The Ordinary Skincare Regimen

This is a step-by-step weekly skincare routine built around The Ordinary products, tailored for combination skin with a focus on fine lines and dullness. It includes clear “don’t mix” safety rules for stronger actives, simple morning and evening templates, and a structured weekly plan that rotates antioxidants, gentle exfoliation (mandelic acid), peptides, and retinol to help support a brighter, smoother-looking complexion while reducing the risk of irritation. You’ll also find an at-a-glance schedule, an abbreviation legend, and practical notes on using the Aztec clay mask safely alongside active ingredients.

Warning
Use this information at your own risk. I wrote this for personal use and I am not a dermatologist or medical professional. The routine is based on product guidance from The Ordinary and community advice from r/SkincareAddiction, but skincare is highly individual—what works for me may not work for you. Patch test, introduce new products slowly, and stop if you experience irritation. And if you die and turn into a zombie, don’t come to me for help.

Table of Contents

🧴 Product Overview

🧼 Cleanser

Removes sunscreen, oil, sweat, and debris so your treatments can work properly. For combination skin, a gentle cleanser helps keep the T-zone from getting greasy without stripping the cheeks.

👁️ Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG

Targets the look of under-eye puffiness and dark circles. Caffeine can temporarily constrict blood vessels (helping puffiness), while EGCG (from green tea) provides antioxidant support.

🧴 Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

Helps with oil control, visible pores, and uneven tone/dullness. Niacinamide also supports the skin barrier (which can reduce irritation from retinol/acids over time). Zinc can help with shine and congestion for some people.

🧬 Multi-Peptide + HA (“Buffet”)

A multi-peptide serum aimed at early signs of ageing: helps support the look of fine lines, improves the feel of skin firmness, and boosts overall “plumpness” through hydration (HA). Think of it as a general anti-ageing support serum.

🧬 Matrixyl 10% + HA

A more targeted peptide product (Matrixyl peptides) that focuses on the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, especially if that’s your primary goal. Also includes HA for hydration and a smoother look.

🍃 Mandelic Acid 10% + HA

A gentle AHA exfoliant that improves dullness, uneven texture, and can help with mild congestion by encouraging smoother shedding of dead skin cells. Mandelic acid is larger-molecule than glycolic, so it’s often better tolerated.

🌙 Retinol 1% in Squalane

A strong retinoid for visible anti-ageing benefits: helps improve the look of fine lines, texture, and tone over time by increasing cell turnover and supporting collagen. Because it’s 1%, it can be irritating—frequency matters more than “more product.”

🍊 100% L-Ascorbic Acid Powder (Vitamin C)

A potent form of vitamin C that boosts visible brightness/glow, helps with dullness, and provides antioxidant support. Over time it can help even the look of skin tone. It’s strong and can sting—start low and mix into moisturiser.

✨ EUK 134 0.1%

An antioxidant designed to reduce oxidative stress from things like pollution and UV exposure (it’s not a sunscreen replacement). It’s mainly about prevention and maintaining a healthier-looking, less “tired” complexion over time.

🛡️ Resveratrol 3% + Ferulic Acid 3%

A high-strength antioxidant blend that supports overall skin resilience and helps with the look of dullness by reducing oxidative stress. Often used as a “night-time antioxidant” to support recovery.

💧 100% Plant-Derived Squalane

A lightweight, skin-identical style oil that helps reduce dryness, support the barrier, and lock in moisture. Useful on cheeks/drier areas in combination skin, and as a buffer with stronger actives if you’re getting irritation.

🧼 Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay (with honey / ACV)

A very strong clay mask that absorbs oil and can temporarily reduce the look of shine and congestion. It can also be drying/irritating—especially when combined with ACV—so it’s best used sparingly and followed with moisturiser (and squalane if needed).

  • If you’re doing retinol + mandelic weekly, the apple cider vinegar is the piece most likely to push your skin into “too much” (tightness, burning, flaking).
  • ✅ Consider switching to water + a little honey (or very diluted ACV).
  • ⏱️ Keep contact time to 10 minutes and don’t let it go rock-hard.
  • 🧴 Always follow with moisturiser, then squalane if needed.

💡 Tips & Tricks

🛡️ 1) Rotate your “big actives” instead of stacking them

  • 🌙 Retinol nights and 🍃 Mandelic nights should be on different evenings.
  • 🍊 Vitamin C powder gets its own morning (no other actives).

⚠️ 2) Keep “do-not-mix” combos separated (same routine = no)

  • 🌙 Retinol 1% + 🍃 Mandelic = too much irritation risk
  • 🌙 Retinol 1% + 🍊 Vitamin C powder = higher irritation risk
  • 🍃 Mandelic + 🧬 Peptides (Buffet/Matrixyl) = not a good pairing
  • 🍃 Mandelic + ✨ EUK = avoid in the same routine
  • 🍊 Vitamin C powder + 🧴 Niacinamide = keep separate
  • 🍊 Vitamin C powder + 🧬 Peptides = keep separate
  • 🛡️ Resveratrol/Ferulic + ✨ EUK = pick one or the other
  • 🛡️ Resveratrol/Ferulic + 🧬 Peptides = keep separate

🧴 3) Use the “thin to thick” layering rule

  • 💧 Water-based serums first (Niac, Buffet, Matrixyl, Mandelic)
  • 🛢️ Anhydrous/oily serums next (EUK, Res/Fer, Retinol in squalane)
  • 🧴 Moisturiser
  • 💧 Squalane last (optional)

🧪 4) Wait times reduce sting (especially with stronger nights)

  • 🌙 On Retinol nights: wait ~10 minutes after cleansing before applying.
  • 🍃 On Mandelic nights: apply to dry skin, then wait 2–5 minutes before the next step.

🧯 5) If irritation shows up, scale back fast (don’t “push through”)

  • 😬 Tightness/peeling: drop Mandelic for a week and cut Retinol to 1×/week.
  • 🔥 Burning/stinging: pause actives and do moisturiser + SPF only until calm.

🧖 6) Clay mask = occasional support, not a weekly “must”

  • 🗓️ Keep Aztec clay to max 1×/week (less if you’re dry).
  • 🍎 ACV is the harsh part—consider water + a little honey instead.
  • 🧴 Always moisturise after, and add 💧 squalane if needed.

☀️ 7) SPF is what makes your results stick

  • 🛡️ Daily sunscreen is the difference between “nice routine” and actual progress for fine lines and dullness.

🧾 Legend

Abbrev.        Product                                           Where / Notes                                                 
Caffeine   The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG      👁️ Eyes only (tap gently)                                
Niac       The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%        ☀️ AM most days                                               
EUK        The Ordinary EUK 134 0.1%                     ☀️ Antioxidant (AM on EUK days)                               
Vit C      The Ordinary 100% L-Ascorbic Acid Powder      ☀️ Mix tiny pinch into moisturiser (or 1–2 drops squalane)
Mandelic   The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA           🌙 Exfoliation nights only                                    
Buffet     The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + HA (“Buffet”)    🌙 Peptide nights / after mandelic                            
Matrixyl   The Ordinary Matrixyl 10% + HA                🌙 Peptide nights / after mandelic                            
Res/Fer    The Ordinary Resveratrol 3% + Ferulic Acid 3% 🌙 Antioxidant night                                          
Retinol 1% The Ordinary Retinol 1% in Squalane           🌙 Retinol nights only                                        
Squalane   The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane      💧 Optional final layer if dry/tight                          
SPF        Sunscreen SPF 30+                             ☀️ Last step every morning                                    

🧾 Daily Templates

☀️ Morning (every day)

Step What to do                                                                   
1    🧼 Cleanser                                                              
2    👁️ Caffeine (eyes only)                                                 
3    🧴 Day treatment(s) (from the schedule — e.g., Niac, EUK, or Vit C mix)
4    🧴 Moisturiser                                                           
5    🛡️ SPF 30+                                                              

💡 Tip: If you’re sting-prone, pat dry and wait 1–2 minutes before Step 3.

—- 

🌙 Night (every day)

Step What to do                                                                                     
1    🧼 Cleanser                                                                                
2    🧪 Wait time (Retinol/Mandelic nights only)                                              
3    🧴 Night treatment(s) (from the schedule — e.g., Retinol, Mandelic, peptides, or Res/Fer)
4    🧴 Moisturiser                                                                             
5    💧 Squalane (optional)                                                                   

💡 Tip: On Retinol or Mandelic nights, apply to dry skin and wait ~10 minutes after cleansing before Step 3.

🗓 Weekly Schedule At a Glance

☀️ Morning

Day         1 🧼 Cleanser 2 👁️ Caffeine 3 🧴 Treat 1                       4 ✨ Treat 2 5 🧴 Moisturiser 6 🛡️ SPF
Mon     Cleanser      Caffeine       Niac                           EUK     Moisturiser      SPF      
Tue     Cleanser      Caffeine       Niac                           —           Moisturiser      SPF      
Wed     Cleanser      Caffeine       Niac                           EUK     Moisturiser      SPF      
Thu     Cleanser      Caffeine       Vit C (mixed into moisturiser) —           —                SPF      
Fri     Cleanser      Caffeine       Niac                           —           Moisturiser      SPF      
Sat     Cleanser      Caffeine       Niac                           EUK     Moisturiser      SPF      
Sun (A) Cleanser      Caffeine       —                                  —           Moisturiser      SPF      
Sun (B) Cleanser      Caffeine       Vit C (mixed into moisturiser) —           —                SPF      

Sun (A) = rest morning • Sun (B) = optional second Vit C morning (only if calm)

—- 

🌙 Night

Day         1 🧼 Cleanser 2 🧪 Wait after cleanse 3 🍃/🌙 Active 1       4 🧪 Wait / Rinse 5 🧬 Active 2 6 🧴 Moisturiser 7 💧 Squalane
Mon     Cleanser      ~10 min                 Retinol 1%         —                 —             Moisturiser      Optional     
Tue     Cleanser      ~10 min                 Mandelic           2–5 min           Buffet    Moisturiser      Optional     
Wed (A) Cleanser      —                       Matrixyl           —                 —             Moisturiser      Optional     
Wed (B) Cleanser      —                       Buffet             —                 —             Moisturiser      Optional     
Thu     Cleanser      —                       Res/Fer            —                 —             Moisturiser      Optional     
Fri     Cleanser      ~10 min                 Retinol 1%         —                 —             Moisturiser      Optional     
Sat     Cleanser      ~10 min                 Mandelic           2–5 min           Matrixyl  Moisturiser      Optional     
Sun (A) Cleanser      —                       Aztec Clay Mask    Rinse             —             Moisturiser      Optional     
Sun (B) Cleanser      —                       Matrixyl or Buffet —                 —             Moisturiser      Optional     

Wed (A/B) = pick ONE peptide routine • Sun (A/B) = pick mask night OR peptide night

📅 Weekly Schedule

Monday

☀️ AM

1 🧼     2 👁️    3 🧴 4 ✨ 5 🧴        6 🛡️ 📝 Notes                   
Cleanser Caffeine Niac EUK Moisturiser SPF   ✨ Antioxidant + oil-balance

🌙 PM (Retinol night)

1 🧼     2 🧪    3 🌙       4 🧪 5 🧬 6 🧴        7 💧     📝 Notes             
Cleanser ~10 min Retinol 1% —    —    Moisturiser Optional 🌙 Fine lines support

—- 

Tuesday

☀️ AM

1 🧼     2 👁️    3 🧴 4 ✨ 5 🧴        6 🛡️ 📝 Notes        
Cleanser Caffeine Niac —   Moisturiser SPF   🧴 Simple/steady

🌙 PM (Mandelic night)

1 🧼     2 🧪    3 🍃     4 🧪    5 🧬   6 🧴        7 💧     📝 Notes           
Cleanser ~10 min Mandelic 2–5 min Buffet Moisturiser Optional 🍃 Dullness/texture

—- 

Wednesday

☀️ AM

1 🧼     2 👁️    3 🧴 4 ✨ 5 🧴        6 🛡️ 📝 Notes         
Cleanser Caffeine Niac EUK Moisturiser SPF   ✨ Antioxidant day

🌙 PM (Peptide night — pick ONE)

Option 1 🧼     2 🧪 3 🧬     4 🧪 5 🧬 6 🧴        7 💧     📝 Notes                  
A  Cleanser —    Matrixyl —    —    Moisturiser Optional 🧬 Fine lines focus       
B  Cleanser —    Buffet   —    —    Moisturiser Optional 🧬 General peptide support

—- 

Thursday

☀️ AM (Vit C glow morning)

1 🧼     2 👁️    3 🍊          4 ✨ 5 🧴 6 🛡️ 📝 Notes          
Cleanser Caffeine Vit C (mixed) —   —    SPF   🍊 Brightness/glow

🌙 PM (Res/Fer antioxidant)

1 🧼     2 🧪 3 🛡️   4 🧪 5 🧬 6 🧴        7 💧     📝 Notes               
Cleanser —    Res/Fer —    —    Moisturiser Optional 🛡️ Antioxidant support

—- 

Friday

☀️ AM

1 🧼     2 👁️    3 🧴 4 ✨ 5 🧴        6 🛡️ 📝 Notes        
Cleanser Caffeine Niac —   Moisturiser SPF   🧴 Simple/steady

🌙 PM (Retinol night)

1 🧼     2 🧪    3 🌙       4 🧪 5 🧬 6 🧴        7 💧     📝 Notes             
Cleanser ~10 min Retinol 1% —    —    Moisturiser Optional 🌙 Fine lines support

—- 

Saturday

☀️ AM

1 🧼     2 👁️    3 🧴 4 ✨ 5 🧴        6 🛡️ 📝 Notes         
Cleanser Caffeine Niac EUK Moisturiser SPF   ✨ Antioxidant day

🌙 PM (Mandelic night)

1 🧼     2 🧪    3 🍃     4 🧪    5 🧬     6 🧴        7 💧     📝 Notes           
Cleanser ~10 min Mandelic 2–5 min Matrixyl Moisturiser Optional 🍃 Dullness/texture

—- 

Sunday

☀️ AM (pick one)

Option        1 🧼     2 👁️    3 🧴/🍊       4 ✨ 5 🧴        6 🛡️ 📝 Notes           
A (rest)  Cleanser Caffeine —             —   Moisturiser SPF   🧘 Barrier-friendly
B (Vit C) Cleanser Caffeine Vit C (mixed) —   —           SPF   🍊 Extra glow      

🌙 PM (pick one)

Option          1 🧼     2 🧪 3 🧖/🧬            4 🧪/🚿 5 🧬 6 🧴        7 💧     📝 Notes           
A (mask)    Cleanser —    Aztec Clay Mask    Rinse   —    Moisturiser Optional 🧖 Max 1×/week     
B (peptide) Cleanser —    Matrixyl or Buffet —       —    Moisturiser Optional 🧬 Recovery/support

🔗 Sources

┬─┬ノ( º _ ºノ)

Here are all the notes in this garden, along with their links, visualized as a graph.