The Ordinary vs celimax
The Ordinary and celimax are distinct skincare brands offering a thoughtful range of serums, moisturizers, cleansers, toners, and more. The Canadian brand centers its formulations around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane, suiting dry and sensitive skin best, while the Korean brand features carefully selected ingredients tailored for sensitive and acne-prone skin. Both labels address specific concerns through targeted options like niacinamide, mandelic acid, lactic acid, heartleaf, and barrier creams, differing primarily in their geographic origins, founding years, and signature ingredient blends.
The Ordinary is a Canadian skincare brand founded in 2016 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 2021.
celimax is a Korean skincare brand founded in 2019 and owned by ABSORBLAB Co., Ltd..
This page compares some of the most popular The Ordinary and celimax products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.
Popular The Ordinary vs celimax products
People Say
Great value and price 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%”
Gentle and non-irritating Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
- “cleans deeply without stripping — celimax Noni Acne Bubble Cleanser”
- “Doesn't irritate — celimax Dual Barrier Creamy Toner”
- “zero irritation or sensitivity — celimax Pore+Dark Spot Brightening Serum”
- “Leaves my face feeling soft and not tight at all. — The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser”
Smoothes skin texture Often MentionedOften Mentioned
- “skin feels baby butt smooth — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
- “skin looks smoother and brighter — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
- “glass-like smoothness — celimax RETINAL SHOT”
- “skin feels noticeably smoother — celimax Heartleaf BHA Peeling Pad”
Hydration and plumping Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
- “Skin stays soft throughout the day — celimax Dual Barrier Creamy Toner”
- “gives a very beautiful glow to your skin — celimax Noni Ampoule”
- “Calms irritation — celimax Dual Barrier Creamy Toner”
- “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
Lightweight absorption Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
- “absorbs incredibly fast — celimax Pore+Dark Spot Brightening Serum”
- “sinks right into the skin — celimax Noni Ampoule”
- “light and non-greasy — celimax Derma Nature Fresh Blackhead Jojoba Cleansing Oil”
- “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
Reduces redness and calms skin Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
- “calms my face redness upon application — celimax Noni Ampoule”
- “No stinging on my hypersensitive skin — celimax Dual Barrier Skin Wearable Cream”
- “immediate cooling effect — celimax Ji.Woo.Gae Cica BHA Blemish Toner Pad”
- “calms down the redness immediately — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
Stinging and irritation Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
- “stinging — celimax RETINAL SHOT”
- “redness — celimax RETINAL SHOT”
- “reaction to spearmint extract — celimax Pore+Dark Spot Brightening Serum”
- “irritated AF the next day — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
Pilling and makeup issues Often MentionedRarely Noted
- “Pills if I apply foundation over it — celimax Dual Barrier Skin Wearable Cream”
- “crumbles and piles under moisturizer — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
The Ordinary vs celimax routines for dry skin
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Cleanser
Glucoside Foaming Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€12.95
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Hydrating Toner
Dear, Klairs Supple Preparation Unscented Toner
Morning
€12.59
-
Moisturizer
Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€11.50
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SPF
Australian Gold Botanical Lotion SPF 30
Morning
€21.04
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Pre-Cleanser
MISSHA Ultra Hyalon Cleansing Cream
Evening · Once a week
€10.97
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Serum or Treatment
Mandelic Acid 10% + HA
Evening · Once a week
€8.00
-
Nourishing Mask
MEDIHEAL Vita Essential Mask
Once a week
€19.00
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Cleanser
Noni Acne Bubble Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€18.90
-
Hydrating Toner
Dual Barrier Creamy Toner
Morning
€16.80
-
Moisturizer
Dual Barrier Skin Wearable Cream
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€18.00
-
SPF
Australian Gold Botanical Lotion SPF 30
Morning
€21.04
-
Pre-Cleanser
Derma Nature Fresh Blackhead Jojoba Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
€15.50
-
Serum or Treatment
Noni Ampoule
Evening · Once a week
€16.99
-
Nourishing Mask
MEDIHEAL Vita Essential Mask
Once a week
€19.00
The Ordinary vs celimax routines for oily skin
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Cleanser
Glucoside Foaming Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€12.95
-
Hydrating Toner
Some By Mi Snail Truecica Miracle Repair Toner
Morning · Once a week
€16.59
-
Moisturizer
Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€11.50
-
SPF
make p:rem UV Defense Me Blue Ray Sun Cream
Morning
€32.80
-
Pre-Cleanser
Shu Uemura Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
€104.00
-
Cleansing Toner
Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution
Evening
€13.90
-
Serum or Treatment
Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
Evening · Once a week
€5.80
-
Enzyme Powder
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Once a week
€48.55
-
Cleansing Mask
Salicylic Acid 2% Masque
Once a week
€15.20
-
Cleanser
Noni Acne Bubble Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€18.90
-
Hydrating Toner
Dual Barrier Creamy Toner
Morning · Once a week
€16.80
-
Moisturizer
Dual Barrier Skin Wearable Cream
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€18.00
-
SPF
make p:rem UV Defense Me Blue Ray Sun Cream
Morning
€32.80
-
Pre-Cleanser
Derma Nature Fresh Blackhead Jojoba Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
€15.50
-
Cleansing Toner
Ji.Woo.Gae Cica BHA Blemish Toner Pad
Evening
€17.00
-
Serum or Treatment
Heartleaf BHA Peeling Pad
Evening · Once a week
€16.51
-
Enzyme Powder
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Once a week
€48.55
-
Cleansing Mask
Dr. Sebagh Deep Exfoliating Mask
Once a week
€81.80
The Ordinary vs celimax routines for combination skin
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Cleanser
Glucoside Foaming Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€12.95
-
Hydrating Toner
Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner
Morning · Once a week
€36.00
-
Moisturizer
Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€11.50
-
Pre-Cleanser
Shu Uemura Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
€104.00
-
Cleansing Toner
Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution
Evening
€13.90
-
Serum or Treatment
Mandelic Acid 10% + HA
Evening · Once a week
€8.00
-
Enzyme Powder
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Once a week
€48.55
-
Cleansing Mask
Salicylic Acid 2% Masque
Once a week
€15.20
-
Cleanser
Noni Acne Bubble Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€18.90
-
Hydrating Toner
Dual Barrier Creamy Toner
Morning · Once a week
€16.80
-
Moisturizer
Dual Barrier Skin Wearable Cream
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€18.00
-
Pre-Cleanser
Derma Nature Fresh Blackhead Jojoba Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
€15.50
-
Cleansing Toner
Ji.Woo.Gae Cica BHA Blemish Toner Pad
Evening
€17.00
-
Serum or Treatment
Heartleaf BHA Peeling Pad
Evening · Once a week
€16.51
-
Enzyme Powder
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Once a week
€48.55
-
Cleansing Mask
Origins Original Skin Retexturizing Mask with Rose Clay
Once a week
€28.50
Questions and answers
The Ordinary or celimax: which is better?
The Ordinary is generally better for shoppers seeking great value, offering superior routine fit across all skin types on this page. Meanwhile, celimax may be preferred by those prioritizing lightweight absorption and gentle, calming hydration.
What is the difference between The Ordinary and celimax?
The Ordinary offers greater value and better routine fits across skin types, while celimax excels in providing gentle, soothing, and hydrating formulas. Reviewers note that niacinamide in products helps reduce skin pigmentation, and hyaluronic acid improves skin hydration and signs of aging.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Dermatologic Therapy, 2022
The Ordinary or celimax for dry skin?
The Ordinary is a better fit for dry skin, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to an Average fit for celimax. Hyaluronic acid helps improve skin hydration and reduce signs of aging.
The Ordinary or celimax: which cleanser is better?
The Ordinary offers better-rated cleansers on this page, with its Glucoside Foaming Cleanser and Glycolipid Cream Cleanser achieving High to Superior fit levels across most skin types compared to celimax. Shoppers generally praise The Ordinary for providing great value and price across its products.
Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or celimax?
The Ordinary is more affordable, offering great value and price compared to celimax according to reviewers.
Which brand performs better for dry sensitive skin according to the routine fit?
The Ordinary performs better for dry sensitive skin, as Lovi rates its routine fit as Superior while rating celimax as High. Hyaluronic acid and panthenol help improve skin hydration and barrier function.
Dermatologic Therapy, 2022American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
How do the founding years and corporate ownerships of The Ordinary and celimax differ?
The Ordinary was founded in Canada in 2016 and has been owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 2021. In contrast, celimax was founded in South Korea in 2019 and is owned by ABSORBLAB Co., Ltd.
Which brand has a better review theme for lightweight absorption?
For lightweight absorption, celimax does better according to the review themes on this page.
The Ordinary or celimax for oily skin?
For oily skin, Lovi finds The Ordinary provides a Superior routine while celimax offers a High fit. The Ordinary excels here with great value and price, while celimax also delivers strong lightweight absorption.
The Ordinary or celimax: which moisturizer is better?
The Ordinary is a better choice for dry skin, where Lovi rates the routine fit as Superior compared to celimax at Average. The products on this page offer great value and price.
The Ordinary or celimax for sensitive skin?
The Ordinary is a better fit for sensitive skin, offering a Superior routine fit compared to celimax's High fit level. The products on this page list no fragrance in their ingredients, and reviewers often mention The Ordinary for gentle and non-irritating serums.
The Ordinary or celimax for acne-prone skin?
For acne-prone skin, Lovi rates The Ordinary as having a Superior routine fit compared to celimax's High fit level. The Ordinary offers great value and acne-clearing serums on the products on this page.
Research behind their key ingredients
Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles in sunscreens: focus on their safety and effectiveness
The effect of niacinamide on reducing cutaneous pigmentation and suppression of melanosome transfer
The Effect of Aloe Vera Clinical Trials on Prevention and Healing of Skin Wound: A Systematic Review
Molecular basis of retinol anti-ageing properties in naturally aged human skin in vivo
Topical palmitoyl pentapeptide provides improvement in photoaged human facial skin
Effects of ascorbic acid on gingival melanin pigmentation in vitro and in vivo
Panax ginseng induces human Type I collagen synthesis through activation of Smad signaling
Vitamin C-squalene bioconjugate promotes epidermal thickening and collagen production in human skin
Effect of Camellia japonica oil on human type I procollagen production and skin barrier function
The moisturizing effects of glycolipid biosurfactants, mannosylerythritol lipids, on human skin
Reduction in the appearance of facial hyperpigmentation by topical N-acetyl glucosamine
Protective effects of Camellia japonica flower extract against urban air pollutants
Microneedling by dermapen and glycolic acid peel for the treatment of acne scars: Comparative study
Lycopene and Melatonin: Antioxidant Compounds in Cosmetic Formulations
The synergistic effect of retinyl propionate and hydroxypinacolone retinoate on skin aging
Nanostructured Lipid Carrier for Topical Application of N-Acetyl Glucosamine
Morinda citrifolia Linn. (Rubiaceae) leaf extracts mitigate UVB-induced erythema
Topical lycopene emulgel significantly improves biophysical parameters of human skin
The anti wrinkle efficacy of synthetic hexapeptide (Argireline) in Chinese Subjects
Safety of a preservative system containing 1,2-hexanediol and caprylyl glycol
Histometric assessment of the age-related skin response to 2-hydroxy-5-octanoyl benzoic acid
A bioactive complex to protect proteins from UV-induced oxidation in human epidermis
Treatment with Ascorbyl Glucoside-Arginine Complex Ameliorates Solar Lentigos
Natural Moisturizing Factor-Enriched Formulations Compared to a Ceramide-Based Cream
Targeting Circadian Rhythm for the Regulation of Skin Collagen Metabolism
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.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-

Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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