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SKIN1004 vs The Ordinary

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

SKIN1004 and The Ordinary are accessible skincare brands that offer reliable daily care through distinct formulations. The South Korean line centers on centella asiatica, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide to nourish combination and dry skin with gentle toners, sunscreens, and masks, whereas the Canadian line utilizes hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane to comfort dry and dry sensitive skin with targeted serums, cleansers, and moisturizers. Both brands excel at addressing specific concerns like acne, dark spots, and aging, but they differ fundamentally in their ingredient philosophies and regional traditions.

SKIN1004 is a Korean skincare brand founded in 2012 and owned by Goodai Global Inc. since 2024.

mk.co.krpitchbook.comtracxn.comgoodai-global.com

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

glossy.coen.wikipedia.org

This page compares some of the most popular SKIN1004 and The Ordinary products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular SKIN1004 vs The Ordinary products

People Say

SKIN1004The Ordinary
  • Hydration and soothing Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “calmed my angry skin — SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Toning Toner”
    • “Gives my dehydrated skin a moisture surge — SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Watergel Sheet Ampoule Mask”
    • “Eliminated redness on my easily irritated skin — SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Watergel Sheet Ampoule Mask”
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Lightweight texture Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “sunk in like a dream — SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum”
    • “Texture is on the thinner side... surprisingly lightweight. — SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Light Cleansing Oil”
    • “absorbs like water — SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Toning Toner”
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
  • Value and pricing Rarely NotedMostly 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%”
    • “huge bottle — SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Toning Toner”
  • Exfoliation and smoothing Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “glass skin effect — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “never had any reaction to it with my sensitive skin — The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA”
    • “skin feels baby butt smooth — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
    • “skin feels super soft — SKIN1004 Zombie Pack”
  • Acne-safe and acne-clearing Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “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”
    • “didn't cause new breakouts — SKIN1004 Hyalu-Cica Moisture Cream”
  • Subtle glow and brightening Rarely NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Dark spots have faded noticeably — The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA”
    • “helped lighten post-acne scars — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “dark scars are clearer within 2 weeks — The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA”
    • “skin looks brighter immediately — SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Tone Brightening Cleansing Gel Foam”
  • Sticky or tacky finish Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “left my skin medium tacky — SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Poremizing Light Gel Cream”
    • “Left a slightly greasy feeling — SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Watergel Sheet Ampoule Mask”
    • “feels tacky in high humidity — SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum”
    • “feels very sticky — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Scent and fragrance issues Sometimes NotedRarely 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 wet dog — SKIN1004 Zombie Pack”
  • Insufficient moisture Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “Skin felt tight an hour later — The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA”
    • “not enough for dry skin — SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Poremizing Light Gel Cream”
  • Minor irritation and stinging Rarely NotedSometimes Noted
    • “caused tiny bumps — SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Toning Toner”
    • “Stung my face — SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Quick Calming Pad”
    • “subtle sting — SKIN1004 Probio-Cica Bakuchiol Eye Cream”
    • “stings a little but worth it — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”

SKIN1004 vs The Ordinary routines for dry skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · $109.78 · 97% fitBuy SKIN1004 routine · $96.70 · 87% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

SKIN1004 vs The Ordinary routines for oily skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · $207.87 · 93% fitBuy SKIN1004 routine · $245.19 · 87% fitSee multi-brand routine · 98% fit

SKIN1004 vs The Ordinary routines for combination skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · $219.97 · 93% fitBuy SKIN1004 routine · $232.19 · 88% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

SKIN1004 or The Ordinary: which is better?

Both brands perform well, with SKIN1004 specializing in lightweight hydration and soothing, while The Ordinary excels in value, exfoliation, and acne-clearing. Lovi rates the routine fit for both brands as High to Superior across all skin types.

What is the difference between SKIN1004 and The Ordinary?

SKIN1004 delivers better hydration and soothing care with lightweight textures, whereas The Ordinary offers superior value with effective exfoliating and acne-clearing serums.

SKIN1004 or The Ordinary for dry skin?

Both SKIN1004 and The Ordinary fit dry skin well, but The Ordinary has a Superior routine fit compared to the High fit of SKIN1004. Hyaluronic acid helps bind moisture to dry skin.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

SKIN1004 or The Ordinary: which cleanser is better?

Both SKIN1004 and The Ordinary offer great cleansers, with SKIN1004 excelling in soothing hydration while The Ordinary is frequently praised for its affordability and value.

Which is more affordable, SKIN1004 or The Ordinary?

The Ordinary does better than SKIN1004 when it comes to value and pricing.

SKIN1004 or The Ordinary: which brand is better for dark spots?

The Ordinary does better for dark spots than SKIN1004. Niacinamide helps control skin pigmentation, making the products on this page a strong option for brightening skin.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Do SKIN1004 products contain fragrance?

Every SKIN1004 product on this page lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

SKIN1004 or The Ordinary: which is better for hydration and soothing?

SKIN1004 does better for hydration and soothing, delivering lightweight and soothing toners and moisturizers. Sodium hyaluronate helps with wound healing and skin hydration.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

SKIN1004 or The Ordinary for oily skin?

Both SKIN1004 and The Ordinary offer a Superior routine fit for oily skin. Reviewers note that SKIN1004 does better for lightweight texture, while The Ordinary does better for value and pricing.

SKIN1004 or The Ordinary: which moisturizer is better?

Both SKIN1004 and The Ordinary offer top options depending on your specific hydration needs, with SKIN1004 focusing on soothing lightweight moisture and The Ordinary providing rich, barrier-supporting hydration. For dry skin, routines centered on The Ordinary achieve a Superior fit level.

SKIN1004 or The Ordinary for sensitive skin?

Both brands are a strong choice for sensitive skin, as Lovi rates sensitive skin fit as High for both SKIN1004 and The Ordinary. The Ordinary is noted by reviewers for affordable and great value serums, while SKIN1004 stands out for hydration and soothing.

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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