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The Ordinary vs Minimalist

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

The Ordinary and Minimalist are two contemporary lines offering serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and sunscreens built around hardworking components like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane. The Canadian pioneer launched in 2016 and is currently owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc., tailoring its hydration-focused formulas primarily toward dry and dry sensitive skin. Meanwhile, the Indian newcomer established in 2020 and owned by Unilever PLC since 2025 leans toward oil control, suiting oily and combination skin best. While both labels feature targeted top-rated solutions for acne, dark spots, and mature concerns, they differ distinctly in their geographic origins, parent corporations, and foundational skin type affinities.

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

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Minimalist is an Indian skincare brand founded in 2020 and owned by Unilever PLC since 2025.

m.economictimes.comunilever.combeminimalist.copersonalcareinsights.com

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

Popular The Ordinary vs Minimalist products

People Say

The OrdinaryMinimalist
  • Hydration and plumping Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “very moisturizing — Minimalist SPF 50 Sunscreen”
    • “calmed it when my skin was super irritated — Minimalist Vitamin B5 10% Moisturizer”
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Great value and affordable price 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%”
  • Gentle and non-irritating Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “doesn't make skin feel tight — Minimalist Salicylic Acid + LHA 2% Face Cleanser”
    • “zero smell — Minimalist Vitamin B5 10% Moisturizer”
    • “great for sensitive skin — Minimalist Salicylic Acid + LHA 2% Face Cleanser”
    • “Finally a cleanser that doesn't sting my face. — The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser”
  • Matte finish and oil control Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “perfect moisturizer for oily skin — Minimalist Vitamin B5 10% Moisturizer”
    • “keeps skin oil-free for hours — Minimalist Salicylic Acid + LHA 2% Face Cleanser”
    • “controlled my sebum production — The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
  • Texture smoothing and improvement Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “glass skin effect — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “pores look significantly smaller — The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
    • “skin feels baby butt smooth — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
  • Lightweight absorption Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “absorbs quickly and doesn't feel greasy — Minimalist Vitamin B5 10% Moisturizer”
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
  • Sticky finish Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “feels very sticky — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
    • “feels very sticky — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
    • “sticky after application feel — Minimalist Vitamin B5 10% Moisturizer”
  • Pilling under makeup Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “pills under makeup — Minimalist SPF 50 Sunscreen”
    • “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 chemicals — Minimalist Salicylic Acid + LHA 2% Face Cleanser”
  • Drying formulas Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “incredibly drying — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “dried out skin — The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG”
    • “not moisturizing enough — Minimalist Vitamin B5 10% Moisturizer”

The Ordinary vs Minimalist routines for dry skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · CA$155.67 · 97% fitBuy Minimalist routine · CA$139.30 · 80% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

The Ordinary vs Minimalist routines for oily skin

Buy Minimalist routine · CA$276.27 · 93% fitBuy The Ordinary routine · CA$198.33 · 92% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

The Ordinary vs Minimalist routines for combination skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · CA$187.44 · 93% fitBuy Minimalist routine · CA$219.37 · 93% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Minimalist: which is better?

The Ordinary is a better choice for dry and sensitive skin as Lovi rates its routine fit as Superior, whereas Minimalist fits best for oily and acne-prone skin.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Minimalist?

The Ordinary provides great value and affordable price for the products on this page, whereas Minimalist does better with hydration and plumping, gentle and non-irritating formulas, matte finish and oil control, and lightweight absorption.

The Ordinary or Minimalist for dry skin?

The Ordinary is a better fit for dry skin, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to Minimalist's High. The products on this page for The Ordinary offer deep hydration and feature key ingredients like hyaluronic acid, which helps improve skin moisture levels.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Minimalist?

The Ordinary offers better value, as reviewers on the products on this page frequently praise the brand for its affordable and great value serums.

Which brand is better for dry sensitive skin, The Ordinary or Minimalist?

The Ordinary is a Superior fit for dry sensitive skin, whereas Minimalist is a High fit.

Do The Ordinary products contain fragrance?

The products on this page from The Ordinary list no fragrance in their ingredients.

Who owns The Ordinary and when was it founded?

The Ordinary is owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. and was founded in Canada in 2016.

The Ordinary or Minimalist for oily skin?

Both The Ordinary and Minimalist provide a Superior routine fit for oily skin.

The Ordinary or Minimalist for sensitive skin?

The Ordinary is the better choice for sensitive skin because Lovi rates its routine fit as Superior, compared to High for Minimalist.

The Ordinary or Minimalist for acne-prone skin?

For acne-prone skin, Minimalist is Superior while Lovi rates The Ordinary as High. Reviewers note that Minimalist provides better acne-clearing performance and oil 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?

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

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