🇨🇦Canada

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 distinct skincare lines founded respectively in Canada in 2016 and Britain in 1960. The Ordinary focuses on serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and toners built around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane, while Simple is known for gentle moisturizers, soothing makeup removers, dependable cleansers, and refreshing toners formulated with niacinamide and glycerin. The Canadian brand suits dry skin and dry sensitive skin best, whereas the British brand aligns with oily skin and mature skin through its thoughtful ingredients. Both brands offer targeted solutions for acne-prone skin, dark spots, and mature skin, differing primarily in their specific product compositions and foundational active ingredients.

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 · CA$155.67 · 97% fitBuy Simple routine · CA$156.25 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

The Ordinary vs Simple routines for oily skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · CA$198.33 · 92% fitBuy Simple routine · CA$271.73 · 87% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

The Ordinary vs Simple routines for combination skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · CA$187.44 · 93% fitBuy Simple routine · CA$214.83 · 86% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Simple: which is better?

The Ordinary offers superior routine fit and effectiveness for most skin concerns on this page, while Simple stands out for gentle, sensitive-skin-friendly cleansing and lightweight hydration.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Simple?

The Ordinary offers a wider range of targeted treatment serums that help clear acne and smooth skin texture, while Simple focuses on gentle, lightweight moisturizers and makeup removers that are well-suited for sensitive skin.

The Ordinary or Simple for dry skin?

For dry skin, Lovi finds The Ordinary has a Superior routine fit, while Simple has a High routine fit. Hyaluronic acid helps maintain skin moisture.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Simple: which cleanser is better?

The Ordinary offers a better cleanser range because Lovi rates the products on this page as having a Superior or High fit across most skin types compared to Simple. For example, Glycolipid Cream Cleanser achieves a Superior fit for dry skin, whereas Simple's Refreshing Facial Wash has a Low fit for dry and dry sensitive skin.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Simple?

The Ordinary offers better affordability among the products on this page, as reviewers frequently note it for great value and cost-effectiveness. Simple also provides lightweight, value-friendly moisturizers.

Which brand has a wider selection of serums, The Ordinary or Simple?

The Ordinary provides a much wider selection of serums on this page, featuring options tailored for various skin concerns like acne and dark spots, whereas Simple focuses primarily on cleansers and moisturizers. Lovi rates The Ordinary with a Superior routine fit for dry, oily, and combination skin.

Do products from The Ordinary and Simple contain fragrance?

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

When was The Ordinary founded compared to Simple?

The Ordinary was founded in 2016 in Canada, whereas Simple was founded earlier in 1960 in the United Kingdom.

The Ordinary or Simple for oily skin?

The Ordinary fits oily skin with a Superior routine level, while Simple offers a High routine level. The Ordinary excels at clearing acne and blemishes, whereas Simple is noted for lightweight absorption.

The Ordinary or Simple: which moisturizer is better?

When comparing moisturizers, The Ordinary offers superior routine fit levels for dry skin with products like Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA, whereas Simple provides average fit levels across its moisturizers like the Replenishing Rich Moisturiser. The Ordinary products on this page help deliver hydration using key ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin. Topical hyaluronic acid helps improve skin quality and signs of skin aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Simple for sensitive skin?

For sensitive skin, Lovi finds The Ordinary has a Superior routine fit, while Simple has a High routine fit. Reviewers say Simple is good for sensitive skin, and every product on the pages for both brands lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

The Ordinary or Simple for acne-prone skin?

Both brands fit acne-prone skin well, but The Ordinary is Superior overall on this page and better at clearing acne and blemishes.

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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