Some serums promise you the moon. This one promised peptides. And for once, someone actually delivered.
You’ve probably seen The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Hyaluronic Acid Serum before. It’s one of their bestsellers and always ends up on those “must-try” lists. The claims are simple: smoother, firmer, better-looking skin. No fragrance. No inflated promises. We wanted to know if it actually does anything or if it’s just riding the hype. So we ran it through the Glow Lab and took notes.
What is it actually?
A peptide-packed multitasker with hyaluronic acid, Matrixyl, Argireline, and SYN-AKE. If none of those words mean anything to you, just know this. It is designed to hydrate, firm, smooth, and tell your skin to stop throwing temper tantrums every time you eat anything remotely fun.
The texture is lightweight. The feel is soothing. And the formula works well under moisturizers, sunscreens, and regret.
Week One
I started patting it on right after essence every morning and night. It played nice with everything and didn’t leave that annoying sticky film. No breakouts. No redness. No drama. Which, for my skin, is suspicious behavior.
Week Two
My face looked calmer. Softer. Kind of like I had been hydrating with something other than cold brew and bad decisions. I noticed my forehead was slightly less expressive in the best way. My smile lines were still there but less rude.
Week Three
That subtle healthy skin bounce started to show up in the mirror. The texture felt smoother. My makeup sat better. My skin tone evened out to the point where my concealer got demoted to backup dancer status.
Week Four
By week four, this serum had me re-reading the label like it was trying to sneak retinol in. It is that good. My face felt firmer, more hydrated, and just… competent. Not overly glowy. Not suspiciously tight. Just well-behaved, well-fed, and visibly more put together. Like it got its act together and started drinking water on purpose.
Science without the jargon
Here is what is really happening when you use this
- Peptides send signals to your skin to boost collagen. Think of them as personal trainers who do not yell
- Hyaluronic acid pulls in water to keep your skin juicy
- Matrixyl and Argireline are the ones responsible for softening fine lines without freezing your face
Who it’s good for
- Dehydrated skin
- Tired skin that looks dull and bored
- First signs of fine lines or texture issues
- Anyone who wants results without having to explain their skincare budget to their accountant
What to know
- Use it morning and night right after cleansing and essence
- It layers beautifully under everything
- If you want major brightening or acne clearing this won’t be your main character but it will absolutely make the rest of your lineup work harder
The verdict
This serum works. Not in an influencer with a pink fridge kind of way. In a quiet consistent way that makes you double-take in the mirror and go wait is that my face.
And honestly for the price there is no excuse not to try it. It is one of those products you forget to be excited about until it’s empty and you panic buy two more because your skin knows what it needs now.
