Which The Ordinary Products Should You Not Mix? A Simple Guide
The Ordinary has a lot of products, and many of them are strong actives. Most work well together, but a few combinations can irritate your skin or make each other less effective. This guide explains which The Ordinary products you should not use in the same routine, and how to fit them into one week instead.
If you’d rather check one product against another quickly, every product page on our site has a compatibility checker, and our Regimen Builder builds a full morning and evening routine for you.
The short answer
- Pure Vitamin C + Niacinamide: use at different times of day.
- Retinoids + exfoliating acids: use on different nights.
- Retinoids + pure Vitamin C: Vitamin C in the morning, retinoid at night.
- Peptides + exfoliating acids or pure Vitamin C: keep them in separate routines.
- The AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution: use it on its own, at night, no more than twice a week.
- Two retinoids together: choose one.
1. Pure Vitamin C and Niacinamide
Pure Vitamin C (L-Ascorbic Acid) is found in The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2%, The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension 30% in Silicone, 100% L-Ascorbic Acid Powder and The Ordinary Ascorbic Acid 8% + Alpha Arbutin 2%. The Ordinary advises not to use these in the same routine as The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%. Vitamin C works best at a low pH, and using the two together can reduce how well it works.
How to use both: Vitamin C in the morning, under sunscreen, and Niacinamide in the evening. If you want a vitamin C that works with Niacinamide, The Ordinary Ethylated Ascorbic Acid 15% Solution and Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12% are gentler, more stable forms.
2. Retinoids and exfoliating acids
Retinoids include Retinol 0.2%, Retinol 0.5%, Retinol 1% and The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Squalane. Exfoliating acids include Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution, The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA, Mandelic Acid 10% + HA and The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution.
Both increase skin cell turnover. Used together they often cause redness, peeling and a damaged skin barrier, especially in hot, humid weather when your skin is already stressed.
How to use both: alternate nights. For example, use your acid on Monday and Thursday, your retinoid on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, and give your skin a night of rest with only hydration on Sunday.
3. Retinoids and pure Vitamin C
These are both strong, and layering them together can irritate. The simple fix is to use Vitamin C in the morning and your retinoid at night.
4. Peptides with acids or pure Vitamin C
Peptide serums such as “Buffet” Multi-Technology Peptide Serum, The Ordinary Matrixyl 10% + HA, The Ordinary Argireline 10% Solution and Multi-Peptide + HA Serum should not be used in the same routine as exfoliating acids or pure Vitamin C. Low-pH products can break down peptides and reduce their effect.
How to use both: peptides in the morning and acids at night, or the other way round.
5. The AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution
The The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution is the strongest exfoliant in the range. Use it in the evening, leave it on for no more than 10 minutes, rinse it off, and use it no more than twice a week. On peel nights, skip other actives such as retinoids, acids, Vitamin C and peptides. Afterwards, apply only gentle hydrating products like The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 or The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA.
Do not use it if your skin is sensitive, peeling or broken, and always wear sunscreen the following days.
6. Two retinoids at once
There’s no benefit to stacking retinoids. Pick one strength and stick with it. Start with a lower strength such as Retinol 0.2% or Granactive Retinoid 2%, a few nights a week.
What works with almost everything
Hydrating and supportive products are safe to layer with most routines: The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5, The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA, The Ordinary Amino Acids + B5, Soothing & Barrier Support Serum and The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser (50 ml). The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA also fits easily into most routines.
A sample week
| Day | Morning | Evening |
|---|---|---|
| Mon | Vitamin C, moisturiser, sunscreen | Niacinamide, Lactic Acid, moisturiser |
| Tue | Vitamin C, moisturiser, sunscreen | Niacinamide, Retinol, moisturiser |
| Wed | Peptides, moisturiser, sunscreen | Hyaluronic Acid, moisturiser (rest night) |
| Thu | Vitamin C, moisturiser, sunscreen | Niacinamide, Retinol, moisturiser |
| Fri | Vitamin C, moisturiser, sunscreen | Niacinamide, Lactic Acid, moisturiser |
| Sat | Peptides, moisturiser, sunscreen | Niacinamide, Retinol, moisturiser |
| Sun | Moisturiser, sunscreen | Hyaluronic Acid, moisturiser (rest night) |
Introduce one new product at a time, patch-test first, and wait about two weeks before adding the next one.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use Niacinamide and Hyaluronic Acid together?
Yes. Apply Hyaluronic Acid first, then Niacinamide, then moisturiser.
Can I use Alpha Arbutin with Niacinamide?
Yes. Both are water-based and can be used in the same routine, morning or evening.
Can I use Salicylic Acid with Niacinamide?
Yes, they’re commonly used together for oily and acne-prone skin. Just don’t add retinoids or other acids in the same routine.
What order should I apply The Ordinary serums in?
From thinnest to thickest: water-based serums first, then emulsions and creams, then oils. Sunscreen always goes last in the morning.
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