What’s the best The Ordinary oil for your skin type? And do you ever feel like The Ordinary is trying to drive you crazy? It’s not enough they have a gazillion of exfoliants, vitamin C serums, and retinoid products to choose from. Now they’ve added 6 facial oils to the mix. How the heck are you supposed to know which is the best The Ordinary oil for your skin type?! Which one absorbs quickly – with no greasy residue? Which one won’t give you pimples? Argh. It’s enough to make your head spin. Fret not. I’ve got you covered. Here’s a quick guide to The Ordinary facial oils to help you pick the right one for YOU:
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The Ordinary 100% Organic Virgin Sea-Buckthorn Fruit Oil (£14.90)
What it is: An oil extracted from the berries and seeds of the sea buckthorn plant. It’s bright orangish red in colour (cool, huh?).
Why it’s good for skin: Want to know what gives sea buckthorn oil its bright orangey hue? Carotenoids, a family of antioxidants also present in carrots and tomatoes. They fight free radicals and prevent wrinkles. Plus, this oil is loaded with rare palmitoleic acid (a.k.a. omega 7), a natural component of your skin’s sebum. As you get older, your skin produces less omega 7, making it more prone to dryness. Adding it back helps to keep your skin soft and moisturised.
Side effects: Again, the bright orangey hue can stain your skin. This stuff is highly concentrated! I recommend you mix with a few drops of your moisturiser or with another of The Ordinary face oils.
Best for: Mature, sensitive skin.
Available at: Beauty Bay, Boots, SpaceNK, and The Ordinary
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The Ordinary “B” Oil (£9.90)
What it is: It’s only The Ordinary Oil that’s a blend of multiple oils: marula, argan, baobab, pataua, brazil nut, inca inchi, rosehip, squalene and borage oils + a micro-algae and bisabolol. It has a golden green colour.
Why it’s good for skin: Bisabolol is what makes chamomile so soothing. It reduces redness and irritations and calms down sensitive skin. The mixture of oils, enriched with fatty acids and antioxidants, intensely moisturises skin and fights free radicals to prevent wrinkles. The micro-algae? It helps protect skin from sun damage. Because it has so many oils, it works a little faster than the others at soothing irritations.
Side effects: Can clog pores and cause acne in oily skin.
Best for: Sensitive skin, dry skin, irritated skin.
Available at: Beauty Bay, Look Fantastic, Sephora, SpaceNK, The Ordinary, and Ulta
The Ordinary 100% Virgin Chia Seed Oil (£7.50)
What it is: Derived from chia seeds, it has a beautiful golden colour. It has a high amount of linoleic acid, which is great for oily and acne-prone skin and only 2.5% oleic acid, which is better for dry skin. This makes it quite a unique oil.
Why it’s good for skin: Chia seed oil is high in natural antioxidants like alpha-lipoic acid and caffeic acid that destroy free radicals before they give you wrinkles. It’s also high in linoleic acid, a fatty acid that moisturises skin, soothes irritations and helps reduce breakouts. It’s one of the few oils that moisturises skin without clogging pores.
Side effects: May not be moisturising enough for dry skin.
Best for: Oily, combination, and acne-prone skin.
Available at: Cult Beauty and The Ordinary
The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil (£9.70)
What it is: An oil derived from the hips (the radish-like ball roses leave behind after blossoming) of roses.
Why it’s good for skin: This oil is a natural source of vitamin A, an anti-aging powerhouse that fights free radicals, boosts collagen production and helps reduce sun damage. Plus, it’s high in linoleic acid, a fatty acid that moisturises skin, soothes irritations and reduces breakouts. This makes it non-comedogenic and fast-absorbing.
Side effects: There’s not too much Vitamin A here, so you may still need a separate retinol serum.
Best for: All skin types can use it, including oily and acne-prone.
Available at: Beauty Bay, Boots, Cult Beauty, Sephora, and The Ordinary.
Related: Why Rosehip Oil Is My Go-To For Every Skin Woe
The Ordinary 100% Cold-Pressed Moroccan Argan Oil (£7.40)
What it is: An oil produced from the kernels of the argan tree, which grows in Morocco. Did you know that Argan oil contains twice as much Vitamin E as olive oil? It also has 50% oleic acid and 38% linoleic acid, two moisturising fatty acids.
Why it’s good for skin: It has an almost 50/50 mixture of oleic and linoleic acid, which makes it super moisturising for dry skin. Plus, it’s high in vitamin E and antioxidants that prevent premature wrinkles. It strengthens your skin’s protective barrier, makes even the driest of skin types softer and smoother and helps you age slowly.
Side effects: Can clog pores and cause breakouts in acne-prone skin.
Best for: Mature and dry skin.
Available at: Beauty Bay, Cult Beauty, Look Fantastic, Sephora, The Ordinary and Ulta
The Ordinary 100% Cold-Pressed Virgin Marula Oil (£10.80)
What it is: Made popular by Drunk Elephant, it’s an oil obtained from the kernels of the fruits of the Marula tree.
Why it’s good for skin: It’s high in oleic acid, a rich fatty acid that makes even the driest of skin types soft and smooth again. Plus, it has antioxidants that prevent premature wrinkles and dark spots. It’s a simple oil, but if you have dry skin, you’ll love how soft and plump it makes your skin.
Side effects: Can clog pores and cause acne in acne-prone skin.
Best for: Dry and mature skin.
Available at: Beauty Bay, Cult Beauty, Look Fantastic, Sephora, SpaceNK, The Ordinary, and Ulta
The Verdict: What’s The Best The Ordinary Oil For Your Skin Type?
There you have it, the best The Ordinary oils for every skin type. To recap:
If you have oily skin: The Ordinary 100% Virgin Chia Seed Oil (£7.50) or The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil (£9.70)
If you have dry skin: The Ordinary 100% Cold-Pressed Virgin Marula Oil (£10.80) or The Ordinary 100% Cold-Pressed Moroccan Argan Oil (£7.40)
If you have combination skin: The Ordinary 100% Virgin Chia Seed Oil (£7.50) or The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil (£9.70)
If you have sensitive skin: The Ordinary “B” Oil (£9.90)
If you have mature skin: The Ordinary 100% Cold-Pressed Virgin Marula Oil (£10.80) or The Ordinary 100% Cold-Pressed Moroccan Argan Oil (£7.40)
About Gio
Hi, I’m Gio. I’m a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is skin coach and writer on a mission to help you achieve your best skin day ever – every day. I bust skincare myths and debunk marketing jargon to help you figure out what’s worth the splurge and what’s best left on the shelf – using science, not hype. I also offer skincare consultations to help you create the best skincare routine for your unique needs.
