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The Ordinary vs Biore

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

The Ordinary and Biore are two distinct skincare lines tailored to different daily needs. The Canadian brand centers on serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and toners featuring hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane, whereas the Japanese brand offers sunscreens, cleansers, masks, and makeup removers built on balanced formulas. Both options suit dry and sensitive skin, while also addressing acne-prone, dark spot, and mature concerns through specialized items like Niacinamide, UV Aqua Rich, and charcoal cleansers. Ultimately, the former relies on targeted ingredient research for wrinkle, hydration, and collagen support, while the latter delivers gentle, reliable care for everyday routines.

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

glossy.coen.wikipedia.org

Biore is a Japanese skincare brand founded in 1980 and owned by Kao Corporation.

biore.comkao.com

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

Popular The Ordinary vs Biore products

People Say

The OrdinaryBiore
  • High protection and application Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “Gets the gunk out — Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips”
    • “Face feels squeaky clean — Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser”
    • “SPF 50+ PA++++ — Biore UV Aqua Rich”
  • Redness and acne reduction Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “calms down the redness immediately — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “glass skin effect — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “pimples disappear within a day — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
    • “Helped clear my blackheads — Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser”
  • Great value and pricing Mostly MentionedNot 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%”
  • Hydration and plumping Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
    • “Leaves my face feeling soft and not tight at all. — The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser”
    • “Finally a cleanser that doesn't sting my face. — The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser”
    • “feels like a moisturizer — Biore UV Aqua Rich”
  • Gentle application Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Minimal effort required — Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips”
    • “No greasy film, leaves skin fresh, rinses easily. — Biore Makeup Remover Perfect Oil”
    • “Works in shower, effective on wet hands/face. — Biore Makeup Remover Perfect Oil”
    • “no irritation at all — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Makeup compatibility Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “primer-like — Biore UV Aqua Rich”
    • “Removes waterproof mascara, eyeliner, foundation. — Biore Makeup Remover Perfect Oil”
    • “Makeup sits beautifully on top — The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA”
  • Stinging and irritation Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “irritated AF the next day — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
    • “stings a little but worth it — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
    • “Skin felt tight an hour later — The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA”
    • “Made my skin peel — Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser”
  • Texture and pilling issues Mostly MentionedRarely Noted
    • “Too liquidy, thin consistency, messy application. — Biore Makeup Remover Perfect Oil”
    • “crumbles and piles under moisturizer — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
  • 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 alcohol — Biore UV Aqua Rich”
  • 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”
    • “caused cystic acne — Biore UV Aqua Rich”
    • “Caused breakouts, closed comedones, cystic acne. — Biore Makeup Remover Perfect Oil”

The Ordinary vs Biore routines for dry skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · A$192.91 · 96% fitBuy Biore routine · A$214.43 · 92% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

The Ordinary vs Biore routines for oily skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · A$285.78 · 92% fitBuy Biore routine · A$378.72 · 91% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

The Ordinary vs Biore routines for combination skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · A$219.69 · 91% fitBuy Biore routine · A$371.64 · 90% fitSee multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Biore: which is better?

The Ordinary is generally better for redness, acne, and hydration, while Biore is preferred for sun protection, gentle application, and makeup compatibility. Both brands offer products on this page that achieve equal routine fit levels for dry, oily, combination, sensitive, and mature skin.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Biore?

The Ordinary offers a large range of specialized serums and treatments focused on redness, dark spots, and value, whereas Biore provides fewer targeted cleansing and sun protection products with advantages in makeup compatibility and high protection. Hyaluronic acid helps improve skin quality and signs of aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Biore for dry skin?

Both The Ordinary and Biore fit dry skin equally well, as Lovi rates their routines for dry skin as Superior. The products on this page from The Ordinary provide key ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane to help hydrate and plump the skin.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Biore: which cleanser is better?

Both The Ordinary and Biore offer cleansers on this page that fit different skin types well, with The Ordinary providing options like Glycolipid Cream Cleanser and Glucoside Foaming Cleanser suited for dry and oily skin, while Biore offers Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser and Makeup Remover Perfect Oil. Reviewers note that Biore cleansers may provide gentle application, whereas the products on this page for The Ordinary help with a range of concerns.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Biore?

The Ordinary does better for great value and pricing than Biore.

Which brand has been around longer, The Ordinary or Biore?

Biore has been around longer, having been founded in Japan in 1980, whereas The Ordinary was founded in Canada in 2016.

Do products from The Ordinary and Biore contain fragrance?

Both The Ordinary and Biore products on this page list no fragrance in their ingredients. Every single product from both brands is formulated without fragrance.

Which brand performs better for redness and acne reduction?

The Ordinary performs better than Biore for redness and acne reduction. The products on this page help target these concerns effectively.

The Ordinary or Biore for oily skin?

Both The Ordinary and Biore fit oily skin at a Superior routine fit level. The Ordinary offers products on this page that help with oil control and acne reduction, whereas Biore provides high protection and gentle application.

The Ordinary or Biore for sensitive skin?

Both The Ordinary and Biore fit sensitive skin well. The Ordinary offers fragrance-free serums and moisturizers that help soothe sensitive skin, while Biore provides gentle application and makeup compatibility.

The Ordinary or Biore for acne-prone skin?

For acne-prone skin, Biore is the better choice as it has a superior routine fit compared to The Ordinary, which has a high fit. The products on this page help cleanse and care for the skin without added fragrance.

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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