New Year, New Skin with The Ordinary

Written by: Eliza Macinness
Published on 07 January 2025

As the new year begins, January is the perfect time to refresh and reset, and that includes your skincare routine. The cold winter months, combined with post-holiday fatigue, can leave your skin looking dull, feeling dry, and lacking its natural radiance. For normal skin types, a balanced routine focused on hydration, gentle exfoliation, and protection is key to maintaining healthy, glowing skin throughout this season. The Ordinary, a brand celebrated for its science-driven, no-nonsense approach to skincare, offers a complete range of products that can help you achieve the perfect January glow without breaking the bank. This routine will nurture your skin through the harsh winter months while also giving it a much-needed reset after weeks of festive indulgence.

Our ultimate winter skincare routine

It’s all about that base

The foundation of any effective skincare routine is a good cleanser, and The Ordinary’s Squalane Cleanser (£13.50, 150ml) is the ideal starting point. Unlike traditional cleansers that can strip the skin of its natural oils, the Squalane Cleanser is designed to gently dissolve makeup, SPF, and impurities without compromising the skin’s moisture barrier. Squalane, a lightweight emollient, mimics the skin’s natural sebum and helps keep your skin soft and balanced. For normal skin in January, this means you can cleanse thoroughly without that dreaded tight or dry feeling, which is common in colder weather.

Hydration, Hydration, Hydration…

Once your skin is clean and prepped, hydration is the next priority. During winter, the air tends to be drier both outdoors and indoors due to central heating. This can dehydrate the skin, leading to a lack of plumpness and a dull appearance. Enter The Ordinary’s Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (£8.90, 30ml). This serum is a powerhouse for hydration, delivering moisture deep into the skin. Hyaluronic acid, a humectant, works by drawing water into the skin and locking it there. The Ordinary’s formulation uses multiple molecular weights of hyaluronic acid to ensure hydration penetrates all layers of the skin. Combined with vitamin B5, which enhances the skin’s surface hydration, this serum leaves your skin feeling plump, soft, and rejuvenated, which is just what you need for a January pick-me-up.

Time to Tone up

To maintain your skin’s radiance during the winter, it’s important to address any uneven tone or texture. That’s where The Ordinary’s Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% (£6.00, 30ml) comes in. Niacinamide, also known as vitamin B3, is a multi-tasking ingredient that brightens the complexion, minimises the appearance of pores, and regulates sebum production. For normal skin types, this helps balance oil levels while ensuring your skin stays smooth and refined. Zinc, on the other hand, soothes the skin and provides an added layer of defence against environmental stressors. Together, they create a serum that works wonders in maintaining that healthy, post-holiday glow. It’s particularly beneficial in January when dullness often sets in, leaving your skin looking lacklustre.

The Final Step

Moisturising is arguably the most crucial step during the colder months, and The Ordinary’s Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA (£10.90, 100ml) is the perfect solution for normal skin. Formulated with amino acids, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid, this moisturiser mimics the skin’s natural hydrating elements to provide long-lasting moisture without feeling greasy. It works to fortify your skin’s natural barrier, which can be weakened by harsh winter conditions. Normal skin thrives when it receives balanced hydration, and this moisturiser provides exactly that: a lightweight, nourishing layer that keeps your skin soft, supple, and protected throughout the day.

Daytime Skincare essentials:

During the daytime, no winter skincare routine is complete without sun protection. While many people believe SPF is only necessary in the summer, UV rays are present year-round and can cause damage to your skin even in the colder months. The Ordinary’s Mineral UV Filters SPF 30 with Antioxidants (£11.60, 50ml) offers broad-spectrum protection while also delivering antioxidant benefits. This lightweight mineral sunscreen shields your skin from both UVA and UVB rays, helping to prevent premature ageing and maintain your skin’s health. The added antioxidants help neutralize free radicals caused by environmental stressors, which are particularly abundant during winter months when pollution can take a toll on the skin. Applying sunscreen daily, even on cloudy January days, is essential to keep your skin looking youthful and radiant.

Evening Skincare essentials:

The evening routine offers a chance for your skin to repair and renew itself overnight. Start by cleansing once again with the Squalane Cleanser to remove any impurities accumulated during the day. Then, introduce The Ordinary’s Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution (£11.90, 240ml) two to three times a week. This exfoliating toner contains glycolic acid, an alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) that works to dissolve dead skin cells, revealing smoother, brighter skin underneath. Regular exfoliation is key in winter, as dry, flaky patches can dull the skin’s natural glow. However, it’s important to avoid over-exfoliation, as the skin is more sensitive in colder weather. Used correctly, the Glycolic Acid Toning Solution will refine your skin’s texture, improve clarity, and give your complexion a much-needed brightness boost.

Sometimes more is more

For an added layer of care, The Ordinary’s Retinol 0.2% in Squalane (£7.90, 30ml) is a game-changer when used two to three times a week. Retinol, a derivative of vitamin A, is one of the most well-researched and effective ingredients for promoting cell turnover, reducing fine lines, and improving skin tone. During January, incorporating retinol into your routine helps counteract the signs of dullness and tired skin that often appear after the holiday season. The squalane base ensures the retinol is delivered in a gentle, moisturizing formula that won’t dry out normal skin. If you’re new to retinol, starting with a low concentration like 0.2% is ideal to avoid irritation while still reaping the anti-ageing and skin-smoothing benefits.

But does it really work?

The beauty of this January skincare routine is that it’s both simple and science-backed. The Ordinary’s products are designed to deliver high-quality ingredients at an accessible price point, making it easy to stick to a consistent routine that yields real results. For normal skin types, the focus on hydration, gentle exfoliation, and protection ensures that your skin stays healthy, balanced, and radiant even in the harshest winter conditions. By incorporating key ingredients like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, glycolic acid, and retinol, this routine addresses every major concern that tends to crop up in January: dryness, dullness, and uneven texture. The use of antioxidants and SPF further protects the skin, ensuring that you not only repair winter damage but also prevent future issues. Whether you’re looking to reset after the holiday season or simply want to give your skin some extra TLC in the new year, this routine offers everything you need to start 2024 with glowing, healthy skin.