🇨🇦Canada

The Ordinary vs RoC

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

The Ordinary and RoC are accessible skincare options offering serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and more. The Canadian line relies on hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane, suiting dry, dry sensitive, acne-prone, dark spot, and mature skin, while the French brand favors glycerin and retinol to care for mature and dry skin, dark spots, and acne. Both lines differ in their exact founding years, geographic origins, and primary active ingredients, allowing individuals to choose between targeted single-ingredient focus and expertly formulated multi-action treatments.

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

glossy.coen.wikipedia.org

RoC is a French skincare brand founded in 1957 and owned by Bridgepoint Group plc since 2024.

en.wikipedia.orgprnewswire.combeautymatter.com

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

Popular The Ordinary vs RoC products

People Say

The OrdinaryRoC
  • Skin Texture Smoothing Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “glass skin effect — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “skin feels baby butt smooth — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
    • “diminished my forehead lines — RoC Derm Correxion Fill + Treat Serum”
    • “face looked smoother — RoC Daily Resurfacing Disks”
  • Great Value and Pricing Mostly MentionedSometimes 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%”
    • “Worth the price — RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Eye Cream”
  • Hydration and Plumping Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “skin is no longer dry — RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Max Hydration Cream”
    • “Areas stay hydrated all day — RoC Multi Correxion Hydrate + Plump Eye Cream”
    • “My skin looks smoother and hydrated. — RoC Derm Correxion Contour Cream”
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Gentle and Non-Irritating Formula Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Leaves my face feeling soft and not tight at all. — The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser”
    • “Finally a cleanser that doesn't sting my face. — The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser”
    • “doesn't leave my skin feeling tight — RoC BARRIER RENEW® GEL-TO-FOAM CLEANSER”
    • “No irritation for me — RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Eye Cream”
  • Effective Wrinkle and Fine Line Reduction Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “wrinkles look less deep — RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream”
    • “Fine lines definitely softer — RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Eye Cream”
    • “crow's feet are fading — RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Serum”
  • Matte and Non-Greasy Finish Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “absorbs nicely — RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream”
    • “Absorbs easily and quickly — RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Eye Cream”
    • “absorbs quickly without residue — RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Max Hydration Cream”
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA”
  • Unpleasant Scent and Fragrance 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 perfume — RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream”
  • Skin Irritation and Harshness Rarely NotedSometimes Noted
    • “ruined moisture barrier — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “Caused breakouts — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
    • “caused redness and burning — The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
    • “caused redness and stinging — RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream”
  • Sticky and Tacky Finish Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “slightly tacky feel — RoC Multi Correxion Revive + Glow Daily Serum”
    • “feels very sticky — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”

The Ordinary vs RoC routines for dry skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · CA$155.67 · 97% fitBuy RoC routine · CA$216.11 · 91% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

The Ordinary vs RoC routines for oily skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · CA$198.33 · 92% fitBuy RoC routine · CA$353.85 · 89% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

The Ordinary vs RoC routines for combination skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · CA$187.44 · 93% fitBuy RoC routine · CA$320.94 · 89% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or RoC: which is better?

The Ordinary helps shoppers on a budget with more affordable options, while RoC is better for effective wrinkle and fine line reduction. Both brands achieve a Superior routine fit for mature skin and skin with dark spots.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and RoC?

The Ordinary offers better value with more affordable serums, whereas RoC does better at reducing wrinkles and fine lines. Retinol stimulates collagen accumulation in naturally aged human skin.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000

The Ordinary or RoC for dry skin?

Both The Ordinary and RoC achieve a Superior routine fit for dry skin. The Ordinary features fragrance-free products on this page and hydrating key ingredients like hyaluronic acid and squalane, while RoC relies on key ingredients such as glycerin and retinol.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000

The Ordinary or RoC: which cleanser is better?

Both The Ordinary and RoC offer cleansers with high Lovi fit levels for dry and sensitive skin. The Ordinary features options like the Glycolipid Cream Cleanser, while RoC provides the Barrier Renew Gel-to-Foam Cleanser.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or RoC?

The Ordinary is more affordable, as its serums and products on this page are often noted for great value and pricing.

Which brand has a stronger fragrance across its products, The Ordinary or RoC?

RoC has a stronger fragrance across its products, because 10 of the 12 products on The Ordinary page list no fragrance while some RoC products contain scent ingredients. Reviewers also sometimes note a strong fragrance for RoC, whereas The Ordinary products on this page list no fragrance in their ingredients.

How do The Ordinary and RoC compare in terms of skin texture smoothing?

The Ordinary and RoC perform equally in skin texture smoothing according to the products on this page.

When comparing the two brands, which one offers better hydration and plumping benefits?

RoC does better for hydration and plumping when comparing the two brands.

The Ordinary or RoC for oily skin?

For oily skin, both The Ordinary and RoC are great choices, with Lovi ranking The Ordinary as Superior and RoC as High. The Ordinary products on this page help control oil and target breakouts with ingredients like niacinamide, while RoC offers lightweight anti-aging formulas.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

The Ordinary or RoC: which moisturizer is better?

Both The Ordinary and RoC offer great moisturizers, with The Ordinary being a better value while RoC excels in hydration and wrinkle reduction. The Ordinary provides superior fit levels for dry and dry sensitive skin types on the products on this page.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or RoC for sensitive skin?

The Ordinary is a better fit for sensitive skin, offering a Superior routine fit compared to RoC's High level. Additionally, every product on The Ordinary page lists no fragrance, whereas RoC includes products with fragrance.

The Ordinary or RoC for acne-prone skin?

Both The Ordinary and RoC fit acne-prone skin well, earning a High fit level for this skin type.

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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