🇦🇺Australia

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 accessible skincare brands that respectively offer targeted serums and gentle cleansers. The Canadian brand centers on hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane for dry skin, while the British brand relies on niacinamide and glycerin to suit acne-prone skin. Both brands differ in their formulation philosophy, with the former addressing specific concerns through active ingredients and the latter focusing on delicate barriers.

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 · A$192.91 · 96% fitBuy Simple routine · A$208.81 · 84% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

The Ordinary vs Simple routines for oily skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · A$285.78 · 92% fitBuy Simple routine · A$388.80 · 86% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

The Ordinary vs Simple routines for combination skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · A$219.69 · 91% fitBuy Simple routine · A$322.10 · 84% fitSee multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Simple: which is better?

Lovi finds that The Ordinary is better overall for clearing acne, smoothing texture, and targeting dark spots, whereas Simple is often noted for being good for sensitive skin and lightweight absorption. Hyaluronic acid helps maintain skin hydration and improve skin quality.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Simple?

The Ordinary is best for dry skin, while Simple fits acne-prone skin best. Lovi finds The Ordinary Superior for dry skin routines and Simple High.

The Ordinary or Simple for dry skin?

The Ordinary fits dry skin better with a Superior routine rating, compared to Simple which has a High routine rating. Topical hyaluronic acid, found across products on this page, helps improve skin hydration and signs of aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Simple: which cleanser is better?

The Ordinary is a better choice for cleansers because Lovi rates its cleansers at a Superior fit for dry skin and High fit for oily and combination skin, compared to Simple cleansers which rate lower for dry skin.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Simple?

The Ordinary offers better value and affordability for the products on this page compared to Simple.

Which brand is better for fading dark spots, The Ordinary or Simple?

The Ordinary is better for fading dark spots, as Lovi rates its dark-spot routine as Superior while Simple only reaches a High fit level. Furthermore, niacinamide helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation and suppresses melanosome transfer.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

Does The Ordinary or Simple offer better texture-smoothing serums?

The Ordinary offers better texture-smoothing serums because the products on this page smooth skin texture better than Simple. Lovi rates the routine fit for dry skin as Superior for The Ordinary and High for Simple.

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

Simple has been around longer, having been founded in the United Kingdom in 1960. In comparison, The Ordinary was founded later in Canada in 2016.

The Ordinary or Simple for sensitive skin?

The Ordinary has a Superior fit for sensitive skin, whereas Simple has a High fit. Reviewers note that Simple is good for sensitive skin, and Lovi rates The Ordinary as fitting sensitive skin best.

The Ordinary or Simple: which moisturizer is better?

The Ordinary offers superior moisturizer fit levels for dry skin with products like Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA, whereas Simple provides more lightweight hydration options across the products on this page.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Simple for acne-prone skin?

For acne-prone skin, both brands offer good options, as Lovi rates routine fit as High for both The Ordinary and Simple. The products on this page for The Ordinary feature targeted treatments like salicylic acid and niacinamide that help clear blemishes. Reviewers note that Simple provides gentle, sensitive-skin-friendly makeup removers.

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?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play