How To Layer The Ordinary

The Complete Beginner´s Guide to How To Layer The Ordinary Products

January 2025

How to Layer the Ordinary—Here is your easy PDF Guide to Layering Ordinary Skincare. I recommend reading the rest of the page so it all becomes a lot clearer, or at least your 30-second guide below. Then, you could print this chart off and refer to it when you need it.

Layering The Ordinary

Have you just received your first The Ordinary order and are now wondering How To Layer The Ordinary Products? It can be very confusing, but hopefully, by the time you´ve finished reading this page, it will become clearer. It´s essential to know how to layer your skincare products so they can penetrate the skin and get to work and do their job.

Here´s Your 30-second guide to the application of skincare products

All the products come in different solutions, and you generally apply your products in the following order by solution;

1. Water-Based Solutions
2. Anhydrous
3. Oil
4. Emulsion *
5. Suspension *
6. You can find the solution for your products further down the page.

Applying your products

1. Apply 2 or 3 drops of serum to cleansed skin by patting or massaging it.
2. If you have 2 water-based products, apply the thinnest or the one that targets your most important skin concern.
3. There is no specific waiting time between layers, but it is best to ensure each layer is absorbed before applying the next.
4. Patch-testing is recommended, just in case!
5. Make sure you check product conflicts!

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How To Layer The Ordinary – In more depth

Index

Above is your very quick guide to layering The Ordinary skincare products. Now, we’ll discuss applying your skincare products and solutions in more detail.

• About Layering The Ordinary Skincare Products
• How To Layer The Ordinary Chart/PDF
• The Ordinary Layering Infographic
• Product solutions – find out what solutions your products are
• How to apply your products
• Tips when layering The Ordinary
• Product Pilling/Bits
• Regimen Examples
• Building a Regimen
• Video How To Layer
• Why layer slowly

If you´re reading this page, you have probably just heard about The Ordinary, ordered lots of products, and are now wondering what to do with them! How do I layer The Ordinary? In which order do I apply The Ordinary products?

Well, I am pleased to tell you that you are NOT alone because this is probably one of the most asked questions in the Facebook Group! When I first started using The Ordinary, I desperately needed help, which is why I created The Ordinary & Deciem Chat Room Facebook Group. I hope this helps you. Download the How to Layer The Ordinary PDF.

The Simple Way To Layering The Ordinary Skincare

The simple way to layer your skincare products is generally from the thinnest/clearest to the thickest/opaque. But remember, you DO NOT have to use all these layers. You may cleanse and apply a Multi-Peptide Serum followed by a Moisturizer, or you may cleanse and moisturize.

The Ordinary Application Order Chart/PDF

Here´s a Layering The Ordinary Chart with most of The Ordinary products listed by their solutions. On the box of each product, it will say something like apply before oils and creams or after water-based serum. You can find the solution for each product on the individual product pages either on this site or at The Ordinary. This is the order in which you would apply your products;

• Water-based
• Anhydrous/Oil
• Emulsion
• Suspension
• There are a few exceptions, so continue to read the rest of the page!

There are more products, but they are masques or haircare, which do not apply to the chart.

The Layering Guide from The Ordinary

This is the how-to-layer guide from The Ordinary. The Ordinary recommends no more than three serums in a routine. Whilst there are many steps here, they are not saying you have to do them all. You may only cleanse, water-based serum, cream, and SPF. If you layer too many products, you may experience “pilling,” where lots of bits come off your face once you apply your SPF or makeup, and it is not a nice feeling.

The Ordinary Solutions

You may find the chart above easier to follow but I have listed all the products by their solutions here with direct links to the page reviews within this site.

The Ordinary Water-Based Products = 1

Apply water-based products directly after cleansing. If using acids, apply these first, directly after cleansing. If you are using numerous water-based solutions, apply the one that targets your main skin concern first.

The Ordinary Anhydrous Products = 2

These should be applied after water solutions (if used) and before oils/creams.

The Ordinary Oils = 3

Oils should be applied after water solutions but before creams/emulsions. Some people use these as the very last step. Deciem recommends oils before heavy creams like Natural Moisturising Factors. See which way works for you. You can always mix a couple of drops of oil into the Natural Moisturizing Factors.

The Ordinary Emulsions = 4

This is where you need to do a bit of free thinking. Emulsions/Creams are supposed to be the last step, but there are some exclusions, as you can see below

The Ordinary Suspensions = 5

Originally, it was recommended to use these before NMF moisturizers, but then it was recommended to use them after, and then it was mentioned that you should use them as you wish.

The Ordinary Powders

How to apply your skincare products

You only need 2 or 3 drops of a product. If you feel you need more, use more. Apply using your fingertips or palms, then pat or massage it into your skin.

Some people like to apply the product directly from the dropper, but you don´t want the dropper to touch your skin, and you have less control over the amount of product.

Once the product has been absorbed, apply the next product.

Layering Skincare Tips

• Firstly, do not stress. Relax, learn and enjoy pampering yourself.
• You can now build your very own personalized The Ordinary Skincare Routine.
• Always start with cleansed skin. If acids are used, these are applied directly after cleansing.
• 2/3 drops of each serum is all you need. If you feel you need more, use more.
• Use a pea-sized amount of cream on the face and neck. If you feel you need more, use more.
• Massage or pat the product in until each product is absorbed before applying the next.
• The Ordinary says to use no more than 3 serums in one routine.
• Using multiple water-based products, use the one for the skin concern you wish to target the most.
• If a product has too many conflicts (e.g., Buffet + Copper Peptides), it could be challenging to use alongside your other products. Make sure you check The Ordinary products you can and cannot mix.
• For the best results, avoid buying too many products of the same solution or category and stick to the same routine for a few weeks.
• I know from experience that when you first hear about The Ordinary, you will fill your basket because the products look so cheap. But please, don’t waste your money. You will end up with lots of conflicting products and not enough time to use them all.
• Always check conflicts and when the product should be used, ie. AM/PM. If you have products that conflict, use them in alternate routines.

Why are The Ordinary products pilling?

When you have applied your serums, moisturizer, and SPF, you might touch your skin and feel “bits.” This is called “pilling” or “balling.” It is not your skin—it´s the product. Read more about “Ordinary pilling” and how to prevent it.

Skincare Regimen/Routine Examples

Firstly, you shouldn’t use 15 layers of skincare, as seen on Instagram and TikTok. Less is more!

You can see numbers (as above) in bold, which hopefully will help you understand how to layer The Ordinary. Remember, thinnest / clearest to heaviest / opaque. This is the order, but it doesn’t mean you must always use all 4 of them. You might do 2+3 or 1+1 or 1+2.

How To Build Your Skincare Routine

Below are some examples of skincare routines. You can find lots more routines here. The Ordinary Routines include Rosacea, Signs of Ageing and lots of personalised routines.

Signs of Ageing Skincare Routine
Morning: Squalane Cleanser,  Multi-Peptide Serum + HA (1), Natural Moisturising Factors (4), SPF
Evening: Squalane Cleanser, Multi-Peptide Serum (1), Retinoid

Dehydration Routine
Morning: Hyaluronic Acid & Natural Moisturizing Factors  (1 + 4)
Evening: Hyaluronic Acid,  Plant-Derived Squalane (1 + 3)
Note: Alternatively, Marula Oil or Moroccan Argan Oil can be used instead of Plant-Derived Squalane in the PM.

How To Layer The Ordinary by The Ordinary

Video by The Ordinary explaining how to layer your skincare products.

Why start layering slowly with The Ordinary?

Start slowly in case of reactions. If you use three products all at once for the first time, followed by a reaction, how will you know which product caused it? This is why it´s important to introduce one product at a time.

Your Step-by-Step How To Layer

Hopefully, this page has answered all your questions about using The Ordinary step-by-step regarding layering, conflicts, and routines. Use the search box at the top of this website and look through the menus for more information. Don´t forget to come and join us in The Ordinary & Deciem Chat Room Facebook Group.

The Ordinary Guides

How To Layer The Ordinary

The Ordinary Product Conflicts

Products You Can & Cannot Mix

The Ordinary Skincare Regimens