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The Ordinary vs La Prairie

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

The Ordinary and La Prairie are two distinct skincare lines representing accessible clinical science and Swiss luxury, respectively. The Ordinary offers serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and toners built around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane, while the Swiss brand is beloved for its luxurious eye products, nourishing moisturizers, targeted serums, and refreshing toners elevated by advanced formulas. Both brands suit dry skin best, though the Canadian line also accommodates dry sensitive skin through targeted options like Niacinamide, Mandelic Acid, and Lactic Acid, while the latter brand provides deep comfort and targeted refinement for mature complexions through preparations such as the Skin Caviar Luxe Cream. Ultimately, they differ in their heritage and formulation approach, offering either straightforward ingredient-led solutions or indulgent, science-backed luxury.

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

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La Prairie is a Swiss skincare brand founded in 1978 and owned by maxingvest GmbH & Co. KGaA since 2003.

en.wikipedia.orgreports.beiersdorf.combeiersdorf.com

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

Popular The Ordinary vs La Prairie products

People Say

The OrdinaryLa Prairie
  • Hydration and Plumping Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “gentle yet effective moisturizing — La Prairie Cellular Softening and Balancing Lotion”
    • “erased my dry patches — La Prairie Skin Caviar Luxe Cream”
    • “skin feels plump — La Prairie Skin Caviar Liquid Lift”
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Lightweight Absorption Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs instantly — La Prairie Skin Caviar Liquid Lift”
    • “absorbs instantly — La Prairie Skin Caviar Eye Lift”
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA”
  • Firming and Lifting Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “felt skin tighten immediately — La Prairie Skin Caviar Liquid Lift”
    • “opened my eyes — La Prairie Skin Caviar Eye Lift”
    • “jawline genuinely looks lifted — La Prairie Skin Caviar Luxe Cream”
    • “deflates morning bags — The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG”
  • Value and Affordability Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “lasts forever — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “eliminated armpit odor — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “can't beat the price — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
  • Texture and Pores Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “glass skin effect — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “pores look significantly smaller — The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
    • “never had any reaction to it with my sensitive skin — The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA”
  • Glow and Radiance Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “gave my face a soft glow — La Prairie Skin Caviar Luxe Cream”
    • “skin looks radiant — La Prairie Skin Caviar Liquid Lift”
    • “tight, bright and shiny — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
  • High Price Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Expensive for Ordinary — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
    • “eye-wateringly expensive — La Prairie Skin Caviar Luxe Cream”
  • Unpleasant Scent Rarely NotedMostly 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 a rich grandma — La Prairie Skin Caviar Luxe Cream”
  • Slow or Ineffective Results Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “no change in pigment — The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG”
    • “not a miracle worker overnight — The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA”
    • “Didn't do anything special — The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA”
    • “just a good moisturizer — La Prairie Skin Caviar Luxe Cream”
  • Texture Issues and Pilling Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “caused pilling — La Prairie Cellular Softening and Balancing Lotion”
    • “foams up like soap — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”

The Ordinary vs La Prairie routines for dry skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · $109.78 · 97% fitBuy La Prairie routine · $2,006.67 · 93% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

The Ordinary vs La Prairie routines for oily skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · $207.87 · 93% fitBuy La Prairie routine · $2,182.96 · 87% fitSee multi-brand routine · 98% fit

The Ordinary vs La Prairie routines for combination skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · $219.97 · 93% fitBuy La Prairie routine · $2,174.55 · 88% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or La Prairie: which is better?

The Ordinary provides great value and affordability for the products on this page, whereas La Prairie excels in luxurious hydration, firming, and lifting. For overall routine fit, The Ordinary achieves a Superior level across most skin types, matching La Prairie's equal level in dry, sensitive, mature, and dark spot-prone skin.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and La Prairie?

The Ordinary provides affordable, fragrance-free products on this page with a Superior routine fit for most skin types, whereas La Prairie offers luxury formulations known for firming and lifting effects alongside strong fragrances. Hyaluronic acid helps provide deep hydration and anti-aging benefits in both brands.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or La Prairie for dry skin?

Both The Ordinary and La Prairie achieve a Superior Lovi fit level for dry skin. The products on this page for The Ordinary offer affordable value and deep hydration with key ingredients like hyaluronic acid, whereas La Prairie delivers luxurious textures and deep hydration.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or La Prairie: which moisturizer is better?

The products on this page show that both The Ordinary and La Prairie offer moisturizers with a Superior Lovi fit level for dry skin. Hyaluronic acid helps provide deep hydration, and studies show that sodium hyaluronate benefits skin quality and anti-aging signs.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or La Prairie?

The Ordinary offers much greater affordability, as its products on this page are frequently noted by reviewers for being affordable and providing great value, whereas La Prairie is often criticized for its exorbitant prices.

Which brand has more fragrance-free products, The Ordinary or La Prairie?

The Ordinary has more fragrance-free products, as every product on its page lists no fragrance in its ingredients. In contrast, only 1 of 5 products on the La Prairie page is fragrance-free.

Which brand offers better results for firming and lifting, The Ordinary or La Prairie?

La Prairie offers better results for firming and lifting compared to The Ordinary. Reviewers often note that La Prairie provides luxurious, lightweight textures and effective lifting and firming effects.

Which brand is better suited for mature skin routines, The Ordinary or La Prairie?

Both The Ordinary and La Prairie achieve a Superior routine fit for mature skin. The products on this page help deliver firming, lifting, and deep hydration benefits, though reviewers note that La Prairie carries exorbitant prices while The Ordinary offers great value.

The Ordinary or La Prairie for oily skin?

The Ordinary offers a Superior fit level for oily skin, whereas La Prairie provides a High fit level. The Ordinary products on this page help with oiliness through ingredients like niacinamide and salicylic acid.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

The Ordinary or La Prairie for sensitive skin?

Both The Ordinary and La Prairie achieve a Superior routine fit level for sensitive skin. The Ordinary offers fragrance-free products on the products on this page, while La Prairie features luxury formulas that may deliver lifting and firming effects.

The Ordinary or La Prairie for acne-prone skin?

For acne-prone skin, The Ordinary has a Superior routine fit, whereas La Prairie has a High routine fit. The products on this page for The Ordinary offer strong acne-clearing and texture-smoothing benefits at an affordable value, while reviewers often note that La Prairie comes with exorbitant prices.

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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