The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission. Why trust us?
The Ordinary’s annual Slowvember sale is live – here are my top picks as a beauty writer
Stock up on your favourite products with this incredible discount, live throughout November
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The Ordinary’s annual Slowvember campaign has arrived, discounting hardworking, honest and affordable products just in time for Christmas. Beginning on the 1 November, the brand’s Slowvember campaign was created to encourage consumers to think about what they buy during the Black Friday period, giving them a longer amount of time to consider their purchases, instead of panic buying.
You won’t find fluctuating prices in The Ordinary’s shops or online, in fact, DECIEM, the innovator behind The Ordinary, closes all shops on Black Friday. Instead, the 23 per cent discount remains consistent throughout the month of November, and will continue running until 6 December, giving you plenty of time to shop.
Read More: Black Friday 2024 live updates
Being a big fan of The Ordinary, and always quick to try out their latest product, Slowvember is a great time to stock up on the products I can’t go without, or try something new that’s been calling my name. The brand is known for creating honest products with ingredient-led formulas that address numerous skin concerns and are priced affordably. You can find moisturisers, eye creams, lip balms and scalp solutions, and whether you’ve had your eyes on the new body care range, or are looking for gift set stocking fillers, this is a great time to shop. You can use the brand’s regimen building tool and find out just what your skin needs, so that the purchases you make will go to good use.
The brand is well loved at IndyBest, with many products tried-and-tested, including the natural moisturizing factors + phytoceramides formula, which bagged first place in our guide to the best moisturisers for dry skin. The new body care range was a big hit with our tester, too, and we included the brand in our round up of best hyaluronic acid serums of 2024.
With just over three weeks left to shop the Slowvember campaign, I pulled together a list of my favourite picks that I wouldn’t hesitate to buy – with or without the discount.
The Ordinary natural moisturizing factors + HA: Was £6.10, now £4.70, Theordinary.com
The Ordinary's natural moisturizing factors + HA was one of the first products I tried from the brand, initially drawn in by the affordable price. But don’t be fooled by the low price of this moisturiser, as it’s a great product. Much of the skin on my face is on the drier side, and when the weather changes, it gets more severe, so a hardworking moisturiser is essential. Cruelty free and vegan, each tube is packed with hydrating and protecting ingredients – fatty acids to support the skin’s lipid barrier, hyaluronic acid to retain moisture and help plump the skin, and amino acids along with other natural moisturising factors to prevent water loss in the skin. Whenever I’m looking for a great everyday moisturiser that I know I can rely on, I’ll reach for this. If I need something a little more rich and replenishing, I’ll stock up on the natural moisturizing factors + phytoceramides, which has nearly four times more moisturising emollients.
The Ordinary squalane + amino acids lip balm: Was £8.50, now £6.54, Theordinary.com
A relatively new product, launching earlier this year, the squalane + amino acids lip balm is The Ordinary’s first multi-use hydration balm, and boy is it a great one. I suffer with eczema on my lips, and find that if I’m not on top of keeping them moisturised, I pay the price for a few weeks. Hydrating squalane features alongside a blend of amino acids, so not only are the lips hit with an immediate hydration relief, but the moisture is sealed in. Plus, it always helps when the packaging is super cute.
The Ordinary saccharomyces ferment 30% milky toner: Was £12.40, now £9.55, Theordinary.com
When my skin needs a gentle exfoliation The Ordinary's saccharomyces ferment 30% milky toner does the trick, every time. While most of the time I am able to use acid exfoliants and scrubs, if I've got a patch of pesky ezcema, I focus on a more gentle skincare routine. A more gentle formula than acid counterparts, this toner does a great job at skin smoothing. The texture is very water-like, and absorbs beautifully in the skin, without leaving a sticky residue behind. The toner’s more gentle exfoliant is the 30 per cent concentration of saccharomyces ferment, which is a yeast ferment technology with 3 per cent fermented N-acetylglucosamine (NAG). Powerful enough to smooth the skin texture and irregularities, after a week or so of using this product I find my skin to be more radiant and soft, which is not a pairing you find all that often with exfoliants.
The Ordinary salicylic acid 0.5% body serum: Was £14.30, now £11.01, Theordinary.com
Offering a surface-level exfoliation with 0.5 per cent salicylic acid, this body serum encourages the natural shedding of dead skin and works to clear the skin of dirt and debris. Although the skin on my body tends to be relatively smooth, I do get occasional bumps when my hormones fluctuate, and keratosis pilaris (KP) around my knees. I prefer to be targeted when using acid products, and find that the nozzle applicator is really handy for ensuring precise application. Part of the three product range that mark the brand’s first foray into body care, the salicylic body serum is easily my favourite of the bunch, and I find my skin to be less congested and more soft within just a few days of use.
The Ordinary glucoside foaming cleanser: Was £11.10, now £8.55, Theordinary.com
Foaming cleansers certainly have a bit of a reputation for being drying, stripping the skin and leaving your face with that tight, squeaky feeling. As somebody with predominatnyl dry skin, I've found that over the last few years especially, brands have started to step away from those product formulations and introduce foaming cleansers that are more moisturising. An excellent non-stripping cleanser that I’ve found is this gem from The Ordinary – a product that I use for the second cleanse in my routine, just to get any final bits of the day’s dirt off my skin. The gel-like texture foams up thanks to the gentle formulation of glucoside, a mild agent that is known for its ability to reduce fine lines and preserve the skin's natural hydration.
The Ordinary multi-peptide lash and brow serum: Was £14.20, now £10.93, Theordinary.com
Eyelash and eyebrow serums can set you back £20 to £40, quite easily, and when exploring which work best for you, it can be an expensive time. I’ve always been fortunate that my lashes are quite long, but after a silly decision to thin my eyebrows out in the noughties, I’m still in a battle to grow them back to a thickness I’m happy with. I've been really impressed with the results from The Ordinary's multi-peptide lash and brow serum, which is a lightweight, non-sticky formula that's powered by 11 active ingredients, including four peptide complexes and natural extracts. I apply the serum morning and night, and don’t have to worry about being too sparing in my use, because of its comparatively low cost. The product's quality is hard to believe because of its price tag, but I’ve noticed a significant impact in brow hair growth and lash thickness after around six weeks of use.
The Ordinary hyaluronic acid 2% + B5 (with ceramides): Was £8.80, now £6.78, Theordinary.com
I was always a lover of The Ordinary's original hyaluronic acid, but when the brand created a new formulation to include ceramides, I realised that I couldn’t go back – this was even better. This hyaluronic-acid serum works hard to hydrate and smooth, whilst I get the added benefit of knowing that the added ceramides protect my skin barrier. There are five kinds of hyaluronic acid inside the bottle, which provide a hefty dose of hydration, and the ceramics keep it locked in. After a few weeks of use, I notice that my skin’s elasticity is improved, and feels more plump.
The Ordinary soothing and barrier support serum: Was £17.30, now £13.32, Theordinary.com
Despite still holding an affordable price tag, the soothing & barrier support serum is one of The Ordinary's more expensive products. A multi-active solution designed to repair the skin barrier, soothe and reduce redness, the serum is jam packed with multiple vitamins, phytotechnologies and lipids. Vitamin B12 is the ingredient to thank for the serum's pink hue, and supports the skins barrier by reducing dryness, whilst the 2 per cent niacinamide works alongside to smooth and promote hydration. The Ordinary’s clinical trials have shown that the serum helps to recover the skin barrier in just two hours, and provides an immediate 86 per cent boost in skin hydration. It’s a real hero product for me, and each time I use it I’m amazed at how many concerns it targets.
The Ordinary glycolic acid 7% exfoliating toner: Was £7.70, now £5.93, Theordinary.com
Working to smooth the skin, even out tone and leave the skin more luminous, this exfoliating toner is not a product that I use all the time, because it's not particularly suited to sensitive skin. However, when I need an extra bit of help with skin exfoliation and could do with a radiance boost, it's one of the products I turn to time and time again. After a nasty spot has left a bit of discolouration, or if I notice a patch of sun damage, this water-based toner takes care of resurfacing my skin, and making me feel shiny and new – well, glowy and new.
When does The Ordinary’s Black Friday sale start in 2024?
The Ordinary does Black Friday a bit differently to the rest, offering customers a 23 per cent discount on all products throughout the entire month of November until 6th December, in a campaign named Slowvember. The discount can be shopped both in-store and online, with already affordably priced products being reduced even further.
Looking for more discounts? Read our guide to the best Black Friday beauty deals