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The Ordinary vs Biore

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

The Ordinary and Biore are well-known skincare brands from Canada and Japan that offer distinct daily care solutions. The Ordinary, founded in 2016 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc., features serums, moisturizers, cleansers, toners, and more built around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane, making it best for dry skin and dry sensitive skin. Conversely, the Japanese brand founded in 1980 and owned by Kao Corporation is globally loved for sunscreens, cleansers, masks, and makeup removers that rely on carefully balanced formulas to suit oily skin and combination skin best. While both provide targeted products for various concerns, they differ primarily in their core ingredient philosophies and ideal skin types.

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

glossy.coen.wikipedia.org

Biore is a Japanese skincare brand founded in 1980 and owned by Kao Corporation.

biore.comkao.com

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

Popular The Ordinary vs Biore products

People Say

The OrdinaryBiore
  • High protection and application Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “Gets the gunk out — Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips”
    • “Face feels squeaky clean — Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser”
    • “SPF 50+ PA++++ — Biore UV Aqua Rich”
  • Redness and acne reduction Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “calms down the redness immediately — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “glass skin effect — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “pimples disappear within a day — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
    • “Helped clear my blackheads — Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser”
  • Great value and pricing 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%”
  • Hydration and plumping Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
    • “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”
    • “feels like a moisturizer — Biore UV Aqua Rich”
  • Gentle application Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Minimal effort required — Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips”
    • “No greasy film, leaves skin fresh, rinses easily. — Biore Makeup Remover Perfect Oil”
    • “Works in shower, effective on wet hands/face. — Biore Makeup Remover Perfect Oil”
    • “no irritation at all — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Makeup compatibility Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “primer-like — Biore UV Aqua Rich”
    • “Removes waterproof mascara, eyeliner, foundation. — Biore Makeup Remover Perfect Oil”
    • “Makeup sits beautifully on top — The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA”
  • Stinging and irritation Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “irritated AF the next day — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
    • “stings a little but worth it — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
    • “Skin felt tight an hour later — The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA”
    • “Made my skin peel — Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser”
  • Texture and pilling issues Mostly MentionedRarely Noted
    • “Too liquidy, thin consistency, messy application. — Biore Makeup Remover Perfect Oil”
    • “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 alcohol — Biore UV Aqua Rich”
  • 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”
    • “caused cystic acne — Biore UV Aqua Rich”
    • “Caused breakouts, closed comedones, cystic acne. — Biore Makeup Remover Perfect Oil”

The Ordinary vs Biore routines for dry skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · $109.78 · 97% fitBuy Biore routine · $141.68 · 89% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

The Ordinary vs Biore routines for oily skin

Buy Biore routine · $315.98 · 94% fitBuy The Ordinary routine · $207.87 · 93% fitSee multi-brand routine · 98% fit

The Ordinary vs Biore routines for combination skin

Buy Biore routine · $307.57 · 94% fitBuy The Ordinary routine · $219.97 · 93% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Biore: which is better?

The Ordinary is a better fit for dry and dry sensitive skin on this page, while both brands offer equal routine fit levels for oily, combination, sensitive, acne-prone, mature skin, and skin with dark spots. The products on this page help provide hydration and target skin concerns like acne and dark spots.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Biore?

The Ordinary fits best for dry skin, dry sensitive skin, and oily skin, while Biore fits best for oily skin, combination skin, and acne-prone skin. The products on this page from The Ordinary are often praised for great value and affordable pricing.

The Ordinary or Biore for dry skin?

The Ordinary has a Superior routine fit for dry skin, while Biore has a High fit. The products on this page for The Ordinary include options like Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA that help moisturize dry skin.

The Ordinary or Biore: which cleanser is better?

The products on this page show that The Ordinary offers more cleanser options with varying fit levels for dry skin, such as the Glycolipid Cream Cleanser which has a High fit, whereas Biore features the Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser which has a low fit for dry skin.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Biore?

The products on this page from The Ordinary offer great value and pricing, making the brand more affordable than Biore.

Which brand does better for redness and acne reduction?

The Ordinary does better for redness and acne reduction. Reviewers on this page frequently praise the brand for its acne-clearing and texture-smoothing serums.

How do the foundation years and parent companies of The Ordinary and Biore compare?

The Ordinary was founded in Canada in 2016 and is owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. In contrast, Biore was founded in Japan in 1980 and is owned by Kao Corporation.

The Ordinary or Biore for oily skin?

Both The Ordinary and Biore offer a Superior routine fit for oily skin. The products on this page help manage oil and blemishes while providing great value.

The Ordinary or Biore for sensitive skin?

The Ordinary fits sensitive skin with a Superior routine level, whereas Biore achieves a Superior routine level as well. The products on this page from The Ordinary help provide gentle, non-irritating care.

The Ordinary or Biore for acne-prone skin?

The Ordinary is a better fit for acne-prone skin, as the products on this page achieve a Superior routine fit compared to Biore's Average level. Niacinamide helps reduce sebum production, and salicylic acid helps clear pores.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

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

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