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The Ordinary vs Clinique

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes · How the Fit score works

The Ordinary and Clinique are esteemed skincare brands owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. The Canadian brand offers serums, moisturizers, cleansers, toners, and more, built around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane, suiting sensitive skin and combination skin best. Conversely, the American brand is widely loved for its thoughtful range of moisturizers, serums, makeup removers, eye products, and more, incorporating hydrating hyaluronic acid, nourishing glycerin, and invigorating caffeine to suit dry sensitive skin and oily skin best. While both utilize hyaluronic acid and glycerin to reduce wrinkles and boost hydration and barrier function, they differ in their signature supporting ingredients and targeted solutions.

The Ordinary is a Canadian skincare brand founded in 2016 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 2021.

glossy.coen.wikipedia.org

Clinique is an American skincare brand founded in 1968 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc..

en.wikipedia.orgelcompanies.combusinesswire.comglossy.co

This page compares some of the most popular The Ordinary and Clinique products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular The Ordinary vs Clinique products

People Say

The OrdinaryClinique
  • Great value and price Mostly MentionedRarely Noted
    • “lasts forever — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “can't beat the price — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
    • “extremely affordable — The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
    • “lasts forever — Clinique all about clean”
  • Gentle and non-irritating Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “never irritated my eyes — Clinique All About Eyes”
    • “No stinging eyes — Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm”
    • “doesn't dry out — Clinique all about clean”
    • “Leaves my face feeling soft and not tight at all. — The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser”
  • Improves skin texture Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “glass skin effect — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “skin feels baby butt smooth — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
    • “skin looks smoother and brighter — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “skin feels silky smooth — Clinique Smart Clinical Repair Wrinkle Correcting Serum”
  • Lightweight absorption Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “sinks in immediately — Clinique moisture surge”
    • “sinks in instantly — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel”
    • “Absorbs quickly without feeling sticky — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+”
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
  • Hydration and plumping Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Keeps my dry patches at bay all day — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+”
    • “skin feels soft and smooth — Clinique Moisture Surge Overnight Mask”
    • “glass skin look — Clinique moisture surge”
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Clears acne and blemishes Often MentionedNot noted
    • “pimples disappear within a day — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
    • “scars and hormonal acne faded — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “faded dark spots — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
  • Pricey or expensive for brand Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Expensive for Ordinary — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
    • “jar is too small for the cost — Clinique moisture surge”
  • Sticky or tacky finish Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “feels sticky to the touch — Clinique moisture surge”
    • “feels a bit sticky — Clinique Moisture Surge Overnight Mask”
    • “feels very sticky — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Causes breakouts Rarely NotedSometimes Noted
    • “broke me out in cysts — The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
    • “broke me out in cysts — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
    • “gave me cystic acne — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “Woke up with whiteheads on my chin — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+”
  • Skin irritation and stinging Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “Face stung and became red — Clinique Clarifying Lotion 2”
    • “irritated AF the next day — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”

The Ordinary vs Clinique routines for dry skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · AED 542.90 · 89% fitBuy Clinique routine · AED 1,605.23 · 66% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

The Ordinary vs Clinique routines for oily skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · AED 833.82 · 91% fitBuy Clinique routine · AED 1,002.51 · 79% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

The Ordinary vs Clinique routines for combination skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · AED 712.46 · 92% fitBuy Clinique routine · AED 790.89 · 72% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Clinique: which is better?

The Ordinary offers better value and texture improvement, whereas Clinique provides lighter absorption and deeper hydration. Lovi gives The Ordinary superior fit ratings for sensitive, combination, and dark spot skin types, while Clinique fits dry sensitive and oily skin best.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Clinique?

The Ordinary offers budget-friendly skincare with strong value and texture-improving serums, while Clinique specializes in lightweight, deeply hydrating moisturizers that tend to be pricier. Hyaluronic acid helps retain moisture in both brands, and squalane supports skin barrier health.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Molecules, 2009

The Ordinary or Clinique for dry skin?

The Ordinary provides a High routine fit for dry skin, while Clinique offers an Average fit. The Ordinary features hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane across the products on this page.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Molecules, 2009

The Ordinary or Clinique: which cleanser is better?

Both The Ordinary and Clinique offer effective options, but The Ordinary fits more skin types well on the products on this page. Reviewers note that Clinique provides gentle and effective cleansers, while The Ordinary offers great value.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Clinique?

The Ordinary is more affordable than Clinique, as the products on this page are widely praised by reviewers for offering great value and price.

Which brand is better for improving skin texture, The Ordinary or Clinique?

The Ordinary is better for improving skin texture, offering affordable texture-smoothing serums that reviewers frequently praise. Clinique focuses more on lightweight absorption and hydration.

Does The Ordinary or Clinique provide better hydration and plumping benefits?

Clinique provides better hydration and plumping benefits compared to The Ordinary. Hyaluronic acid helps bind moisture to the skin to improve hydration.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Drug Delivery, 2017

Which brand performs better for mature skin routines, The Ordinary or Clinique?

The Ordinary performs better for mature skin routines, achieving a Superior fit level compared to Clinique's High fit level. Reviewers on the page report that The Ordinary offers great value and helps improve skin texture.

The Ordinary or Clinique for oily skin?

The Ordinary offers a Superior fit for oily skin, whereas Clinique achieves a High fit level for this skin type. The Ordinary products on this page feature key ingredients like niacinamide, which helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

The Ordinary or Clinique: which moisturizer is better?

When comparing moisturizers on this page, The Ordinary is a better fit for dry skin, as its Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA and similar options reach a Superior fit level compared to Clinique's average rating. Hyaluronic acid, a key ingredient found in the products on this page, helps improve skin hydration and moisture retention.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Clinique for sensitive skin?

The Ordinary fits sensitive skin better than Clinique, with a Superior routine fit compared to a High fit for Clinique. Both brands list no fragrance in the products on this page.

The Ordinary or Clinique for acne-prone skin?

The Ordinary is a better choice for acne-prone skin, offering superior or high fit levels across its acne-focused products on this page compared to Clinique's average fit. Reviewers specifically highlight The Ordinary for clearing acne and blemishes, while its formulations help manage breakouts effectively.

Research behind their key ingredients

Behind this comparison

Lovi compares products by their fit scores, calculated from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

How does it fit your skin?

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