Index / The Ordinary / Balancing and Clarifying Serum
The Ordinary

Balancing and Clarifying Serum.

The Ordinary Balancing and Clarifying Serum
Serums

About this product

A lightweight serum with an azelaic acid derivative and fermented ingredients, designed to clarify skin, reduce oil, and minimize breakouts and congestion.

Best for

Oily skinAcne-prone skin
Serums

The Guru Index verdict

Not verified

Score withheld

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Not independently verified

2 of the 3 takes here are sponsored by the brand. That leaves a single independent take, which is not enough to verify a score, so we are holding it back rather than publishing a number built on paid reviews. The takes are below, each labeled.

3Reviewers
3Approved
0Mixed
0Skip

What the gurus are saying

The gurus found this serum delivers quick wins for oily and acne-prone skin: it calms redness, controls breakouts, and cuts shine without feeling heavy or sticky. The azelaic acid derivative also promises longer-term payoffs like smaller pores and fewer blackheads. One thing to keep in mind: it contains niacinamide, so those already using The Ordinary's Milky Toner or other niacinamide products may want to alternate them rather than layer both, to avoid overloading the skin.
Synthesized from 3 expert reviews
Every take, in full

What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Approved only Skip only Mixed only Hide sponsored
Approved
"The Ordinary Balancing and Clarifying Serum, this one is 11 bucks right now and this one is a super affordable alternative to the Regimen Lab Wave Serum which is 39 bucks. These are both really nice hydrating calming serums. It's still nice if you use it under a nice moisturizer, it gives your skin some hydration. Both fragrance free but just a little bit more affordable option."
All 3 takes from No BS Beauty
New Skincare First Impressions 🆕 Missha, The Ordinary, Canmake, & Numbuzin Products
"The Ordinary came out with a Balancing and Clarifying Serum and I am enjoying it so far. It's got a really nice water texture, we've got a ferment in here, and then the star of the show is the AHC acid derivative, potassium azeloyl diglycinate. That's the star of the show. So far I'm really liking it. It's really nice. I would say this is going to be a direct competitor to the Geek and Gorgeous A-Pad serum, that's what this reminds me of."
Budget-Friendly Alternatives To Expensive Skincare Products - The Ordinary Dupes - Frugal Friday
"The Ordinary Balancing and Clarifying Serum, this one is 11 bucks right now and this one is a super affordable alternative to the Regimen Lab Wave Serum which is 39 bucks. These are both really nice hydrating calming serums. It's still nice if you use it under a nice moisturizer, it gives your skin some hydration. Both fragrance free but just a little bit more affordable option."
The Ordinary Sale Picks ✔ I've Tried Everything From The Ordinary and These Are Their Best Products
"The Balancing and Clarifying Serum with the azelaic acid derivative is quite nice."
Approved
"The Balancing and Clarifying Serum is amazing if like me you're super oily and acne prone. If you get this in your life it'll minimize breakouts, minimize blackhead skin congestion, and even out the oil levels in the skin. I used it all summer long and it was a game changer. I get super greasy in those warm summer months and this saved my skin. I absolutely love it, but I would say it's probably best for people with an oilier skin type, not for everybody."
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All 2 takes from Mad About Skin
THE ORDINARY SALE - Top 10 The Ordinary Products
"The Balancing and Clarifying Serum is amazing if like me you're super oily and acne prone. If you get this in your life it'll minimize breakouts, minimize blackhead skin congestion, and even out the oil levels in the skin. I used it all summer long and it was a game changer. I get super greasy in those warm summer months and this saved my skin. I absolutely love it, but I would say it's probably best for people with an oilier skin type, not for everybody."
Best PORE MINIMIZNG SERUM - The Ordinary Balancing and Clarifying Serum
"The quick-acting AHC acid derivatives in here reduce redness, sensitivity, and irritation. In the long term you're definitely going to see a reduction in overall pore size, less frequent breakouts, and a reduction in the amount of blackheads. This is a win-win for short-term wins and long-term payoffs. After a couple of weeks I've been completely won over. You get some really great immediate results. After 2 weeks I can definitely say my skin is more hydrated, my breakouts are controlled, I have less excess oil being produced, and I'm already starting to see the reduction in blackheads and sebaceous filaments. It's a nice watery serum that blends straight in. It's not oily at all, so as oily folk we don't need extra oil applied to the skin, and this is beautiful in terms of how it applies. It sinks straight in and pairs with everything else in your skincare routine. The only thing I wouldn't use this with is the Milky Toner from The Ordinary, so I'd say use this on a morning and the Milky Toner on an evening or vice versa, or use one or the other, because they both contain niacinamide and I think you might be overloading the skin."
Approved
"It really did help to clarify my skin and keep it balanced. It really did help to reduce on the shininess and the oil that can accumulate during the day. It did help to brighten up my skin and it did help to improve skin texture as well. This is very hydrating and very gentle. It's not sticky or tacky. It is very, very lightweight on the skin. Everything layered up really nicely and I didn't have any peeling."
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