The Ordinary The Bright Set: 4-Step Regimen Kit

Most Helpful Positive Review

Detailed Review: Very Happy So Far!

I sorted through so many products on this site, trying to find what was best for me and my skin's needs and, as luck would have it, almost everything I bookmarked was part of this bundle. I have been lucky that I have relatively "good" skin that has helped me get by with my ADHD/lazy girl bare minim...um methods. But now in my mid-30s I'm noticing things are starting to look a bit dull, some darkness and fine lines and, after 2.5 years of wearing masks, a lot more blockages around the nose and chin crease. Disclaimer: I have only been using these products for two weeks so far. I need to give it a few more to allow my skin to adjust and to better see results. But I wanted to share my experience thus far. I must stress the importance of reading the Usage Details and Product Directions (found under Usage Details) for each product. The Ordinary has provided so much info, which I understand can be overwhelming to some, but I so so so appreciated it. I felt confident that I could trust ordering from a brand that is so transparent and offers up everything you would need or want to know. I love knowing what order to apply, when to apply (morning and/or night), what NOT to use together – it takes all the guess work out. The Squalane cleanser was the one part of this set that I was initially on the fence about before ordering. The cleanser that I use regularly has kept me happy, but I thought I would give this a try. I am glad that I did! I am not sure yet if I will switch permanently, but I am liking it so far. As per the usage directions, I have been using a small amount, rubbing it into my hands, and massaging it onto my DRY face. I find it doesn't fully "melt" into an oil until it's on my face, but I start the warming process in my hands. You can really tell the moment its consistency changes and it feels good. It feels really good when using it and my skin feels soft after I rinse it off. I think my younger years I was conditioned to believe moisture = oily skin = bad, so I always wanted that "dry" feeling after cleansing my face, but this feels great. While it does remove makeup, I recommend removing eye makeup before use otherwise the product seems to bind to it and I feel like I'm rubbing mascara all over my face. The Glycolic Acid toning solution is what drew me to this set in the first place. I really wanted a chemical exfoliant and this one seemed right. I felt that initial sensitivity the first few uses, but that has since passed. Truly after the first night I felt I could see a difference – had me feeling like my skin looked "fresh-faced". The Caffeine Solution for eyes seems like it will take a while to see any notable results. But no undesired effects thus far and the product feels nice to use. The Ethylated Ascorbic Acid does have an oily-feeling consistency and it does take time to absorb into the skin. I follow it up with the Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA to lock everything in as well, so my face feels like it has a lot of moisture on it. This is not a regimen to immediately apply makeup or rush out the door right after. Gotta give it a bit to absorb. A few times I have felt I look a bit oily with a sheen by the end of the day, but my face feels soft, smooth, and hydrated so I am not complaining – and I want to give my skin longer to adjust; I feel that side effect may lessen. Overall, all of the products feel great and are concentrated so a little goes a long way – makes them easy to use and easy on the wallet too. I am feeling good so far and very optimistic as I continue to use them.