🇨🇦Canada

The Ordinary vs KORRES

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

The Ordinary and KORRES are two distinct skincare lines offering targeted solutions for various complexions. The Ordinary features science-driven serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and toners built around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane, suiting dry and dry sensitive skin best, while the brand excels in active formulations for specific concerns like acne-prone, dark spot, and mature skin. Conversely, KORRES is widely loved for its thoughtful moisturizers and gentle cleansers drawing on botanical formulas, which suit dry, sensitive, normal, and combination skin best. While both cater to overlapping skin types, they differ fundamentally as the Canadian brand focuses on clinical, single-ingredient potency and the botanical line emphasizes natural heritage.

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

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

Popular The Ordinary vs KORRES products

People Say

The OrdinaryKORRES
  • Great value and affordability 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%”
  • Skin texture smoothing Often MentionedSometimes 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%”
    • “skin feels baby soft — KORRES Santorini Grape Poreless Skin Cream”
  • Lightweight absorption and texture Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “absorbs instantly — KORRES Santorini Grape Poreless Skin Cream”
    • “rich... without being greasy — KORRES Bounce Firming Moisturizer”
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
  • Gentle and non-irritating Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “never had any reaction to it with my sensitive skin — The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA”
    • “Leaves my face feeling soft and not tight at all. — The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser”
    • “No irritation at all — The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA”
    • “leaves face soft and smooth — KORRES Greek Yoghurt Foaming Cream Cleanser”
  • Creamy and rich texture Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “feels like velvet — KORRES Velvet Skin Drink”
    • “Luxurious foam — KORRES Foaming Cream Cleanser”
    • “creamy and luxurious feel — KORRES Greek Yoghurt Foaming Cream Cleanser”
  • Hydration and plumping Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “saved my dry skin — KORRES Velvet Skin Drink”
    • “extremely moisturizing — KORRES Bounce Firming Moisturizer”
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Unique or small packaging and sizes Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “The 50ml tube runs out way too fast. — The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser”
    • “Annoying that you have to rub it in hands for 10-20 seconds first. — The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser”
    • “Wish it came in a pump — The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA”
    • “Needs a pump — KORRES Foaming Cream Cleanser”
  • Makeup application and pilling issues Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “pills under makeup — KORRES Velvet Skin Drink”
    • “crumbles and piles under moisturizer — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
  • Unpleasant or polarizing scent Rarely NotedSometimes Noted
    • “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 babies — KORRES Greek Yoghurt Foaming Cream Cleanser”

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or KORRES: which is better?

The Ordinary is generally better for budget-friendly routines and fragrance-free formulas, while KORRES is often preferred for richer textures and lightweight hydration. Every product on The Ordinary page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, whereas all products on the KORRES page include fragrance.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and KORRES?

The Ordinary offers affordable, fragrance-free products that reviewers praise for value, texture smoothing, and gentleness, fitting dry, dry sensitive, and combination skin best. In contrast, KORRES features products that all contain fragrance and are known for lightweight absorption, rich textures, and hydration.

The Ordinary or KORRES: which cleanser is better?

The Ordinary offers better-rated and more affordable cleansers on this page, fitting dry skin with a High Lovi level compared to KORRES.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or KORRES?

The Ordinary is more affordable, as reviewers on this page frequently praise its great value and affordability while KORRES faces high price and value concerns.

Which causes fewer breakouts, The Ordinary or KORRES?

The Ordinary does better at being gentle and non-irritating, while KORRES sometimes causes skin breakouts and irritation.

Do products from The Ordinary or KORRES contain fragrance?

Every product from The Ordinary on this page lists no fragrance in its ingredients. In contrast, 0 of the 5 products from KORRES list no fragrance.

Which brand fits dry skin and dry sensitive skin best according to their routines?

The Ordinary fits dry skin and dry sensitive skin best, as its brand-focused routines are specifically tailored for these skin types. In contrast, KORRES does not list any specific skin types that its brand fits best according to its routines.

How do the founding years and current ownership of The Ordinary and KORRES compare?

The Ordinary was founded in Canada in 2016 and is owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. In comparison, KORRES was founded in 1996 and is owned by Halcyon Equity Partners and Giorgos Korres.

The Ordinary or KORRES: which moisturizer is better?

When it comes to moisturizers, The Ordinary is better for affordability and has products on this page fitting dry skin best with a Superior level, while KORRES offers rich hydration and velvety textures. Topical hyaluronic acid, found in moisturizers from The Ordinary, helps improve skin quality and signs of aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

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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