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The Ordinary skincare

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

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

glossy.coen.wikipedia.org

The Ordinary's products on this page cover serums, moisturizers, cleansers, toners, and more, built around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane. The Ordinary products fit dry skin and dry sensitive skin best. For acne-prone skin, Lovi rates the Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% highest; for skin with dark spots, the Mandelic Acid 10% + HA; and for mature skin, the Lactic Acid 5% + HA. Its key ingredients: hyaluronic acid lengthens the duration of wrinkle reduction, glycerin significantly increases skin hydration and barrier function, and squalane increases epidermal thickness and collagen production.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Scientific Reports, 2020

This page covers some of the most popular The Ordinary products; for the whole The Ordinary range, with a fit score for every product, use the Lovi app.

The Ordinary serums and treatments

The Ordinary moisturizers

People Say

★4.4Overall rating based on 90.1k+ reviews

Reviewers most often praise The Ordinary for deep hydration, improved skin texture, and affordability. The most common complaints are pilling under makeup and skin irritation.

Highlights

  • Other praised benefits Mostly Mentioned
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
    • “glass skin effect — Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “lasts forever — Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
  • Texture-smoothing serums Often Mentioned
    • “skin feels baby butt smooth — AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
    • “skin looks smoother and brighter — Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “Glass skin effect — Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
  • Affordable and great value serums Often Mentioned
    • “can't beat the price — Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
    • “extremely affordable — Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
    • “great value for price — AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
  • Acne-clearing serums Often Mentioned
    • “pimples disappear within a day — Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
    • “scars and hormonal acne faded — Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “cleared up my cystic acne — Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
  • Gentle and non-irritating serums Often Mentioned
    • “never had any reaction to it with my sensitive skin — Mandelic Acid 10% + HA”
    • “Did not irritate my sensitive skin. — Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion”
    • “Gentle on sensitive skin — Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA”
  • Dark spot fading serums Often Mentioned
    • “scars lightened up quite a bit — AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
    • “Dark spots have faded noticeably — Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA”
    • “helped lighten post-acne scars — Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
  • Other complaints Often Mentioned
    • “no change in pigment — Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG”
    • “Struggles to get my waterproof mascara off completely. — Squalane Cleanser”
    • “Skin felt tight an hour later — Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA”
  • Sticky or tacky finishes Sometimes Noted
    • “feels very sticky — Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
    • “tacky residue — Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
    • “sits on top of the skin and does not absorb — Mandelic Acid 10% + HA”
  • Pilling issues Sometimes Noted
    • “crumbles and piles under moisturizer — Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “peels off like PVA glue — Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
    • “It will show pilling — Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA”

Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, sephora.co.uk, theordinary.com, influenster.com, lookfantastic.ie, and more

Other The Ordinary products

Questions and answers

Is The Ordinary good for dry skin?

Lovi rates The Ordinary High for dry skin. The Ordinary offers several intensely hydrating options, such as Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA, that help keep dry skin soft and smooth.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Is The Ordinary worth it?

The Ordinary is often considered worth it because reviewers frequently praise its affordable and great value serums. The The Ordinary products on this page are fragrance-free, and Lovi rates the brand High for dry skin, dry sensitive skin, and sensitive skin.

Which The Ordinary moisturizer is best for dry skin?

Lovi rates Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA as the best moisturizer for dry skin. Natural Moisturizing Factors + Beta Glucan and Natural Moisturizing Factors + PhytoCeramides also rate as Superior for dry skin.

Does The Ordinary cause breakouts?

The Ordinary is unlikely to cause breakouts, as the brand offers several acne-clearing serums and texture-smoothing serums that reviewers frequently praise for being gentle and non-irritating. Lovi rates the brand High for acne-prone skin, and all the The Ordinary products on this page are fragrance-free.

Is The Ordinary fragrance-free?

Yes, every one of the The Ordinary products on this page lists no fragrance in its ingredients. Reviewers often mention that these formulas are gentle and non-irritating for sensitive skin.

What are the key ingredients in The Ordinary products?

The key ingredients across the The Ordinary products on this page are hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane. Reviewers often mention that these products help keep skin soft and smooth while providing great value.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Drug Delivery, 2017

Where can I buy The Ordinary, and how much does it cost?

The Ordinary products on this page are available at stores in Australia. Prices range from A$9.50 to A$54.10, with most items costing between A$15.90 and A$24.60.

What are good alternatives to The Ordinary?

Good alternatives to The Ordinary include Skinfix, MAC, ILIA Beauty, AlumierMD, grace & stella, and Luna Nectar. These similar brands also have dedicated pages on Lovi for shoppers to explore.

Who owns The Ordinary, and where is it from?

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

glossy.coen.wikipedia.org

Is The Ordinary cruelty-free?

Yes: PETA lists The Ordinary as cruelty-free.

PETA

Is The Ordinary vegan?

Yes: PETA lists The Ordinary as a vegan company.

PETA

Is The Ordinary good for sensitive skin?

Yes, The Ordinary is a great match for sensitive skin, as Lovi rates sensitive skin high for the brand and the The Ordinary products on this page list no fragrance. Shoppers frequently mention that these serums are gentle and non-irritating.

Which The Ordinary cleanser is best for oily skin?

Glucoside Foaming Cleanser is the best choice, with Glycolipid Cream Cleanser also rating High for oily skin. Squalane Cleanser is another option on this page, though Lovi rates it Average for oily skin.

Research behind The Ordinary's key ingredients

Behind these ratings

Lovi rates every product from its 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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