🇺🇸United States

The Ordinary vs Cetaphil

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

The Ordinary and Cetaphil are accessible skincare brands that offer reliable cleansers, moisturizers, serums, and more, built around key ingredients like glycerin, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid. While the Canadian brand fits dry skin and dry sensitive skin best with targeted acids and squalane, the American brand suits combination skin and acne-prone skin best through balanced, skin-friendly compositions. Both brands nourish the skin effectively, with glycerin increasing hydration and barrier function, while their distinct active ingredients address concerns such as dark spots, wrinkles, and aging signs.

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

glossy.coen.wikipedia.org

Cetaphil is an American skincare brand founded in 1947 and owned by Galderma Group AG.

en.wikipedia.orgcetaphil.co.uk

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

Popular The Ordinary vs Cetaphil products

People Say

The OrdinaryCetaphil
  • Gentle on sensitive skin Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “The only thing my reactive skin tolerates. — Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser”
    • “No breakouts since switching to this. — Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser”
    • “cleans without stripping — Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser”
    • “Leaves my face feeling soft and not tight at all. — The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser”
  • Affordable value Mostly MentionedRarely 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%”
    • “Bar lasts a long time — Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar”
  • Hydration and moisture Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “cleared up flaky skin — Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream”
    • “healed my dry patches — Cetaphil Moisturising Cream”
    • “Leaves my face feeling soft, not tight. — Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser”
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Lightweight and non-greasy Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “absorbs instantly — Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “Absorbs quickly into skin without residue — Cetaphil Daily Hydrating Lotion”
    • “absorbs quickly — Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream”
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA”
  • Skin texture improvement Often MentionedSometimes 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%”
    • “Skin felt softer after one use — Cetaphil Gentle Exfoliating SA Cleanser”
  • Acne and blemish clearing Often MentionedRarely 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”
    • “Helps to remove pimple and acne. — Cetaphil Oily Skin Cleanser”
  • Skin irritation and stinging Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “burns my face now — Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “new formula burns — Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser”
    • “burned my face — Cetaphil Vitamin C Serum”
    • “stings a little but worth it — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
  • 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”
    • “Overpowering masking fragrance — Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar”
  • Sticky and tacky finish Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “leaves a tacky finish — Cetaphil Vitamin C Serum”
    • “feels tacky — Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “feels very sticky — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”

The Ordinary vs Cetaphil routines for dry skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · $109.78 · 97% fitBuy Cetaphil routine · $134.48 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

The Ordinary vs Cetaphil routines for oily skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · $207.87 · 93% fitBuy Cetaphil routine · $331.64 · 85% fitSee multi-brand routine · 98% fit

The Ordinary vs Cetaphil routines for combination skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · $219.97 · 93% fitBuy Cetaphil routine · $285.23 · 89% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Cetaphil: which is better?

The Ordinary is often preferred for acne-clearing and texture-improving serums, while Cetaphil is praised for gentle, non-stripping cleansers and hydrating moisturizers. Lovi rates both brands as having a Superior routine fit for most skin types, including dry, oily, and sensitive skin.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Cetaphil?

The Ordinary is often preferred for its affordable value, acne-clearing serums, and skin texture improvement, whereas Cetaphil is known for being gentle on sensitive skin and providing hydration and moisture.

The Ordinary or Cetaphil for dry skin?

Both The Ordinary and Cetaphil are great options for dry skin, with The Ordinary rated Superior and Cetaphil rated High in routine fit. The Ordinary products on this page often help with hydration using key ingredients like hyaluronic acid.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Cetaphil: which cleanser is better?

Both The Ordinary and Cetaphil offer cleansers that rate well for various skin types on the products on this page. The Ordinary provides options like the Glycolipid Cream Cleanser which is rated Superior for dry skin, while Cetaphil features top choices like the Gentle Skin Cleanser which also achieves a Superior fit for dry and dry sensitive skin.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Cetaphil?

The Ordinary is more affordable, offering popular budget-friendly serums with great value. Cetaphil is known for gentle, non-stripping cleansers and hydrating moisturizers, but reviewers note that The Ordinary provides a better price point for skincare routines.

Which brand has more products containing fragrance, The Ordinary or Cetaphil?

Cetaphil has more products containing fragrance on this page, as one Cetaphil product lists fragrance while all products on The Ordinary page list no fragrance.

How do the founding years and current parent companies of The Ordinary and Cetaphil compare?

The Ordinary was founded in Canada in 2016 and is owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc., while Cetaphil was founded in the United States in 1947 and is owned by Galderma Group AG.

Which brand performs better for skin texture improvement according to review themes?

The Ordinary performs better for skin texture improvement according to review themes. The products on this page help smooth skin texture with dedicated targeted serums.

The Ordinary or Cetaphil for oily skin?

For oily skin, The Ordinary has a Superior routine fit on this page, while Cetaphil is rated High. Reviewers note that The Ordinary offers better acne-clearing and texture-improving serums, whereas Cetaphil focuses on gentle, non-stripping cleansers.

The Ordinary or Cetaphil: which moisturizer is better?

Both The Ordinary and Cetaphil offer effective moisturizers, with The Ordinary achieving a Superior routine fit for dry skin and Cetaphil achieving a High fit. The Ordinary products on this page often feature hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, which helps improve skin quality.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Cetaphil for sensitive skin?

The Ordinary offers superior routine fit for sensitive skin compared to Cetaphil. Reviewers note that The Ordinary provides affordable value and helps improve skin texture, while Cetaphil is known for gentle, non-stripping cleansers.

The Ordinary or Cetaphil for acne-prone skin?

The Ordinary offers a Superior routine fit for acne-prone skin, whereas Cetaphil provides a High fit. Reviewers note that the products on this page from The Ordinary are particularly praised for acne-clearing serums.

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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