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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 distinct skincare lines originating from Canada and Japan, respectively. The Ordinary is known for serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and toners built around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane, while the brand is beloved for effective sunscreens, gentle cleansers, purifying masks, and efficient makeup removers. The former suits dry skin and sensitive skin best, whereas the latter suits combination skin and mature skin best. Both brands differ in their focused ingredient formulations and regional origins.

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

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

The Ordinary vs Biore routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

The Ordinary vs Biore routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Biore: which is better?

The Ordinary is superior across all skin types on the products on this page, offering better results for hydration, dark spots, and redness reduction. Biore performs better for high sun protection and makeup compatibility, but shoppers may experience texture and pilling issues with its products.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Biore?

The Ordinary offers a much larger selection of targeted serums and treatments on this page, while Biore focuses heavily on sun care and cleansing products. Lovi gives The Ordinary a Superior fit across all skin types, whereas Biore achieves High fits for routines.

The Ordinary or Biore for dry skin?

The Ordinary is superior for dry skin compared to Biore, which has a high fit. The Ordinary features multiple products on this page tailored for dry skin, such as Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA.

The Ordinary or Biore: which cleanser is better?

The Ordinary provides a better range of cleansers for most skin types, featuring options like the Glucoside Foaming Cleanser and Glycolipid Cream Cleanser that achieve High fit levels across dry, oily, and sensitive skin. Biore offers cleansers such as the Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser, which tends to have a lower fit for dry and sensitive skin on the products on this page.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Biore?

The Ordinary is more affordable, offering great value and pricing across the products on this page compared to Biore.

When was The Ordinary founded and who owns it?

The Ordinary was founded in Canada in 2016 and has been owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 2021.

Which brand performs better for hydration and plumping?

The Ordinary performs better for hydration and plumping. Hyaluronic acid helps improve skin moisture and anti-aging signs.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Do products from The Ordinary and Biore contain fragrance?

Every product on this page from The Ordinary and Biore lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

The Ordinary or Biore for oily skin?

The Ordinary is a better fit for oily skin, offering Superior routine fit compared to Biore's High fit on this page. The products on this page help provide oil control and target acne, and niacinamide may regulate sebum production.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

The Ordinary or Biore for sensitive skin?

The Ordinary is a better fit for sensitive skin, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to Biore's High fit rating. The products on this page from The Ordinary provide gentle and non-irritating serums that help with redness and acne reduction.

The Ordinary or Biore for acne-prone skin?

The Ordinary is a better fit for acne-prone skin, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to Biore's High fit on this page. Review themes show that The Ordinary does better with redness and acne reduction.

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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