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The Ordinary vs Elemis

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

The Ordinary and Elemis are distinct skin care brands that offer targeted serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and toners. Founded in Canada in 2016 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc., The Ordinary relies on hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane to best suit dry and sensitive skin. Meanwhile, the British brand Elemis, founded in 1989 and owned by L'Occitane Group, is celebrated for curated formulations that weave together glycerin and shea to best suit dry and mature skin. These choices differ fundamentally as the Canadian brand centers on specific single-ingredient concentrations for varied concerns, whereas the British brand centers on deeply restorative, multi-ingredient luxury.

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

glossy.coen.wikipedia.org

Elemis is a British skincare brand founded in 1989 and owned by L'Occitane Group since 2019.

elemis.comau.elemis.comen.wikipedia.org

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

Popular The Ordinary vs Elemis products

People Say

The OrdinaryElemis
  • Texture and Absorption Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Absorbs almost immediately, and my skin feels well hydrated all day. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
    • “whipped silk feel — Elemis Superfood Midnight Facial”
    • “cloud-light gel formula — Elemis Pro-Collagen Eye Revive Mask”
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA”
  • Smooths and Refines Skin Texture Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “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%”
    • “baby soft — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads”
  • Hydration and Moisture Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “The cream really hydrates and my face looks amazing. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Night Cream”
    • “Quenches thirsty skin... immediate improvement. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
    • “skin feels baby soft — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • 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%”
  • Other Benefits and Features Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “eliminated armpit odor — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “pores look significantly smaller — The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
    • “Nature's botox — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
    • “My neck doesn't sag... plumps my skin to look more youthful. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Night Cream”
  • Gentle and Sensitive Skin Friendly Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “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”
    • “no stinging or redness — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
    • “Feels incredibly gentle and instantly rebalances my skin's pH. — Elemis Balancing Lavender Toner”
  • High Price Point Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “Complete waste of money for me. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
  • Heavy, Thick, or Sticky Texture Issues Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “Great product, a bit heavy. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Night Cream”
    • “slightly tacky to touch — Elemis Pro-Collagen Eye Revive Mask”
    • “leaves white flakes — Elemis Pro-Collagen Advanced Eye Treatment”
    • “feels very sticky — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Other Complaints and Issues Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “blurry vision — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
    • “tends to flake off — Elemis Pro-Collagen Eye Revive Mask”
    • “slight tingling sensation — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash”
    • “foams up like soap — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
  • Scent and Fragrance 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”
    • “The smell is very strong... could not handle for long. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”

The Ordinary vs Elemis routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

The Ordinary vs Elemis routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

The Ordinary vs Elemis routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Elemis: which is better?

The Ordinary outperforms Elemis across every skin type on this page, offering superior routines and better value, while every product on its page lists no fragrance. Elemis matches this fit level only for dry, mature, and dry sensitive skin, and its products frequently contain fragrance.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Elemis?

The Ordinary provides products on this page that are more affordable and fragrance-free across the range, whereas Elemis features luxurious textures with stronger fragrance in most products. Lovi shows that The Ordinary achieves a Superior routine fit across all skin types, while Elemis offers a High fit.

The Ordinary or Elemis for dry skin?

The Ordinary is a Superior fit for dry skin, whereas Elemis has a High fit level. The products on this page for The Ordinary offer specialized hydration benefits, while topical hyaluronic acid helps improve overall skin quality and signs of aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Elemis: which cleanser is better?

The Ordinary offers better cleansers on this page, as they are gentler and more affordable. Reviewers mention that the products on this page are great value and sensitive skin friendly.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Elemis?

The Ordinary is more affordable than Elemis, as the products on this page offer great value and affordable prices. Reviewers frequently note that Elemis has a high price point, whereas affordability is one of the main praised benefits for The Ordinary.

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

Elemis has more products containing added fragrance, with 18 out of 22 products listing fragrance on this page. In contrast, every product on The Ordinary page lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

What are the main key ingredients used across the products of both The Ordinary and Elemis?

The Ordinary products feature hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane as their key ingredients, while Elemis products primarily use glycerin and shea butter across the page.

When comparing review themes, which brand performs better for hydration and moisture?

When comparing review themes, Elemis performs better for hydration and moisture. The brand offers luxurious, hydrating moisturizers and lightweight formulas that help provide a radiant glow.

The Ordinary or Elemis for oily skin?

For oily skin, The Ordinary offers a Superior routine fit while Elemis achieves a High fit. Reviewers note that The Ordinary provides better value and targets oily skin with specialized ingredients like niacinamide and salicylic acid.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

The Ordinary or Elemis: which moisturizer is better?

When comparing moisturizers, both brands offer good choices, but The Ordinary stands out with Superior routine fit levels for dry skin compared to Elemis, which achieves a High fit. Reviewers often mention that Elemis moisturizers provide luxurious textures and hydration, whereas The Ordinary is frequently noted for great value and fragrance-free formulas across the products on this page.

The Ordinary or Elemis for sensitive skin?

Both The Ordinary and Elemis perform very well for sensitive skin, but The Ordinary is rated as having a Superior routine fit compared to Elemis, which has a High fit. Furthermore, every product on The Ordinary page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, whereas most Elemis products on this page contain fragrance.

The Ordinary or Elemis for acne-prone skin?

The Ordinary is the better choice for acne-prone skin, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to Elemis, which reaches a High fit. Reviewers specifically praise The Ordinary for its 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

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