Launched in 2016 under the DECIEM umbrella (now fully owned by The Estée Lauder Companies), The Ordinary disrupted the beauty industry by offering familiar, effective clinical technologies at disruptive price points. By stripping away “prestige” marketing and focused on functional ingredients like Niacinamide, AHA/BHA, and Peptides, the brand democratized skincare and turned consumers into “skintellectuals” who shop by ingredient rather than brand promise.

Note: This formula contains an extremely high concentration of free acids. We recommend use only if you are an experienced user of acid exfoliation and your skin is not sensitive.

The pH of this formula is approximately 3.6. Glycolic Acid, the primary AHA used in the formula, has a pKa of 3.6 and pKa is the most important aspect to consider in formulating with acids. pKa implies acid availability. When pKa is close to pH, there is an ideal balance between salt and acidity, maximizing the effectiveness of the acid and reducing skin discomfort.