Beyond the Hype: Reflections on The Ordinary's Powerful Campaign - from dr paris acharya
The Ordinary's recent campaign challenging beauty industry hype has sparked an important conversation—one that resonates deeply with our philosophy at Ardour Clinic. In an industry often beset by inflated promises and marketing hyperbole, their message cuts through with refreshing clarity.
THE CULTURE OF OVERCLAIMING
For years, the skincare industry has perpetuated a culture where more can sometimes feel better: more products, more procedures, more dramatic transformations. Marketing campaigns seem to promise miracle results, while social media filters create unrealistic expectations. The Ordinary's campaign boldly challenges this narrative, asking consumers to question what they're really buying into.
As an aesthetic doctor who has spent years working at the intersection of medicine and beauty, I've witnessed firsthand how this hype culture can mislead patients. The pressure to deliver instant, dramatic results has led some practitioners to overfill, overtreat and overpromise - often at the expense of natural beauty and patient safety.
HOW TO ACHIEVE OPTIMAL RESULTS YOURSELF
The most sophisticated aesthetic work is often invisible. It's the patient who looks refreshed rather than 'done,' the skin that glows from genuine health rather than temporary sparkle, the confidence that comes from feeling like the best version of yourself rather than someone else entirely.
Clinics like ours build the practice on principles that align with The Ordinary's message:
Transparency over marketing speak. We explain what treatments can realistically achieve, including their limitations. Not every concern requires intervention, and not every product delivers on its promise.
Quality over quantity. A carefully selected, evidence-based treatment plan will always outperform a scattergun approach laden with unnecessary products and procedures.
Longevity over quick fixes. Sustainable results come from addressing skin health at a foundational level - through regenerative treatments, hormonal balance and skincare that actually works - not from chasing trends.
Seek expert guidance and gather opinions. When considering any aesthetic treatment or investment in skincare, consult with qualified professionals who prioritise your individual needs. Don't hesitate to seek second opinions, ask questions about credentials and experience and ensure you feel completely comfortable with the practitioner and proposed treatment plan or products. The right aesthetic doctor / practitioner (or knowledgeable retail assistant) will welcome your questions and take time to fully understand your needs and concerns.
DISCERNMENT IN A NOISY INDUSTRY
The Ordinary's campaign reminds us that true expertise lies in restraint as much as skill. It takes confidence to recommend less when the industry constantly pushes for more. It requires clinical knowledge to distinguish between genuinely effective treatments and clever marketing.
This is particularly crucial in injectables, where the difference between enhancement and distortion often comes down to a practitioner's ability to say "no" when appropriate. The best injectors aren't those who can deliver the most dramatic change, but those who understand facial anatomy deeply enough to work with your natural structure. And are suitably qualified and experienced, it goes without saying.
A RETURN TO AUTHENTICITY
What makes The Ordinary's stance so powerful is its recognition that consumers are becoming more discerning. Today's patients and consumers arrive informed, questioning and rightfully sceptical of overblown claims. They want results, certainly, but they also want honesty, safety and treatments or products that respect their individuality.
This shift towards authenticity in skincare and aesthetics is welcome. It challenges us as practitioners to maintain, even elevate our standards, to invest in ongoing education, and to continue to prioritise patient outcomes over profit margins.
MOVING FORWARD
The conversation The Ordinary has initiated isn't just about skincare - it's about fostering a more honest, evidence-based approach across the whole beauty and aesthetics industry. It's a call for practitioners to be transparent, for brands to substantiate their claims, and for consumers to demand better.
At Ardour, we welcome this dialogue. Because ultimately, the antidote to hype isn't cynicism - it's expertise, integrity, and a genuine commitment to helping each patient achieve their best, most natural-looking results.
The beauty industry is at its best when it empowers rather than exploits, when it enhances rather than transforms, and when it serves the individual rather than the trend. That's the standard we should all be holding ourselves to.
Dr Paris Acharya
Founder - Ardour Clinic
ABOUT DR PARIS:
Dr Paris Acharya is a dual-qualified aesthetic doctor, dentist and former maxillofacial surgeon. She is the founder of Ardour Clinic in Marylebone, London, where she specialises in regenerative aesthetics, advanced injectables, hormones and wellness. Dr Paris is recognised as one of London's leading aesthetic experts, known for her evidence-based approach and commitment to natural, lasting results. She regularly features in the media - from Vogue, Tatler, Vanity Fair and ELLE to the Times and Forbes - and is an international speaker and trainer.
