A few months ago, I was given a few products from The Ordinary from my mum.
I had heard quite a bit about The Ordinary Skincare before, but I hadn’t yet taken the plunge to try out their products.
She had seen that they opened a store at Metrotown in Burnaby and decided to check it out. While she was there she saw a few products that she thought I would enjoy.
She ended up giving me me 3 products: The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5%, the Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5, and The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA .
I was super excited to try them out as only in the last year or so I have begun adding acids (like the Farmacy Beauty Honeymoon Glow Serum) into my night skincare routine.
One thing I want to mention before diving into my review is the pricing of The Ordinary Skincare.
The pricing is extremely reasonable which I really love and am excited about. I feel like there are SO many products on the market that are priced insanely high. I really love when a brand releases products with a lower cost so that more people can try and enjoy them.
There are so many products on the market that have similar or even the exact same, ingredients to The Ordinary Skincare products and yet they charge so much more.
While I love skincare, makeup, and all things beauty, sometimes the prices baffle me, and I love that The Ordinary has made skincare affordable and accessible again.
Anyways, now let’s move onto The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA Review!
The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA Review
The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% is an alpha hydroxyl acid that chemically exfoliates the skin.
In my recent Why You Should Exfoliate Guide, I talk about chemical exfoliation and why I prefer it to manual exfoliation.
Mainly, it comes down to allowing the product to do all the work, rather than using gritty textured scrubs.
While I can enjoy some scrubs, they can actually harm your skin and cause micro cuts.
So while the gritty texture may lead to a super soft clean feeling on your skin initially, it can be damaging in the long run so you want to choose your scrubs wisely.
The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA chemically exfoliates the skin which basically means this product helps remove dead skin cells and renew your skin without any scrubbing.
You simply apply The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA and allow it to sit on your skin and work it’s magic.
The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA also contains purified Tasmanian pepperberry which helps reduce any inflammation or sensitivity you may have typically when you exfoliate.
Is this Product Safe to Use During Pregnancy?
From what I’ve read, yes The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA is safe to use during pregnancy.
I would recommend you consult your doctor before implementing The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA into your skincare routine just to be safe.
When Should I NOT Use The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA?
Do not use the The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA on very sensitive skin. For example, if your skin is peeling or cut, do not use.
Also, be sure to note that this product will make your skin more sensitive to the sun so be sure to follow up with a sunscreen.
The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA Ingredients
Aqua (Water), Lactic Acid, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Tasmania Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Isoceteth-20, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol.
This Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA is:
– Alcohol-Free
– Oil-free
– Gluten-free
– Vegan
– nut-free
– Silicone-free
– Cruelty-free
The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA Packaging
The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA packaging is a glass dropper bottle which is really quite cute. I love that it has that almost medical sort of look. It looks great on my countertop!
With that being said though, I would worry about this kind of packaging for travel.
How to use Lactic Acid?
You’re going to want to first cleanse your skin, then use a toner, then use your skincare acids.
Once you’ve applied your skincare acids, you’ll then want to move onto your oil-based products and cream skin care products.
Your last step should be using a moisturizer, like the Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA.
Example: How To Create A Skincare Routine with The Ordinary
Step 1: Cleanser
Step 2: Toner
Step 3: The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA
Step 4: The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5
Step 5: Oils, serums, and creams (for example, I recently ordered 100% The Ordinary Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil and that would be in this step)
Step 6: Moisturizer
*Remember, if you’re using acids in your skincare to take special care with your sunscare.
Acids will make your skin more sensitive to the sun so be sure to always apply a sunscreen to protect your skin.
How Often Should I use The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA?
On The Ordinary’s website, they recommend you use this once daily. Personally, though, I would recommend you use this 2-3 times a week.
Since this is an acid product, you want to build up your use and tolerance to this product.
When I first began using this product, I went ahead and used it daily. But, I found that my skin became a bit irritated.
I’ve found that using it 2-3 times a week has been optimal for achieving smooth skin.
As I continue to use this product, I plan to build up to 5 days a week, but I feel that you should slowly introduce acids into your skincare.
*FYI: There is also a The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% if you’re looking for a stronger formula.
The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA Review
I’m a big fan of The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA.
I love how affordable it is. I love the packaging. But, most of all I love how it makes my skin look super fresh and clean.
I use this product in the PM before bedtime. I have been really impressed with how my skin appears when I wake up in the morning. It always looks super fresh, smooth, and soft.
I used to have a bit of flakiness around my nose, but I’ve actually found that The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA has really helped get rid of that so that my skin never looks dry or flakey.
I absolutely love how it makes my skin look on makeup-free days, as well as how much better now my makeup applies. No more icky dry patches on my nose for makeup to cling to!
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I’m a massive fan of acids and wish I’d started them earlier (didn’t discover until about 29-30). I have the 10% version and love it!
I just started using acids this year, and I am a HUGE fan of them. I haven’t tried the 10% yet but maybe next order I’ll grab it!
Great review! But just a quick note: you shouldn’t use more than one product with acid in it on your routine and oils are supposed to be used as the last step of your routine since they usually are thicker than moisturizer and oil seals all the moisture you applied before.
Yes, you’re right! I only use one acid 2-3 times a week. The only other “acid” I’ll use is with the lactic acid is hyaluronic because it doesn’t perform like an acid, its a hydrator!
This might be a silly question, but do you leave the lactic acid on the skin or do you remove it after a certain period of time?
Hi there! Not a silly question at all! You can leave it on overnight, but if you feel like it’s tingling too much or irritating your skin then just leave it on for a few minutes and wash it off. I leave it on overnight, but if you have very sensitive skin then you may want to build to using it overnight by using it as a mask 2-3 times a week.