Which The Ordinary Product Is Best for Acne Scars?

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If you’ve seen all the reviews on TikTok, then you know the products by The Ordinary. Many of their products can help acne sufferers treat their skin so that it feels healthier and looks even more amazing.

And thankfully, these products can also support you in getting rid of your acne scarring.

But which The Ordinary product is best for acne scars? Their cruelty-free brand is great, but their product line can be a bit… confusing!

In this article, we’ll show you which The Ordinary products are best to use for treating your acne scars.

We’re going to take a quick look at why acne forms in the first place so that you have a better understanding of the process that is happening to your skin.


Contents

What is Causing My Acne?

The real reason that you have acne breakouts is because of the bacteria that gets lodged in your pores. Sometimes they get out of control. And there are two main factors that make this happen. It all comes down to:

1. Your diet

There is evidence that greasy foods cause acne. But it’s actually the high sugar content of carbs and dairy that affect your blood sugar levels.

If you eat a lot of things like baked goods, sodas, and dairy, it can cause your blood sugar to rise. It will also affect your hormones. This will cause the skin inflammation that causes your pores to become blocked.

2. Your skincare regime

If you have oily skin to begin with, then you need to be using the right products to stop it. These products should help to produce more sebum than is needed to keep your skin healthy.

Oily skin also tends to be thicker. So even using products for combination skin may not work as well when your pores are damaged.

Both your diet and skincare regime can contribute to the bacteria in your pores. This bacteria causes inflammation.

Inflammation happens because the bacteria eats at the sebum. Then it leaves waste products that clogs up your pores. Your body’s immune system then kicks into action, because it doesn’t recognize the waste.

And this is what causes the inflammation.

If your skin is oily and you don’t eat a healthy and balanced diet, then this perpetuates the cycle of acne.

There are products available from The Ordinary that will break this toxic skin cycle. They will also reduce the appearance of the scar tissue left behind.

So now let’s look at what these products from The Ordinary can do for you…


Which The Ordinary Product is Best for Acne Scars?

There are several great products in The Ordinary’s product line that can help reduce acne scars. The one(s) that will be best for your skin will depend on your circumstances. Here is our list:

1. The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toner 

The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution 240ml
  • Offers a gentle exfoliation for improved...
  • The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7%
  • Toning Solution

This toner is a mild exfoliant that helps smooth and blend skin and improves radiance and clarity. It will reduce enlarged pores and help to boost the appearance of your skin’s texture with continued use.

Do not use this product at the same time as applying a vitamin C product. This is because niacinamide affects its integrity.

2. The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Masque 

Sale
The Ordinary, Smooth, Salicylic Acid 2% Masque (50 mL / 1.7 fl oz)
  • Good for skin
  • Gives effective results
  • Free of parabens, formaldehydes,...
  • Vegan, gluten-free, and cruelty-free

The salicylic acid masque contains clay and charcoal to detoxify and deeply clean your skin. It will leave your skin feeling refreshed. It also helps to reduce wrinkles and leaves your skin feeling smoother.

3. The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% and Zinc 1% 

Sale
Ombrace Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% - Large 60mL - 2FLoz
  • This product can effectively improve the...
  • High-strength vitamin and mineral...
  • Visibly regulates sebum by balancing...
  • Apply to face morning and evening before...

This product is a niacinamide serum that helps to remove blemishes and other defects in the skin like deep blocked pores. It balances sebum production, due to the zinc it includes.

Plus, it repairs hyperpigmentation from acne scarring. But do not use this product at the same time as applying a vitamin C product.

4. AHA 30% and BHA 2% Peeling Solution 

Sale
The Ordinary Peeling Solution 30ml AHA 30% + BHA 2%, 1 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)
  • This product has NO safety seal
  • Size: 30ml
  • Gender: Unisex
  • Country of origin is United States

This peeling solution is a 10-minute exfoliating peel that works to deeply exfoliate your skin’s surface. AHA 30% and BHA 2% Peeling Solution unclogs pores and gives your skin a radiant complexion. See What To Use After The Ordinary Peeling Solution for more information!

5. Alpha-arbutin 2% HA 

The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + Ha 30ml
  • Reduces the looks of spots and...
  • This product has NO safety seal
  • Fades hyperpigmentation, dark spots, and...
  • Lightweight Serum

This hyaluronic acid product is a gel-like serum with alpha-arbutin as its active ingredient. This means it targets hyperpigmentation to reduce any dark spots on the skin.

It also targets those left over from acne scars. The result: younger-looking and more evenly toned skin.

6. Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% 

Sale
The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%
  • This treatment brightens the skin
  • It also reduces the look of blemishes,...
  • It also fades hyperpigmentation and...
  • Visibly brightens skin tone

The Azelaic acid cream is a gel that has an antioxidant that helps protect the skin from free radical damage. Even if it is an acid, it doesn’t cause irritation.

This product helps to make the skin look clearer.

7. Lactic Acid 10% and HA 

The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA 1 oz/ 30 mL For Exfoliating
  • A mild lactic acid superficial peeling...
  • This treatment gently resurfaces the...
  • The Ordinary is born to disallow...
  • Integrity in skincare; The brand was...

This Lactic Acid product is a super popular gentle exfoliation serum. It helps to stimulate your skin’s cellular regeneration and helps to reduce pigmentation. It also diminishes acne scars and age spots to improve your skin’s overall texture.

This serum contains Tasmanian pepper berry to reduce inflammation. The moisturizer also contains hyaluronic acid, which helps to keep your skin hydrated.

See How To Use The Ordinary Lactic Acid for further details.


Prevent Further Acne Scarring

So now that you know which The Ordinary products will work to help you reduce the appearance of your acne scars. There are a few other things that you can do to stop the likelihood of any further acne scarring on your skin.

Sunscreen

To begin with, you need to make sure that you always use a natural sunscreen whenever you’re exposed to the sun. Get a bit of sun as a base tan, but you need to use sunscreen too! For best immunity, keep your vitamin D levels optimal. Using sunscreen avoids any further damage from acne scars.

The Ordinary Mineral UV Filters SPF 15 with Antioxidants  won’t clog pores like other similar products.

This sunscreen is ideal for those who want to be lightweight and will not block your pores. It has Tasmanian pepper berry to cool your skin and will leave it with a healthy pink glow.

No Smoking!

If you are a smoker, then it would be good for you to stop smoking now. The lack of oxygen in your blood is causing your scars to look more noticeable. If you want to quit smoking, a study on tobacco’s contribution to scars could be your reason to quit.

Leave Them Alone

Don’t pick at your acne scars, and do your best to not squeeze the blemishes that cause them.

Chill Out!

A good trick that you can use to reduce inflammation is to put an ice cube on the area to reduce the blood flow. Using ice will also help to tighten your pores.

Make sure that you wrap the ice cube in a clean cloth. So that you don’t get an ice burn. Then hold it on the acne sores for up to five minutes.

Dermarolling

Some people have had success with microneedling aka dermarolling for acne scars. See this article for more information.

Borage Oil

Borage oil may help calm irritation in oily skin and acne breakouts. Borage oil helps to stop sebum production. It also reduces skin inflammation and provides it with moisture.

Botox

Yes, it may sound strange, but some people use botox to tackle their acne scars. It obviously isn’t a straightforward treatment, and will require medical supervision, but you may find it worth exploring.

Written by Kayla Young

Kayla is the founder of LuxeLuminous. She has worked professionally in the tanning industry for years. She has been interested in esthetics since childhood, and has tried every hair, skin, and makeup product ever produced (more or less).