Inside The Ordinary’s Sulfur Glow-Up: An Interview on Smarter Blemish Care
breakouts are annoying, unpredictable, and almost always show up at the worst possible time. And while the beauty aisles are stacked with spot treatments that promise a miracle overnight, most either bulldoze your skin barrier, leave a chalky white cast, or worse—reek of that classic sulfur stench. The Ordinary, true to form, decided that wasn’t good enough. Instead of playing into the same old cycle of harsh quick fixes, the brand went back to basics—sulfur, one of skincare’s OG blemish-fighting ingredients—and gave it a 2025-worthy glow-up.
The result is the Sulfur 10% Powder-to-Cream Concentrate, a treatment designed to soothe, decongest, and mattify without compromising sensitive or reactive skin. Think less “spot cream you have to hide at home” and more “skin ally you actually want to keep on hand.” With its powder-to-cream format, clever capsule tech, and barrier-respecting formula, this isn’t just another product—it’s a mindset shift. One that’s pushing us away from the old-school “pop it, pick it, pray it heals” cycle, and toward a gentler, smarter way of caring for breakouts.
We sat down with The Ordinary to talk about how this innovation came to life, why sulfur deserved its comeback moment, and how the brand hopes to reshape the way we approach both skin and self-confidence when blemishes strike. Here’s how our conversation went:
What inspired The Ordinary to revisit sulfur—a time-tested ingredient—and modernise it with this powder-to-cream format?
We heard our community’s feedback on our offering for blemish prone-skin, and there was a clear gap when it came to spot treatments that are sensitive skin-friendly. Exploring sulfur became a no brainer, as it does a gentle yet great job of targeting pore congestion whilst also reducing the appearance of spot redness. The challenge when using sulfur in formulations really is its stability, as well as the high likelihood of the formation of sulfur-based compounds that give off an unpleasant odour. This colloidal sulfur-based, powder-to-cream format was our scientist’s ingenious approach to curb these challenges.
How does the Sulphur 10% Concentrate differ from traditional sulfur spot treatments in both formulation and skin impact?
In contrast to ingredients like salicylic acid, which works by helping to decongest pores, Sulfur primarily works by helping to soothe the appearance of spot redness, making it an ideal solution for those that require a gentler option. Additionally, we have developed a powder-to-cream format that contains the phase of the formulation where sulfur is dissolved inside small silica- and kaolin-based capsules, which not only supports the stability of the actives, but also helps to absorb excess oil and reduce shine.
Can you break down how this formula balances efficacy with skin-friendliness—especially for those prone to sensitivity or dryness?
The secret is in the sulfur. It truly is a powerhouse ingredient when it comes to targeting the look of blemishes, whilst being simultaneously extremely gentle. No tricks here, just good ingredients at an effective concentration, and in a stable, easy-to-apply format.
Why was a powder-to-cream delivery system the right call for this product, and how does it impact absorption and performance?
Absolutely. Sulfur is difficult to include in a formulation that does not immediately look like a thick paste. Our answer to this was to look beyond traditional formats, and powder-to-cream became the best option not only for the stability of the active, but also for ease and comfort of application. This formulation can be applied thinly, forming a near-invisible layer that also mattifies the area, and reduces the appearance of blemishes in as little as 1 hour.
'Pat It, Don’t Pop It' hints at a deeper behavioral shift—how does this product aim to reframe the way we emotionally respond to breakouts?
I believe that long are the days when people were incentivized to pick their skin and squeeze spots. Now customers are looking for products that help them reduce the appearance of breakouts without the inflammation and scarring associated with picking, and there are already many offers in the market, some more visible than others. When we created this formulation we wanted to harness the power of sulfur, in a versatile formulation that can be as visible or invisible as you’d like.
From a psychological perspective, why do we tend to pick our skin, and how does having a gentle, effective product on hand help break that habit?
Skin picking can happen for many reasons, from simple boredom to an obsessive-compulsive disorder. Each individual will have their own personal reason, and we don’t claim to help break this habit, but we do hope to offer some quick relief by both acting as a physical shield that discourages picking, and reducing the appearance of the blemish over time.
How does this sulfur concentrate fit into a routine for someone who isn’t acne-prone but gets occasional hormonal or stress-related breakouts? Is it only used as a spot treatment?
This formulation is meant to be used as a spot treatment, applied directly to breakouts. It can be used by those who are blemish-prome, and also by those that have occasional blemishes.
With skincare becoming more customizable, how does this product encourage intuitive, needs-based application rather than blanket solutions?
Spot treatments are in essence a specialized product, meant to be applied exclusively to a blemish, rather than all over the face. If I think back to my first skincare products, a spot treatment was the first specialized, need-based product I ever purchased. Our product isn’t the first spot treatment, and it won’t be the least, but it is an innovative and incredibly fast acting formulation that I wish I had access to during my youth!
In a sea of harsh treatments and quick fixes, how is The Ordinary using this launch to advocate for long-term skin health and barrier respect?
The Ordinary offers a variety of treatments with varying strengths, from gentle barrier strengthening products like our Soothing & Barrier Support Serum, to powerful exfoliating formulations like our AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution. This is to say that we definitely don’t shy away from powerful products, for those who seek them and benefit from them based on their skin’s condition and tolerance. However, we understand that many individuals’ skin is sensitive, and requires a gentler approach. When formulating our Sulfur 10% Powder-To-Cream Concentrate we wanted to create a spot treatment that catered specifically to the sensitive skin user.
How does this product reflect The Ordinary’s evolving approach to acne care—and what kind of skincare culture is the brand hoping to foster next?
We have always wanted to foster a need-based skincare culture, where each individual is able to target their own individual concerns by selecting products that work for them, rather than what’s trending. With this formulation, we truly wanted to create a gentle option for those with sensitive, blemish-prone skin, that still delivered powerful results. While many benefit from exfoliating acids to target the look of blemishes, some don’t, and we wanted to ensure that every consumer found a product that met their needs.
