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Last Updated on May 26, 2025 by Giorgia Guazzarotti

The Ordinary GF 15% Solution

The Ordinary GF 15% Solution has taken the beauty world by storm (as does everything the brand makes, for that matter). Usually, I’m all over anything The Ordinary makes. Ok, there’s an exception or two, but overall, who doesn’t love effective, science-backed skincare for the price of two lattes? Exactly. Yet, this time, my first reaction was, “Why would they release something with growth factors?!” Beauty brands swear they’re the best thing since sliced bread (or retinol, to keep the skincare theme) – but some dermatologists wonder if they could actually make cancer works (not exactly the kind of thing I want in my serum). Who’s right?:

Key Ingredients In The Ordinary GF 15% Solution

GROWTH FACTORS

  • Nicotiana Benthamiana Hexapeptide-40 sh-Oligopeptide-1: A plant-derived peptide that sends a signal to your skin to produce more collagen and elastin, the proteins that keep skin elastic. While not strictly speaking a growth factor, its mechanism of action is inspired by growth factors.
  • Nicotiana Benthamiana Hexapeptide-40 sh-Polypeptide-76: A combination of peptides that’s said to lighten skin and reduce pigmentation.
  • Nicotiana Benthamiana Octapeptide-30 sh-Oligopeptide-2: According to the manufacturer, this ingredient contains a plant protein called plant-IGF1 that is able to thicken the epidermis (or the outermost layer of skin). 

While all this sounds very promising, I took this info from the manufacturer’s site. It’s probably that these ingredients are so new, there hasn’t been time to do independent testing as well. But, you know me, I take manufacturer’s claims with a grain of salt. Always. So I’m not saying they don’t work. I’m saying I’m not ditching my retinol yet.

What about cancer? Some dermatologists are concerned that, in the process of telling skin cells to grow, growth factors may accidentally tell cells that already have cancer to multiply as well. This is an extremely low risk – and highly unlikely to happen when a small concentration is topically applied on the skin. Still, if you’re getting cancer treatment, avoid skincare products with growth factors.

The Rest Of The Formula & Ingredients

NOTE: The colours indicate the effectiveness of an ingredient. It is ILLEGAL to put toxic and harmful ingredients in skincare products.

  • Green: It’s effective, proven to work, and helps the product do the best possible job for your skin.
  • Yellow: There’s not much proof it works (at least, yet).
  • Red: What is this doing here?!
  • Aqua/Water/Eau: The main solvent in the product, it helps to dissolve other ingredients.
  • Butylene Glycol: A humectant that drives moisture into the skin to keep it hydrated. It also acts as a solvent.
  • Sclerotium Gum: A thickener that enhances the texture of skincare products.
  • Glycerin: A popular humectant that attracts water from the air into the skin, leaving skin softer and smoother for hours.
  • Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate: A chelating agent. In plain English, it attaches to the metal ions in the water and neutralises them before they can spoil the formula.
  • Citric Acid: It helps to adjust the pH of skincare products.
  • Sodium Citrate: Another pH adjuster.
  • Phenoxyethanol: A preservative that helps to prolong the shelf life of skincare products.
  • Chlorphenesin: A preservative that inhibits bacterial contamination in skincare products.

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Texture

Think of it like a lightweight, gel-serum mix. It’s not runny to the point you need to worry about it dripping all over the place. It’s not thick either. It absorbs super quickly without any greasy feel.

Fragrance

There’s no real scent with this one, which is a win if you’re not into strong fragrances. It’s almost like nothing at all. Just a tiny, almost invisible smell when you first apply it, but it disappears fast (ingredients do have a small after all).

How To Use It

You can use it twice a day, morning and night. I personally prefer to use it only once, usually at night. The reason is simple: you can’t use this with Vitamin C. And I do love my Vitamin C serum in the morning. It helps boost sun protection when layered under sunscreen. You also shouldn’t use it with direct acids, like salicylic acid. So I skip it on nights I exfoliate too (honestly, I prefer using tried and tested actives like Vitamin C and salicylic acid over new and still mostly unproven ingredients like growth factors).

Packaging

Like many other The Ordinary products, it comes in a UV tinted bottle with a dropper applicator. It’s easy to use and doesn’t waste a drop of it (I know this isn’t the most expensive serum, but still, why waste it?).

Performance & Personal Opinion

I’ve read so many crazy reviews online saying this stuff transformed their skin overnight. And, well, not even retinol does that, so call me sceptic. And rightly so;. This stuff isn’t as dramatic as it’s made out to be. Yes, it does provide some hydration and makes skin softer. My skin tone looks a bit more even too, which is always a win.

But what about wrinkles? Like with most skincare products, you need to wait at least a couple of weeks to see smoother skin. And even then, the results are so minimal. You may see better results if you use it religiously night and day, but as I said, I also want to fit other actives into my routine, so I’m not that consistent. On the plus, it didn’t break me out, nor gave me pimples.

What I Like About The Ordinary GF 15% Solution

  • Lightweight, fast-absorbing texture
  • Fragrance-free
  • Leaves skin softer and hydrated
  • Doesn’t break you out
  • Practical packaging
  • Affordable

What I DON’T Like About The Ordinary GF 15% Solution

  • Didn’t do much for my fine lines
  • Using 2x day as recommended is tricky when you can’t pair with tried and tested ingredients like Vitamin C and exfoliating acids

Who Should Use This?

Let’s just say it’s an affordable way to try growth factors – if you’re tempted to see what the hype is about.

Does The Ordinary GF 15% Solution Live Up To Its Claims?

CLAIM TRUE?
An age-support serum containing a 15% solution of growth factors to help minimize and repair visible skin damage to regenerate the look of aging skin. Technically true. When a brand uses the word “help” before a claim, it basically means, “I’m not saying the product itself minimises wrinkles. I’m saying it helps (what?) minimise wrinkles.” Same for the word “look”. The serum doesn’t promise to regenerate aging skin. It promise to regenerate the look of aging skin – and frankly anything hydrating makes aging skin look better. It’s a very clever way to describe results without making an actual promise.
Additionally, GF 15% Solution also supports skin hydration and strengthens the skin barrier after one application for a more healthy-looking appearance. True. And note how they didn’t use the words “help” or “look” this time. Because this is a claim they can back up in court (it it ever came to that).

Price & Availability

$15.50/£13.50 at Beauty Bay, Boots, Cult Beauty, Sephora, SpaceNK, The Ordinary, and Ulta

The Verdict: Should You Buy It?

Personally, this is something I’d leave on the shelf. But, if you’re curious to test growth factors, it’s an affordable way to do it.

Ingredients

Aqua/Water/Eau, Butylene Glycol, Nicotiana Benthamiana Hexapeptide-40 sh-Oligopeptide-1, Nicotiana Benthamiana Hexapeptide-40 sh-Polypeptide-76, Nicotiana Benthamiana Octapeptide-30 sh-Oligopeptide-2, Sclerotium Gum, Glycerin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin.