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The Ordinary vs CeraVe

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

The Ordinary and CeraVe are two prominent skincare brands known for offering thoughtful arrays of serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and more, built around key ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin. The Canadian brand centers its formulations on squalane alongside hyaluronic acid and glycerin to suit dry skin and dry sensitive skin best, while the American brand relies on its hydrating and gentle properties to suit dry skin and acne-prone skin best. Although both companies feature products for specific concerns like dark spots, acne, and mature skin, they differ in their targeted offerings, such as the former providing specialized acids and the latter providing standout treatments like the Foaming Facial Cleanser.

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

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CeraVe is an American skincare brand founded in 2005 and owned by L'Oréal since 2017.

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

Popular The Ordinary vs CeraVe products

People Say

The OrdinaryCeraVe
  • Gentle and safe for sensitive skin Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “doesn't leave face tight — CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser”
    • “no burning sensation — CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum”
    • “no redness after washing — CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser”
    • “Leaves my face feeling soft and not tight at all. — The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser”
  • Great value and affordable price 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%”
    • “reasonably priced — CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser”
  • Improves skin texture and smoothness Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “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%”
    • “difference in my skin's texture is noticeable — CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser”
  • Lightweight and non-greasy finish Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Absorbs into skin without residue — CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “Sinks right into your skin — CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “Sinks in immediately — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA”
  • Clears acne and fades dark spots Mostly MentionedSometimes 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”
    • “lightened dark spots — CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum”
  • Deep hydration and moisture Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Saved my dry winter skin — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “woke up with plump skin — CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream”
    • “cured my dry patches — CeraVe Eye Repair Cream”
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Skin irritation, stinging, and burning Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Stung my raw skin — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “burns my damaged skin — CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser”
    • “Face feels like it's on fire — CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “irritated AF the next day — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
  • Sticky or heavy residue finish Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “too sticky — CeraVe Healing Ointment”
    • “hard to spread — CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream”
    • “left a sticky film — CeraVe Hydrating Toner”
    • “feels very sticky — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Pilling and makeup application struggles Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “doesn't take off mascara — CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser”
    • “pills and rolls — CeraVe Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum”
    • “doesn't remove mascara — CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser”
    • “crumbles and piles under moisturizer — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”

The Ordinary vs CeraVe routines for dry skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · A$192.91 · 96% fitBuy CeraVe routine · A$226.69 · 89% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

The Ordinary vs CeraVe routines for oily skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · A$285.78 · 92% fitBuy CeraVe routine · A$392.56 · 82% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

The Ordinary vs CeraVe routines for combination skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · A$219.69 · 91% fitBuy CeraVe routine · A$347.16 · 85% fitSee multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or CeraVe: which is better?

The Ordinary offers a superior routine fit for dry skin compared to CeraVe. Reviewers find that The Ordinary provides great value and affordable price, while CeraVe is known for deep hydration and moisture.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and CeraVe?

The Ordinary offers superior value and targets texture and dark spots, while CeraVe delivers deep hydration and lightweight, non-greasy moisture with gentle cleansers. The products on this page for both brands contain no fragrance.

The Ordinary or CeraVe for dry skin?

Both The Ordinary and CeraVe work well for dry skin, though Lovi rates The Ordinary as Superior and CeraVe as High for this skin type. The Ordinary is noted for improving skin texture and offering great value, while CeraVe is praised for providing deep hydration and lightweight moisture.

The Ordinary or CeraVe: which cleanser is better?

When it comes to cleansers on this page, CeraVe is better known for its gentle, non-stripping formulas and effective acne-clearing options like the Blemish Control Cleanser, while The Ordinary offers great value with choices like the Glycolipid Cream Cleanser.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or CeraVe?

The Ordinary is more affordable, as reviewers on the products on this page frequently mention the brand for its great value and affordable price.

Between The Ordinary and CeraVe, which brand is better for improving skin texture and smoothness?

The Ordinary does better for improving skin texture and smoothness based on the products on this page. Reviewers often mention its texture-smoothing serums as a key benefit.

Which brand has more complaints regarding pilling and makeup application struggles, The Ordinary or CeraVe?

CeraVe has more complaints regarding pilling and makeup application struggles compared to The Ordinary, as reviewers sometimes note issues with pilling and makeup application struggles for CeraVe.

How do the founding years and corporate parent companies of The Ordinary and CeraVe compare?

The Ordinary was founded in 2016 in Canada and is owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. CeraVe was founded in 2005 in the United States and is owned by L'Oréal.

The Ordinary or CeraVe for oily skin?

For oily skin, The Ordinary has a Superior routine fit, while CeraVe has a High routine fit. Reviewers note that niacinamide helps control oil and clear acne.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

The Ordinary or CeraVe: which moisturizer is better?

The products on this page from both The Ordinary and CeraVe offer moisturizers that deliver deep hydration and barrier support. The Ordinary features options like Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA which has a Superior fit for dry skin, while CeraVe offers options like the PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion with a Superior fit for dry skin.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015

The Ordinary or CeraVe for sensitive skin?

The Ordinary is a Superior fit for sensitive skin on Lovi, while CeraVe is a High fit. The products on this page list no fragrance in their ingredients.

The Ordinary or CeraVe for acne-prone skin?

Both The Ordinary and CeraVe provide an equal high routine fit level for acne-prone skin. The Ordinary offers targeted acne-clearing and dark spot fading serums on this page, while CeraVe features effective cleansers and moisturizers for oil and acne control.

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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