I Can't Live Without This $10 Serum From The Ordinary (2024)

Whether you’ve gone a bit overboard with your retinol or recently undergone a procedure leaving your skin a bit irritated (hi, Morpheus8, ilysm), try this calming solution. The Soothing and Barrier Support Serum repairs your damaged skin barrier and soothes discomfort with niacinamide. Don’t be alarmed by its pink, Pepto-Bismol-like color; that’s the vitamin B12 working to combat dryness and redness.

Compared to everything else I've tested from the brand, this is the most basic formula (and clocks in at the highest price point), which is why it comes in at the bottom of my list. But I still love how quickly it calms down irritated skin, especially after treatments and peels, like the AHA/BHA one I love so much below.

• Key ingredients: Vitamin B12, niacinamide
• Skin type: Dry, irritated, sensitive
• How often to use: Twice daily (in the morning and at night)
• When to use in your routine: After cleansing and other similar water-based serums, but before oils or creams

Glowing customer review: “This has been a lifesaver for my summer skin. I've been having so much redness from being in the heat too much, traveling, and swimming. But this pink serum is a powerhouse for restoring my skin. It's so hydrating and soothing, perfect for every day.”

Marula oil is one of the most universal face oils, plus it can be used on other areas of the body and our hair. Packed with essential fatty acids (oleic and linoleic acid) and antioxidants, this 100 percent cold-pressed marula oil provides hydration, locks in moisture, and helps give your skin and hair a serious glow. Whether your hair is feeling a bit fried, your moisturizer isn’t cutting it, or you need some added slip when doing your gua sha routine, add a few drops of this marula oil, and you're golden. I love this formula because it's so simple, but it doesn't hold a candle to the active-filled serums, peels, and toners below for obvious reasons.

• Key ingredients: Marula oil
• Skin type: All
• How often to use: Once daily, or as needed for hydration
• When to use in your routine: After water-based products

Glowing customer review: “The packaging, the product, the price—I cannot say enough about this product. I am 48 with fine lines, large pores, combo skin with redness. I live in a cold climate, using this oil after washing is the best thing ever. Low odor, quality oil, and a little goes a long way. This oil is quickly absorbed and does not leave me oily; it works great under different kinds of makeup and other products. I would recommend this as I plan to repurchase.”

Great news for anyone with sensitive skin, this fragrance-free moisturizer combines hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and urea to soften and smooth dry, rough skin, and it’s completely fragrance-free. I love its gel-like texture, since it absorbs so quickly without any greasy residue and doesn't pill under your makeup. It’s no wonder this went viral on TikTok!

• Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, ceramides, peptides, glycerin, urea
• Skin type: Normal, dry
• How often to use: Daily (can be used twice a day for dry skin)
• When to use in your routine: Apply to entire face and neck as the final step of your skincare routine

Glowing customer review: “OMG! This is literally the best moisturizer and I will be using it for the rest of my life. It's a gel, which is super non-greasy and absorbs so nicely into my skin, making it feel plump and moisturized. I literally can't recommend this enough!!”

Top-rated and raved about on TikTok, this AHA toner is fab for smoothing and resurfacing your skin. Just dab it on a cotton pad and swipe it across your skin up to once a week. It can help improve rough, bumpy, uneven skin texture; fading hyperpigmentation; and reducing the look of fine lines and wrinkles—but don't even get us started on how amazing it is on your body too. "I swear by it as a natural deodorant under my arms and to help fade hyperpigmentation on my knees, because the formula is so affordable and comes in a huge bottle," says beauty editor Beth Gillette.

• Key ingredients: Glycolic acid, rose water, aloe vera
• Skin type: Normal, dry
• How often to use: Up to once a week
• When to use in your routine: Apply to entire face and neck on a cotton pad after cleansing, then follow with serums and moisturizer (can be used morning or night)

Glowing customer review: “I have been using this since july 3rd once a day at night after my face cleansing routine. Took a comparison photo today on july 19th and the dark sun damage spots on my cheeks are almost non existent! You cant beat the afforable price and the product really works only using a small amount!"

PSA to everybody with oily skin: The perfect cleanser does exist, and it’s shockingly affordable. I love its gel-like texture that transforms into a light, bubbly foam on my skin. Since I wear mascara and SPF daily, I always double cleanse with a cleansing balm first. But the second cleanse, IMO, is most important, as it is where you are really washing away all the impurities and dirt from the day.

This glucoside foaming cleanser has become a staple in my routine because it not only keeps my acne-prone skin calm but also helps it retain moisture. And there is nothing I hate more than stepping out of the shower with skin that feels tight and dry. But with this? I feel soft and supple, but v clean.

• Key ingredients: Decyl glucoside, coco glucoside
• Skin type: Oily, combination, sensitive
• How often to use: Daily
• When to use in your routine: This should be used as the first step in your routine both morning and night

Glowing customer review: “I absolutely love this foaming cleanser. I have rosacea and have had a hard time finding a cleanser that doesn't break my face out until now. This cleanser gets rid of the oiliness on my face and does not make my face feel hot or red. It's my new go-to cleanser moving forward. And did I mention the great price-point. Win-win in my books.”

Not all chemical exfoliants are created equal. If you're searching for something that targets fine lines and improves overall texture without irritating sensitive skin, this serum with just five percent lactic acid (a gentle-ish AHA) is your go-to. I find it's not as strong as other exfoliants I've tested, thanks to the formula's Tasmanian pepperberry extract, which can help decrease irritation and sensitivity often linked to acid usage. Plus, it's got some hydrating hyaluronic acid to safeguard my skin barrier in the process a lil bit too.

FWIW, though, if you prefer a stronger formulation, try the 10 percent Lactic Acid & HA version. Just make sure to start slow—you should only use this once or twice a week in the evening. And always, always, always layer over a rich moisturizer and sunscreen in the a.m.

• Key ingredients: Lactic acid, hyaluronic acid, Tasmanian pepperberry
• Skin type: Dry, sensitive skin
• How often to use: Two to three nights a week
• When to use in your routine: After cleansing and toning, but before applying other serums or moisturizers

Glowing customer review: “Very hydrating and a good mild exfoliant. I started using this product about a year ago to test out my skin's reaction to AHAs. I have really enjoyed this plus it didn't affect my eczema at all, which I was worried about. I am at my third bottle and I still enjoy this."

EGCG may not be a familiar acronym in your vocab, but trust me you’re gonna want to know more about it. It’s an antioxidant compound that is sourced from green tea that helps reduce inflammation. So with the power of green tea and caffeine (at five percent!), this combo is quite the powerhouse duo for battling tired eyes—aka depuffing bags and soothing irritated skin. And in my opinion, everyone can benefit from an eye serum, unless you happen to be among the lucky small percent of the population who never show any signs of fatigue, aka one of God's favorites.

A friend of mine shared a fantastic tip with me that I swear boosts the efficacy of this serum: Store it in the fridge so it's cold when you apply it, which not only feels fantastic and relaxing, but can make it even more depuffing by temporarily constricting your blood vessels.

• Key ingredients: Caffeine, lactic acid, hyaluronic acid, EGCG
• Skin type: All, but can be a bit drying for sensitive skin
• How often to use: Gentle enough to use up to twice daily, morning and evening
• When to use in your routine: After cleanser, and before any oils and moisturizers

Glowing customer review: “Finally something that works! It really depuffs my eye bags. Where has this stuff been all my life! I literally use one small drop. This bottle will last me forever and you can't beat this price. Truly thankful for this product! The only thing I would suggest is to use moisturizer afterwards because this can be a little drying when used alone.”

"I have access to thousands—legit—of formulas for acne as a beauty editor, and this affordable lil bottle is still one of my go-tos for treating blackheads and sebaceous filaments," says Gillette. The reason is 2 percent salicylic acid, the MVP against clogged pores and acne, since it's oil-soluble. It goes beneath your pores and clears out all the gunk, oil, and dead skin that gets trapped, causing inflammation and zits. "I just pat it on my nose, chin, and forehead every night before tretinoin, and it's a lifesaver," Gillette adds.

• Key ingredients: Salicylic acid, saccharide isomerate
• Skin type: Acne-prone, oily
• How often to use: Daily (either morning or night)
• When to use in your routine: After cleanser and toner, before moisturizer or SPF

Glowing customer review: “I love this product, it is part of my night time routine. I definitely see a difference when I have minor break outs and apply this at night before bed."

There was a time (ahem, throwback 2020) when every single video on TikTok and IG featured this red, blood-like mask. But it's not just a fun selfie—it'll give you a serious glass-skin glow, bbs. It's packed with AHA and BHA (aka salicylic acid) to resurface, smooth, and brighten your skin, meaning it's hella potent.

Only use it once a week at most (I actually only use it biweekly, for ref). FYI, always apply it to completely dry and clean skin, don't leave it on for more than 10 minutes, and make sure to apply SPF every morning.

• Key ingredients: Lactic acid, glycolic acid, tartaric acid, hyaluronic acid, and salicylic acid
• Skin type: Dull, textured, uneven skin
• How often to use: Once a week at night
• When to use in your routine: At night after you cleanse your skin, and before you moisturize.

Glowing customer review: “This magical solution makes my skin the smoothest it has ever been in 10 minutes. I have had professional glycolic peels and this gives me superior results without the irritation. I have always had congested and blemish prone skin, but this makes blackheads disappear. In addition to smoothing everything, it clears the way for other topical products to absorb better. And as a definite bonus, it is under $10!”

At the ripe age of 30-something (not about to fully blow myself up), I still struggle with stubborn hormonal acne around my jawline, resulting in bumps and scarring. But this serum has truly revolutionized my skincare routine. Using niacinamide—a master balancing ingredient—it effectively regulates my oil production while maintaining skin hydration. And the formula's zinc is a great anti-bacterial ingredient to help reduce acne too.

It can be slightly drying though during winter when my skin tends toward the drier side. In those months, I just layer it with The Ordinary's Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 serum for extra moisture.

• Key ingredients: Niacinamide, zinc
• Skin type: Oily skin or hyperpigmentation
• How often to use: Twice daily (morning and evening)
• When to use in your routine: Before moisturizer, you should apply 2-3 drops to the entire face

Glowing customer review: “I am on my second bottle of this!! It lasts so long and it gets rid of my dark spots from acne and reduces my breakouts. It doesn’t burn like other acne products and it even adds some glow to my skin! I recommend pairing it with The Ordinary moisturizer!”

People constantly tout this serum's hero ingredient, argireline, as "Botox in a bottle." Argireline is a peptide that can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by disrupting the channel between your nerves and muscles. It won't exactly freeze your muscle like a Botox injection would, but it can temporarily, slightly reduce some muscle movement, which can slowly impact aging skin.

But just like all peptides, it also goes inside your skin and convinces it to produce more collagen and elastin, which naturally gives it a firmer, plumper look too.

• Key ingredients: Peptides
• Skin type: All (but especially mature, dry, dull skin)
• How often to use: Twice daily (morning and evening)
• When to use in your routine: After cleansing and toning, before moisturizer and SPF

Glowing customer review: “I am on my second bottle of this!! It lasts so long and it gets rid of my dark spots from acne and reduces my breakouts. It doesn’t burn like other acne products and it even adds some glow to my skin! I recommend pairing it with The Ordinary moisturizer!”

I've struggled with dry skin for as long as I can remember, but this past winter was especially tough. My usual moisturizer wasn't enough anymore; I had dry patches all over. Whether it was the colder weather or just the effects of getting older, I knew I had to level up with something that would not only provide more moisture, but help my skin retain it. That's when I opted to try this hyaluronic acid serum—after all, hyaluronic acid is known for its ability to hold up to 1000 times its weight in water. Within just two days of integrating this serum into my morning and evening skincare routines, I began noticing significant improvements.

The Ordinary also recently reformulated this serum after responding to customer feedback on the tacky texture of the original. Rest assured, the new version is no longer sticky and also has added ceramides to boost the efficacy and lock in moisture.

• Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, ceramides, vitamin B5
• Skin type: All
• How often to use: Daily (morning and night)
• When to use in your routine: After cleansing and toning, before moisturizing (ideally on top of damp skin)

Glowing customer review: “This is the one and only thing that cleared up my skin after dealing with constant acne. I was beginning to feel discouraged like it was just my skin and it would forever look spotted and red. This serum should be used by everyone, and the ordinary seems like the one brand that hasn't been touched by inflation. THANK YOU for keeping your products affordable and amazing, this is why I buy so much!! Purchase this now!"