The Ordinary debuts body care range and partnered with pro footballer Mathias ‘Zanka’ Jørgensen

Taking care of our bodies is just as vital as nurturing our minds, and a little self-care – whether it’s a pampering facial or a luxe body lotion – can go a long way. Lest we forget, over 90 per cent of our skin (the largest organ we have) is on our body, and it deserves the same attention as our face. Enter the beloved skincare brand The Ordinary, known for its science-backed and sensibly priced treatments, which is now venturing into body care with a newly launched range designed to nourish and target various universal skin concerns.

“After being asked so many times if a few of our products can also be used on the body, it just made sense to formulate body care products that encourage people to treat their body’s skin the same way they treat their face,” says Nicola Kilner, CEO and co-founder of Deciem, the parent company of The Ordinary. “Our approach has always been focused on simplicity and functionality, and we bring these same fundamentals to body care.”

By selecting ingredients featured in some of the brand’s most sought-after facial formulas and collaborating with a team of over 180 scientists, The Ordinary has created three vegan and cruelty-free body care products – Niacinamide 5% Face and Body Emulsion, Salicylic Acid 0.5% Body Serum, and Natural Moisturizing Factors + Inulin Body Lotion – crafted with a commitment to both efficacy and safety.

Components like niacinamide help boost hydration and strengthen the skin barrier, all while evening out skin tone and fading dark spots. Meanwhile, salicylic acid exfoliates and unclogs pores, improving skin texture and the appearance of blemish-prone body skin. Moisturising Factors and inulin, on the other hand, deeply quench the skin, resulting in a more supple and radiant complexion. Kilner reminds us that facial and body skin differ in terms of sebaceous gland abundance, skin thickness, the size of the application area, and the wear and tear these regions endure – factors that have all been carefully considered in the rigorous process of developing the body care line.

Someone who knows a thing or two about treating his body like a temple is Danish pro footballer Mathias Jørgensen, better known by his nickname, Zanka, who currently plays for the Belgian football club Anderlecht. Zanka is a fitting choice to partner with The Ordinary for the launch of its body care line, given his years of experience tending to his body as an elite athlete. “When you’re young, the body can do amazing things, without needing the same kind of care and nurturing,” he says. “Once you become a bit older, especially in pro sports, you realise you need to care for your body for it to function as well today as it did yesterday.”

For Zanka, looking after his body is the first priority, encompassing a range of practices from mobility exercises and upper body work to ice baths, sauna sessions, and recharging with quality sleep – without overlooking the importance of skincare. “My dad always used body lotion, literally every day, and as a kid, I always felt it took so long and was unnecessary – that’s not the case anymore,” he says. These days, his post-workout and game routine includes drenching his skin with body lotion, a ritual that helps him reset and relax after a demanding day. Zanka’s key piece of advice for young athletes regarding body care? “Get yourself some good habits while it’s still early in your career; it gets harder with time.”

With new facial skincare products popping up left and right, body care often seems to take a back seat. However, The Ordinary sets to change that, elevating body care to the same high standard as its clinically proven facial offerings. To achieve optimal results, Kilner recommends: “Start by treating the skin with either Salicylic Acid 0.5% Body Serum, if your priority is addressing blemishes, or Niacinamide 5% Face and Body Emulsion, if you’re targeting uneven skin tone and texture.” Follow up with the treatment you didn’t use first, and finish your regimen with the Natural Moisturizing Factors + Inulin Body Lotion to lock in hydration and ensure all-day moisture.

The body care range is The Ordinary’s next step in its mission of introducing premium skincare with well-known active ingredients to the market “at an honest price,” as Kilner puts it. “When creating the brand, our purpose was to highlight a lack of integrity around pricing and communication in the world of beauty and skincare,” she explains. “We saw commodity ingredients being sold at high price points, with little information on the ingredients that were found in the formula.”

And the brand is far from done with its journey. Authenticity, transparency, and efficiency – some of The Ordinary’s founding values – continue to drive the label in its actions, affirming that the brand remains “a power for good.” “Our scientific team is constantly looking for new ingredients to explore, bringing them to market to continue democratising quality skincare,” says Kilner, adding, “stay tuned!”

Watch the full The Ordinary body care line campaign video featuring Zanka below: