There are a few companies out there that are redefining the beauty industry and The Ordinary is one of them. It comes under the umbrella of the Abnormal Beauty Company Deciem. They are producing good quality products that are equivalent to expensive brands minus pricey fancy packaging and marketing and they are using proven, basic active ingredients that we all know do perform (eg, Retinol, Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin C). The products are vegan and cruelty, nut, soy, oil, alcohol and gluten-free and they don't contain nasties such as parabens, mineral oils or sulphates to name but a few.
When it comes to blogging, its very easy to get carried away with all the new products that get launched daily, which obviously can be expensive. With skincare, I prefer to see how a product performs over time but with make-up, you can see the difference immediately. I am very happy with my Kat von D's Lock-It Foundation (glowy coverage so good that I don't need a concealer) but I was so intrigued by The Ordinary that I finally caved in and purchased.
There is a shop in London but I bought online. I know how difficult it is to find the perfect shade of foundation online - I probably wouldn't recommend it at all but The Ordinary have produced a shade guide that is pretty easy to figure out and they have a visual colour-swatch too, which helps. They have two foundations, Coverage and Serum and come in a healthy 21 shades. Each one is numbered from 1-3 with variations of each shade in each; (1) Very Fair, Fair, Light, (2) Light Medium, Medium, (3) Medium Dark, Dark, Deep, Very Deep. Further still, they have categorised the undertones; Yellow, Pink, Yellow Gold, Silver, Neutral and Red.
I plumped for Coverage Foundation in 2.0N (Light Medium Neutral) and the Serum in 2.0YG (Light Medium Yellow Gold). Both have SPF 15.
The consistency of both remind me of Charlotte Tilbury's Light Foundation and KIKO's Second Skin. A lot goes a long way so one pump is all that is needed. I've always preferred to apply with my hands so you get a lovely natural finish with these two. Shake the bottles well as they are quite fluid.
Coverage Foundation - £5.90
I always like to check out the main ingredients in a product and coconut aquanes (derived from coconut oil) is up there after Aqua, giving the product its spread-ability (no hiding in fine lines) and hydration. It feels very comfortable on the skin and blurs my HUGE pores. I love the finish and it doesn't smell of anything really (oooh, pet hate of mine, pongy foundations - I hate the smell of Max Factor foundations, very pungent). Contrary to its name though, its quite light so I need concealer with this. In the photo, as you are looking at it, I have Coverage on the right side of my face (with no foundation on the left), from my beneath my eye, on cheek and chin. I don't take very good selfies but in the flesh, this foundation does provide a lovely, natural finish.
Serum Foundation - £5.70
So much more weightless than the Coverage foundation but just as good (and little goes a hell of a long way). This product contains Cyclopentasiloxane and this comes before Aqua in the ingredient list. This is a silicone so it glides across the skin, filling in lines and wrinkles and forming a protective barrier. Again, due to the lightweight coverage, I need a concealer. In the photo, as you look at it, I have applied it on the left side (with nothing on the right) beneath my eye, on the cheek and chin.
I will be definitely be re-purchasing these little beauties. They provide great skin, are vegan and cruelty-free and under £6!
www.victoriahealth.com
theordinary.com
www.asos.com
