all I ever wanted ever since 8th grade and needless to say it was worth the wait!) I appreciate him for waiting patiently until I’m done with my try ons, that he loves good food, does a good Daniel Russo, is the finest dookie picker upper, and that I finally broke the “can’t be pranked” door down (last slide). I Love you and I like you Rob Groves!
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