Q&A with The Ordinary

###### What was the inspiration behind The Ordinary, and how are the products such a great price point? The inspiration really simply was that it had to be done. We created The Ordinary because brands, big and small, continue to disguise commodity for ingenuity through creative use of packaging, communication and pricing. No one in the world of vitamins can charge $300 for a tin of vitamin A tablets because that industry comes with more transparency but you can easily find virtually the same formulations ranging from $5 to $500+ in the world of beauty. We have applied our standard margin across all the products in The Ordinary and, in fact, our average margin in The Ordinary is higher than, say, some NIOD products. For example, very high purity Niacinamide costs under $10 per KG and so the cost of all materials in [Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%](https://www.fenwick.co.uk/beauty/skincare/serums-and-oils/serums/niacinamide-10-zinc-1/2530007589652.html) is under $1 (£0.5). Most of the cost actually goes into compounding, testing (inbound and outbound) and retail costs/margins. We haven't cut any margin % and The Ordinary is a sustainable model. ###### Which two The Ordinary products should everyone have in their beauty stash? One of the very unique aspects of The Ordinary is the highly-focused nature of each product that allows you to customise a regimen that specifically suits your skin needs and your preferences. In this respect, I wouldn't say that there is any product that everyone must have but these two would likely suit most skin types really well and improve skin quality for most: Buffet and [100% Plant-Derived Squalane](https://www.fenwick.co.uk/beauty/skincare/serums-and-oils/oils-and-gels/100-plant-derived-squalane/2530000942812.html).

###### ‘Retinol’ is a big buzz-word in the beauty industry right now – what are the benefits of using it and how often should they be used? Retinol in pure form is quite strong and requires enduring a 4 to 8 week period of irritation and peeling before seeing good results, but the results are dramatic. However, it will in nearly all cases cause significant irritation and peeling in the first few weeks. Our modern form of retinoid called GRANACTIVE Retinoid offers nearly identical results without virtually any peeling or irritation. The benefits of both retinoids are better skin texture and tone, as well as a visible reduction in all forms of imperfections such as fine lines. ###### Which products do you recommend to help with persistent acne? In the AM: Salicylic Acid 2% Solution, Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% In the PM: Retinol 1%, knowing that the skin will peel and go through purging in the first 4-8 weeks. It can be diluted with other creams at the start phase to reduce irritation.

###### We’re so excited about your upcoming foundation launch; tell us about the new formula and its key benefits? Both formulations use modern esters to avoid the build-up of pigments and create a natural look. The pigments are treated for high saturation and both formats ([Serum](https://www.fenwick.co.uk/on/demandware.store/Sites-FNW-Site/en_GB/Product-Show?pid=2530007698156) and [Coverage](https://www.fenwick.co.uk/beauty/make-up/face/foundations/coverage-foundation/2530002606644.html) Foundations) offer a mineral-only sunscreen base of SPF 15 that uses no nanoparticles and yet does not interfere with the texture or colour of the formulas. ###### With the move into colour products, what’s next on the cards for The Ordinary? Everything you can imagine (and probably more). Cleansers, masques and other complexion-focused colour lines are all coming. ### Skincare routines for all skin types