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The Ordinary vs Pixi

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

The Ordinary and Pixi are accessible skincare brands that offer targeted daily products to support diverse complexions. The Ordinary features serums, moisturizers, cleansers, toners, and more, built around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane, making it best suited for dry and dry sensitive skin. Meanwhile, the British brand is beloved for its thoughtful range of toners, serums, eye products, and moisturizers crafted with gentle and effective formulas that suit oily and sensitive skin best. While both deliver reliable results for a calm, radiant complexion, they differ in their core ingredients and primary skin compatibility.

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

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Pixi is a British skincare brand founded in 1999.

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

Popular The Ordinary vs Pixi products

People Say

The OrdinaryPixi
  • Hydration and plumping Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Instant surge of hydration — Pixi Hydrating Milky Mist”
    • “deeply hydrates and balances — Pixi Antioxidant Tonic”
    • “leaves under-eyes super soft — Pixi DetoxifEYE Depuffing Eye Patches”
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • 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 feels incredible, so smooth — Pixi Glow Peel Pads”
    • “forehead bumps gone — Pixi Glow Tonic”
  • 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%”
  • Instant glow and radiance Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “gives instant glow — Pixi Glow Tonic”
    • “Skin is noticeably brighter — Pixi Glow Peel Pads”
    • “healthy radiance — Pixi Glow Mist”
    • “tight, bright and shiny — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
  • Lightweight absorption Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Absorbs fairly quickly into the skin. — Pixi Vitamin-C Serum”
    • “unique gel-like texture — Pixi Antioxidant Tonic”
    • “absorbs really fast — Pixi Rose Oil Blend”
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
  • Redness reduction and soothing Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “calms down the redness immediately — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “deflates morning bags — The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG”
    • “instantly cooling upon application — Pixi DetoxifEYE Depuffing Eye Patches”
    • “calms my redness instantly — Pixi Rose Tonic”
  • Sticky or tacky finish and residue Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “feels very sticky — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
    • “feels very sticky — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
    • “too greasy — Pixi Glow Mist”
    • “slightly tacky to touch — Pixi Antioxidant Tonic”
  • Unpleasant or strong 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”
    • “smell is overpowering — Pixi Glow Tonic”
  • Skin stinging, burning, and irritation Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Massive burning sensation — Pixi Glow Peel Pads”
    • “burned my face — Pixi Glow Tonic”
    • “Not for those with super-sensitive skin — Pixi Glow Peel Pads”
    • “stings a little but worth it — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
  • Makeup pilling and compatibility issues Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “separates foundation — Pixi Glow Mist”
    • “It doesn't work with my makeup at all. — Pixi Vitamin-C Serum”
    • “crumbles and piles under moisturizer — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”

The Ordinary vs Pixi routines for dry skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · A$192.91 · 96% fitBuy Pixi routine · A$284.74 · 94% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

The Ordinary vs Pixi routines for oily skin

Buy Pixi routine · A$463.41 · 95% fitBuy The Ordinary routine · A$285.78 · 92% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

The Ordinary vs Pixi routines for combination skin

Buy Pixi routine · A$445.60 · 92% fitBuy The Ordinary routine · A$219.69 · 91% fitSee multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Pixi: which is better?

Both The Ordinary and Pixi offer superior routines for most skin types, with Pixi standing out for instant glow, hydration, and lightweight absorption, while The Ordinary is known for great value and affordable serums. Reviewers note that Pixi may carry a strong fragrance and sometimes cause skin irritation, whereas The Ordinary products on this page list no fragrance.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Pixi?

The Ordinary offers exceptional value with affordable serums, while Pixi provides lightweight hydration and instant radiance. Pixi has a superior fit for acne-prone skin and oily acne-prone skin on the products on this page, though some of its products may cause skin stinging and irritation.

The Ordinary or Pixi for dry skin?

Both The Ordinary and Pixi offer a Superior routine fit for dry skin. The Ordinary features fragrance-free formulas, whereas 3 of the 10 Pixi products on this page list fragrance in their ingredients.

The Ordinary or Pixi: which moisturizer is better?

Both The Ordinary and Pixi offer great moisturizers, with products on this page for both brands providing deep hydration and lasting comfort for dry skin. The Ordinary features a range of fragrance-free hydrators like Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA, while Pixi provides options such as the Rose Oil Blend that helps deliver nourishment and a radiant glow.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Pixi?

The Ordinary offers better value than Pixi, with great-value serums that reviewers frequently praise for being affordable. Pixi is not noted for budget pricing on this page.

Which brand has more fragrance-free products, The Ordinary or Pixi?

The Ordinary offers more fragrance-free products, as every single product on its page lists no fragrance in its ingredients. In comparison, 7 of the 10 Pixi products on this page list no fragrance, while the remaining 3 include fragrance.

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

Pixi has been around longer, having been founded in the United Kingdom in 1999, whereas The Ordinary was founded in Canada in 2016.

The Ordinary or Pixi for oily skin?

Both The Ordinary and Pixi offer a superior routine fit for oily skin. Reviewers note that Pixi stands out for hydration and instant glow, while The Ordinary provides great value and pricing.

The Ordinary or Pixi for sensitive skin?

Both The Ordinary and Pixi offer a Superior routine fit for sensitive skin. However, Pixi has 3 out of 10 products with fragrance, whereas The Ordinary lists no fragrance across the products on this page.

The Ordinary or Pixi for acne-prone skin?

Pixi offers a Superior routine fit for acne-prone skin, while The Ordinary has a High fit level on this page. Pixi provides brightening serums and lightweight toners that help improve skin clarity.

The Ordinary or Pixi for mature skin?

Both The Ordinary and Pixi offer a Superior Lovi fit level for mature skin. Reviewers note that Pixi stands out for instant glow and radiance, while The Ordinary provides great value and pricing.

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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