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The Ordinary vs Dermalogica

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

The Ordinary and Dermalogica are well-regarded skincare brands offering versatile serums, nourishing moisturizers, gentle cleansers, and targeted treatments built around foundational ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane or salicylic acid. The Canadian line relies on straightforward, science-backed actives that suit sensitive skin, combination skin, acne-prone skin, and mature needs, while the American brand delivers sophisticated formulations specifically designed to balance oily and combination complexions through products such as the Daily Microfoliant and Precleanse. Ultimately, the two diverge in their formulation philosophy, offering distinct approaches to hydration, barrier support, and targeted skin concerns.

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

glossy.coen.wikipedia.org

Dermalogica is an American skincare brand founded in 1986 and owned by Unilever since 2015.

en.wikipedia.orgcosmeticsbusiness.com

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

Popular The Ordinary vs Dermalogica products

People Say

The OrdinaryDermalogica
  • Value and pricing 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%”
    • “little goes a long way — Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel”
  • Hydration and plumping Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Saved my dry skin — Dermalogica Super Rich Repair”
    • “super hydrating — Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Recovery Masque”
    • “skin feels hydrated — Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Balance”
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Skin texture smoothing 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 smooth as silk — Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant”
  • Gentle and non-irritating Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “gentle enough for daily use — Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant”
    • “doesn't strip skin — Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel”
    • “helps calm and nourish my skin — Dermalogica Stabilizing Repair Cream”
    • “Leaves my face feeling soft and not tight at all. — The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser”
  • Lightweight absorption Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “blends seamlessly — Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF 50”
    • “Absorbs quickly... not greasy — Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream”
    • “Sinks in beautifully — Dermalogica Super Rich Repair”
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
  • Acne clearing and blemish control Often MentionedRarely 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”
    • “doesn't clog pores — Dermalogica Active Moist”
  • High price point Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Expensive for Ordinary — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
    • “hefty price tag — Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant”
  • Unpleasant scent Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Smells like vinegar — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
    • “smell is unbearable — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “has a slight chemical smell — The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA”
    • “smells like puke — Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant”
  • Stinging and irritation Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “burns immediately — Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Recovery Masque”
    • “caused severe peeling — Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant”
    • “Prickle sensation — Dermalogica Blackhead Clearing Fizz Mask”
    • “stings a little but worth it — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
  • Breakouts and skin reactions 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”
    • “Cystic acne flare-ups — Dermalogica Precleanse”

The Ordinary vs Dermalogica routines for dry skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · AED 542.90 · 89% fitBuy Dermalogica routine · AED 2,091.38 · 85% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

The Ordinary vs Dermalogica routines for oily skin

Buy Dermalogica routine · AED 1,772.79 · 92% fitBuy The Ordinary routine · AED 833.82 · 91% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

The Ordinary vs Dermalogica routines for combination skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · AED 712.46 · 92% fitBuy Dermalogica routine · AED 1,888.85 · 91% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Dermalogica: which is better?

Both The Ordinary and Dermalogica are great brands, with The Ordinary offering better value and pricing while Dermalogica excels in intense hydration.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Dermalogica?

The Ordinary offers better value and prices for the products on this page, whereas Dermalogica provides more intense hydration and soothing care. Reviewers note that The Ordinary is ideal for acne clearing and texture smoothing, while Dermalogica is praised for lightweight absorption and gentle formulas.

The Ordinary or Dermalogica for dry skin?

Both The Ordinary and Dermalogica are a great match for dry skin, as the products on this page offer equal High routine fit levels for this skin type.

The Ordinary or Dermalogica: which cleanser is better?

Both The Ordinary and Dermalogica offer highly rated cleansers on the products on this page, but Dermalogica is often noted for gentle, non-stripping cleansers while The Ordinary provides great value alternatives.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Dermalogica?

The Ordinary is more affordable than Dermalogica, with value and pricing being an area where reviewers say The Ordinary does better.

The Ordinary or Dermalogica for oily skin?

Both The Ordinary and Dermalogica offer a Superior routine fit level for oily skin. The products on this page help balance sebum and refine skin texture without adding unnecessary heaviness.

The Ordinary or Dermalogica: which moisturizer is better?

Both The Ordinary and Dermalogica offer moisturizers that provide high or superior fit levels for various skin types, with Dermalogica standing out for intense hydration and soothing benefits. Niacinamide and hyaluronic acid are key ingredients featured across their products that help improve skin quality and manage pigmentation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Dermalogica for sensitive skin?

The Ordinary is a better fit for sensitive skin, as Lovi rates its routine as Superior compared to Dermalogica's High level.

The Ordinary or Dermalogica for acne-prone skin?

Both The Ordinary and Dermalogica offer products that fit acne-prone skin well, with equal routine fit levels. Reviewers mention that acne-clearing and blemish control are areas where The Ordinary does better, while Dermalogica is noted for being gentle and non-irritating.

The Ordinary or Dermalogica for mature skin?

The Ordinary is better suited for mature skin because Lovi rates its routine as Superior for this skin type, whereas Dermalogica's routine fit is High.

The Ordinary or Dermalogica for skin with dark spots?

The Ordinary is a better choice for skin with dark spots because Lovi rates its overall routine fit for this concern as Superior, compared to High for Dermalogica.

The Ordinary or Dermalogica for oily acne-prone skin?

Both The Ordinary and Dermalogica are a great match for oily acne-prone skin, with Dermalogica reaching a Superior Lovi fit level and The Ordinary reaching a High fit level. Review themes show that The Ordinary excels at acne clearing and blemish control, while Dermalogica stands out for its lightweight absorption.

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

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