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The Ordinary vs Simple

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

The Ordinary and Simple are prominent skincare brands offering diverse serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and toners built around ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane. The Canadian brand fits sensitive and combination skin best with targeted options for acne, dark spots, and mature concerns, while the British brand suits oily and acne-prone skin through gentle formulations addressing similar issues. Ultimately, both differ in their regional origins, founding years, ownership structures, and specific ingredient profiles despite their shared focus on hydration and barrier support.

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

glossy.coen.wikipedia.org

Simple is a British skincare brand founded in 1960 and owned by Unilever PLC since 2011.

en.wikipedia.orgsec.govprnewswire.comsimple.co.uk

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

Popular The Ordinary vs Simple products

People Say

The OrdinarySimple
  • Great value and affordability Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “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%”
    • “great value for money — Simple Kind to Skin Soothing Facial Toner”
  • Good for sensitive skin Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Does not cause any form of irritation on the skin which I love. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “The only cleanser that doesn't turn my face red. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “no artificial perfume — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “Finally a cleanser that doesn't sting my face. — The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser”
  • Lightweight absorption Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “sinks in instantly — Simple Water Boost Hydrating Gel Cream”
    • “absorbs very quickly — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “absorbs really well — Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturiser”
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
  • Hydration and plumping Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “banished dryness within days — Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturiser”
    • “cleared up my dry patches — Simple Water Boost Hydrating Gel Cream”
    • “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”
  • Smoothes skin texture Often MentionedNot 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%”
  • Breakouts and purging Sometimes 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”
    • “Gave me tiny bumps on my forehead. — Simple Micellar Water”
  • Insufficient moisture Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Skin felt tight an hour later — The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA”
    • “not moisturizing enough — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
  • Struggles with waterproof makeup Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “Did not remove my mascara very well at all. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
  • Sticky or tacky finish Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “leaves a tacky film — Simple Kind to Skin Soothing Facial Toner”
    • “feels very sticky — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”

The Ordinary vs Simple routines for dry skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · AED 542.90 · 89% fitBuy Simple routine · AED 455.14 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

The Ordinary vs Simple routines for oily skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · AED 833.82 · 91% fitBuy Simple routine · AED 790.31 · 88% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

The Ordinary vs Simple routines for combination skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · AED 712.46 · 92% fitBuy Simple routine · AED 644.67 · 85% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Simple: which is better?

The Ordinary fits skin with dark spots and combination skin with a Superior Lovi level, whereas Simple reaches a High level for these skin types. The products on this page help target concerns like texture and dark spots with ingredients such as niacinamide and hyaluronic acid.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Simple?

The Ordinary offers superior value and effectiveness for clearing blemishes and smoothing texture, while Simple is often praised for being gentle and lightweight on sensitive skin. Lovi rates The Ordinary as superior for sensitive, combination, and dark-spot skin, whereas Simple fits those skin types at a high level.

The Ordinary or Simple for dry skin?

Both The Ordinary and Simple fit dry skin well, with Lovi rating The Ordinary as Superior and Simple as High for this skin type. The Ordinary helps with its effective hydrating serums, while Simple may be chosen for its lightweight, value-friendly moisturizers.

The Ordinary or Simple: which cleanser is better?

The Ordinary offers a better cleanser range on this page, with the Glucoside Foaming Cleanser and Glycolipid Cream Cleanser achieving a High fit for dry skin, compared to Simple's Refreshing Facial Wash which is rated Low for dry skin. Reviewers also note that The Ordinary provides great value and affordability for cleansers.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Simple?

The Ordinary is more affordable, as the products on this page offer great value and affordability compared to Simple. Reviewers note that The Ordinary provides budget-friendly serums, making it the better choice for shoppers looking to save money.

Which brand is better for sensitive skin, The Ordinary or Simple?

Lovi rates The Ordinary as Superior for sensitive skin, while Simple is rated High. Reviewers note that Simple is good for sensitive skin, and both brands list no fragrance in their products on this page.

How do the founding years and corporate owners of The Ordinary and Simple compare?

The Ordinary was founded in 2016 in Canada and has been owned by The Estie Lauder Companies Inc. since 2021. In contrast, Simple was founded earlier in 1960 in the United Kingdom and is owned by Unilever PLC.

Which brand performs better for hydration and plumping?

Simple performs better for hydration and plumping based on shopper reviews. Hyaluronic acid helps bind moisture to the skin, and topical hyaluronic acid improves skin quality and signs of aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Simple for oily skin?

The Ordinary is Superior for oily skin, whereas Simple reaches a High fit level on this page. Niacinamide helps control skin aging and pigmentation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

The Ordinary or Simple: which moisturizer is better?

The Ordinary offers a Superior fit for dry skin through its Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA and Natural Moisturizing Factors + Beta Glucan moisturizers, whereas Simple features moisturizers with an Average fit. Hyaluronic acid helps improve skin hydration and anti-aging signs.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Simple for sensitive skin?

Lovi finds that The Ordinary has a Superior fit for sensitive skin, while Simple has a High fit. Reviewers say that Simple is good for sensitive skin, whereas The Ordinary offers great value and affordability.

The Ordinary or Simple for acne-prone skin?

For acne-prone skin, both brands offer products on this page with a High Lovi fit level, while The Ordinary is noted as doing better for clearing acne and blemishes. The Ordinary features targeted acne-clearing serums and a Superior Lovi fit level for specific skin types, whereas Simple focuses on gentle formulations.

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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