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The Ordinary vs Eminence

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

The Ordinary and Eminence are two distinct skincare lines offering targeted solutions for various complexions. The Canadian brand centers its serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and toners on ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane, while the other brand is widely beloved for its deeply nourishing moisturizers and the pure botanical potency of its formulas. Both options suit dry and sensitive skin types best, though Eminence also suits combination skin. They differ fundamentally because the first relies on clinical, ingredient-led science for concerns such as acne, dark spots, and aging, whereas the latter delivers visible renewal through carefully crafted botanical treatments maintaining a gentle, soothing touch.

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

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

Popular The Ordinary vs Eminence products

People Say

The OrdinaryEminence
  • Hydration and plumping Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin feels baby soft — Eminence Calm Skin Chamomile Moisturizer”
    • “Not too thick — Eminence Arctic Berry Peptide Radiance Cream”
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Lightweight absorption and texture Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “doesn't feel heavy — Eminence Clear Skin Probiotic Moisturizer”
    • “buttery and great — Eminence Calm Skin Chamomile Moisturizer”
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
  • Texture smoothing and improvement Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “glass skin effect — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “pores look significantly smaller — The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
    • “skin feels baby butt smooth — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
    • “Skin feels soft — Eminence Arctic Berry Peptide Radiance Cream”
  • Clears acne and blemishes Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “pimples disappear within a day — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
    • “scars and hormonal acne faded — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “cleared up my acne — Eminence Clear Skin Probiotic Moisturizer”
  • Redness reduction and soothing Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “calms my irritation — Eminence Calm Skin Chamomile Moisturizer”
    • “cooling effect — Eminence Clear Skin Probiotic Moisturizer”
    • “calms down the redness immediately — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
  • 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%”
  • Unpleasant or strong 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”
    • “fragrance is terrible — Eminence Calm Skin Chamomile Moisturizer”
  • High price point Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “pricey but worth it — Eminence Calm Skin Chamomile Moisturizer”
  • Drying formulas and lack of moisture Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Skin felt tight an hour later — The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA”
    • “incredibly drying — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “dried out skin — The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG”
    • “feels quite dry when applied — Eminence Calm Skin Chamomile Moisturizer”
  • Makeup pilling and application issues Often MentionedNot noted
    • “crumbles and piles under moisturizer — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”

The Ordinary vs Eminence moisturizers

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Eminence: which is better?

The Ordinary offers much better value and pricing, whereas Eminence does better for hydration, plumping, and soothing redness.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Eminence?

The Ordinary offers budget-friendly serums with high value, while Eminence provides more hydrating and soothing moisturizers at a higher price point. The Ordinary is well-suited for dry skin, sensitive skin, and skin with dark spots, whereas the products on this page for Eminence focus on soothing and lightweight absorption.

The Ordinary or Eminence: which moisturizer is better?

Eminence provides better hydration and plumping for moisturizers on this page compared to The Ordinary. Hyaluronic acid helps improve skin quality and signs of aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Eminence?

The Ordinary is more affordable, as reviewers on the products on this page frequently praise its great value and pricing.

Which causes fewer breakouts, The Ordinary or Eminence?

The products on this page for The Ordinary and Eminence perform equally when it clears acne and blemishes.

Which brand has been around longer, The Ordinary or Eminence?

Eminence has been around longer, having been founded in 1958, while The Ordinary was founded in 2016.

How do the review themes compare between The Ordinary and Eminence for hydration and plumping?

For hydration and plumping, Eminence does better than The Ordinary according to the review themes on this page.

What are the main skin types that The Ordinary fits best?

Lovi finds that The Ordinary fits dry skin, sensitive skin, and skin with dark spots best.

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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