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The Ordinary vs Estée Lauder

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

The Ordinary and Estée Lauder are two skincare brands under the same parent company, offering diverse serums, moisturizers, and cleansers built around hyaluronic acid and glycerin. The Canadian brand centers its formulas on squalane, suiting sensitive and combination skin best, while the American brand delivers a comprehensive range that favors acne-prone and mature skin. Both brands differ in their founding eras and targeted routines, yet each relies on precise ingredients to support skin hydration and barrier function.

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

glossy.coen.wikipedia.org

Estée Lauder is an American skincare brand founded in 1946 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc..

en.wikipedia.orgelcompanies.com

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

Popular The Ordinary vs Estée Lauder products

People Say

The OrdinaryEstée Lauder
  • Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin drinks it up immediately — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair”
    • “The formula is incredibly hydrating and leaves my skin feeling smooth. — Estée Lauder Re-Nutriv”
    • “texture is dreamy — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Supercharged Gel-Creme”
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Texture and Pores Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “glass skin effect — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “pores look significantly smaller — The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
    • “skin feels like a baby's bottom — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair”
    • “silky smooth — Estée Lauder Micro Essence Treatment Lotion”
  • Value and Price Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “lasts forever — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “eliminated armpit odor — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “can't beat the price — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
  • Additional Benefits and Performance Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “never had any reaction to it with my sensitive skin — The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA”
    • “Nature's botox — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
    • “included SPF 15 is ideal for mild sun exposure — Estée Lauder DayWear Moisturizer”
    • “stronger — Estée Lauder Micro Essence Treatment Lotion”
  • Lightweight and Fast Absorbing Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA”
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
    • “Absorbs quickly into the skin — Estée Lauder Revitalizing Supreme+”
    • “watery — Estée Lauder Micro Essence Treatment Lotion”
  • Acne and Blemish Control 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”
  • High Price Point Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “way too expensive for the size — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair”
  • Inconsistent Results or Formula Issues Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “no change in pigment — The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG”
    • “Skin felt tight an hour later — The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA”
    • “didn't notice any difference — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair”
    • “just expensive water — Estée Lauder Micro Essence Treatment Lotion”
  • Pilling, Sticky, or Heavy Finish Mostly MentionedRarely Noted
    • “tacky film — Estée Lauder Micro Essence Treatment Lotion”
    • “Leaves a greasy film behind — Estée Lauder Take It Away Makeup Remover Lotion”
    • “crumbles and piles under moisturizer — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”

The Ordinary vs Estée Lauder routines for dry skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · AED 542.90 · 89% fitBuy Estée Lauder routine · AED 1,653.06 · 77% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

The Ordinary vs Estée Lauder routines for oily skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · AED 833.82 · 91% fitBuy Estée Lauder routine · AED 1,743.92 · 75% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

The Ordinary vs Estée Lauder routines for combination skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · AED 712.46 · 92% fitBuy Estée Lauder routine · AED 1,225.96 · 75% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Estée Lauder: which is better?

The Ordinary offers better value and superior performance for acne and blemish control across the products on this page, whereas Estée Lauder excels in deep hydration. Reviewers often note that The Ordinary provides affordable serums, while Estée Lauder features a high price point.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Estée Lauder?

The Ordinary stands out for its high value and affordability, whereas Estée Lauder is known for providing deep hydration. Both brands offer products on this page containing hyaluronic acid and glycerin.

The Ordinary or Estée Lauder for dry skin?

Both The Ordinary and Estée Lauder achieve a High fit for dry skin among the products on this page. However, reviewers highlight The Ordinary as better for value and price, while Estée Lauder excels in deep hydration.

The Ordinary or Estée Lauder: which cleanser is better?

The products on this page for The Ordinary offer a high to superior fit for cleansers like the Squalane Cleanser and Glucoside Foaming Cleanser, while Estée Lauder features options like the Advanced Night Cleansing Gelée. Reviewers say Estée Lauder cleansers provide gentle and non-drying cleansing, whereas The Ordinary products on this page provide great value.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Estée Lauder?

The Ordinary is more affordable, as reviewers on the products on this page frequently praise its affordable and great value serums. In contrast, Estée Lauder frequently receives complaints about its high price point.

Do The Ordinary products contain fragrance?

Every product on the products on this page for The Ordinary lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

The Ordinary or Estée Lauder for oily skin?

The Ordinary offers a Superior fit for oily skin, whereas Estée Lauder provides a High fit on this page. Reviewers report that The Ordinary is better for value and price as well as acne and blemish control.

The Ordinary or Estée Lauder: which moisturizer is better?

When comparing moisturizers, The Ordinary offers superior fit levels for dry skin with products like Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA, while Estée Lauder's moisturizers may provide deep hydration but often come with a high price point. The Ordinary products on this page list no fragrance, whereas certain Estée Lauder moisturizers contain fragrance. Hyaluronic acid helps improve skin moisture for both brands.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Estée Lauder for sensitive skin?

The Ordinary is a better fit for sensitive skin, offering a Superior routine level compared to Estée Lauder's High fit. The products on this page for The Ordinary are entirely fragrance-free, whereas some Estée Lauder items may contain added fragrance.

The Ordinary or Estée Lauder for acne-prone skin?

The Ordinary is a better choice for acne-prone skin because the products on this page achieve a Superior routine fit, whereas Estée Lauder only reaches a High fit level. Furthermore, reviewers note that The Ordinary offers better acne and blemish control.

The Ordinary or Estée Lauder for mature skin?

The Ordinary offers a Superior fit for mature skin, outperforming Estée Lauder which has a High fit level on the products on this page. Retinol helps improve naturally aged skin by stimulating collagen accumulation.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000Archives of Dermatology, 2007

The Ordinary or Estée Lauder for skin with dark spots?

The Ordinary is a better choice for skin with dark spots because the products on this page achieve a Superior fit level for this skin type compared to Estée Lauder's High fit level. Niacinamide may help reduce cutaneous pigmentation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

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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