The Ordinary, and the order to use them in
The Ordinary sells actives at cost with the percentage on the label and no instructions on the box, which is either the appeal or the problem depending on how much you already know. Three are stocked, and they should not all be used on the same night.
For blackheads and clogged pores
Salicylic Acid 2% Solution (Rs 2,800) is oil-soluble, so it clears a pore from the inside. Two or three nights a week to start. It does very little for dryness, so if flaking is the complaint this is the wrong bottle.
For dullness and texture
7% Glycolic Acid Toner (Rs 3,899) on a cotton pad, on the nights you are not using something else. Glycolic works on the surface; salicylic works in the pore. That is the actual difference between them.
For lines and long-term texture
Retinol 0.2% in Squalane (Rs 3,960) is the lowest strength in the range, which is where to start. Retinol takes three to six months to show, and the first few weeks often look worse before they look better.
The mistake almost everyone makes
Buying all three and using them together. Acids plus retinol on the same night is the fastest route to a stinging, peeling face, and then to deciding none of it suits you. Pick one, give it six weeks, then add a second on alternate nights.
And the part that is not optional
All three make skin more sun-sensitive. Daily SPF is what makes the difference between the results holding and undoing themselves.
The Ordinary FAQs
Can I use all three together?
No, not at first, and this is the most common mistake with the brand. Acids plus retinol on the same night causes irritation. Use one for six weeks, then introduce a second on alternate nights.
Salicylic acid or glycolic acid?
Salicylic is oil-soluble and clears blackheads and clogged pores from inside the pore. Glycolic works on the surface for dullness and texture. Different problems, not different strengths of the same thing.
Is 0.2% retinol too weak to do anything?
No, it is where you should start. Higher strengths irritate more without working faster for most people, and irritation is why people quit before the three to six months it takes to show.
Do I need sunscreen with these?
Yes, daily. All three increase sun sensitivity, and without SPF the pigmentation and texture work undoes itself faster than the serum can build it.