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The Ordinary vs Lancôme

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

The Ordinary and Lancôme are distinct skincare houses defined by their unique origins, compositions, and targeted benefits. The Canadian brand centers its serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and toners on hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane to best suit dry, sensitive, and specific skin concerns, whereas the French brand is deeply loved for its thoughtful array of moisturizers, eye products, and serums formulated with nourishing glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and adenosine to primarily care for sensitive and mature skin. While both rely on foundational hydrators like glycerin and hyaluronic acid to improve barrier function and reduce wrinkles, they differ in their sensory experiences and specialized formulations. Ultimately, choosing between them involves balancing clinical ingredient transparency with luxurious, restorative care.

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

glossy.coen.wikipedia.org

Lancôme is a French skincare brand founded in 1935 and owned by L'Oréal S.A. since 1964.

loreal.comen.wikipedia.orgcosmeticsbusiness.com

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

Popular The Ordinary vs Lancôme products

People Say

The OrdinaryLancôme
  • Texture and Absorption Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs quickly — Lancôme RÉNERGIE”
    • “absorbs almost instantly — Lancôme Génifique Ultimate”
    • “Skin feels cushiony soft — Lancôme Advanced Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate”
    • “glass skin effect — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
  • Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “gives my skin an instant dewy glow — Lancôme Tonique Confort”
    • “keeps the skin soft and hydrated — Lancôme HYDRA ZEN”
    • “The product provides deep hydration and visible rejuvenation. — Lancôme Advanced Génifique Night Cream”
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • 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%”
  • Acne and Blemish Control Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “pimples disappear within a day — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
    • “pores look significantly smaller — The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
    • “scars and hormonal acne faded — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
  • Gentle Care for Sensitive Skin Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Finally a cleanser that doesn't sting my face. — The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser”
    • “No irritation at all — The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA”
    • “instantly soothed my skin — Lancôme Génifique Ultimate”
    • “Doesn't sting my eyes — Lancôme Bi-Facil Double Action Eye Makeup Remover”
  • Unique Textures and Finishes Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “skin is softer to touch — Lancôme Absolue Precious Oil”
    • “triple-chamber keeps ingredients fresh — Lancôme RÉNERGIE”
    • “Bottle lasts forever — Lancôme Bi-Facil Double Action Eye Makeup Remover”
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA”
  • Pilling and Application Issues Mostly MentionedRarely Noted
    • “Leaves a greasy film — Lancôme Bi-Facil Double Action Eye Makeup Remover”
    • “pilling like dead skin — Lancôme Génifique Ultimate”
    • “left a tacky film on my face — Lancôme Tonique Confort”
    • “crumbles and piles under moisturizer — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
  • General Formulation Issues Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “didn't notice much change in wrinkles — Lancôme Génifique Ultimate”
    • “Did absolutely nothing — Lancôme Advanced Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate”
    • “Strong smell of alcohol — Lancôme Advanced Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate”
    • “foams up like soap — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
  • Skin Irritation and Sensitivity Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “caused a breakout — Lancôme RÉNERGIE”
    • “felt a burning sensation immediately — Lancôme Tonique Confort”
    • “burns my eyes — Lancôme Crème Radiance”
    • “irritated AF the next day — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”

The Ordinary vs Lancôme routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

The Ordinary vs Lancôme routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

The Ordinary vs Lancôme routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Lancôme: which is better?

The Ordinary offers better value and blemish control across the products on this page, while Lancôme is preferred for deep hydration and texture.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Lancôme?

The Ordinary offers budget-friendly skincare with strong acne-clearing serums, while Lancôme provides luxury formulas focused on deep hydration and anti-aging benefits.

The Ordinary or Lancôme for dry skin?

The Ordinary provides a Superior routine fit for dry skin compared to Lancôme, which has a High routine fit on this page. Topical hyaluronic acid helps improve skin quality and signs of aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Lancôme: which cleanser is better?

The Ordinary cleanser options on this page are a better fit for shoppers, achieving a Superior routine fit for dry skin compared to Lancome's High fit. The products on this page help provide gentle daily cleansing.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Lancôme?

The Ordinary offers more affordable products on this page, as reviewers frequently note its great value and pricing compared to Lancôme's high price point.

Between The Ordinary and Lancôme, which brand performs better for acne and blemish control according to reviewers?

The Ordinary performs better for acne and blemish control on the products on this page.

How do the fragrance options differ between products from The Ordinary and Lancôme?

Every product on The Ordinary page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, whereas 11 out of 14 products on the Lancôme page contain fragrance.

Which brand offers better routine fit ratings across all evaluated skin types?

The Ordinary offers better routine fit ratings across all evaluated skin types, achieving a Superior rating for every skin type on this page.

The Ordinary or Lancôme for oily skin?

For oily skin, The Ordinary has a Superior routine fit on this page, while Lancome has a High routine fit. The Ordinary excels particularly in value and acne-prone care.

The Ordinary or Lancôme: which moisturizer is better?

When comparing moisturizers, The Ordinary offers exceptional value and targeted hydration with options like Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA, whereas Lancôme focuses on luxurious, deeply hydrating formulas such as Advanced Génifique Night Cream. Reviewers note that Lancôme provides deep hydration and a pleasant scent, but the products on this page often come with a high price point and occasional fragrance.

The Ordinary or Lancôme for sensitive skin?

Both The Ordinary and Lancôme offer products well-suited for sensitive skin, but Lovi rates The Ordinary as having a Superior routine fit compared to Lancôme's High fit. The Ordinary features fragrance-free formulas across the products on this page, while Lancôme includes fragrance in several of its items.

The Ordinary or Lancôme for acne-prone skin?

The Ordinary is a better choice for acne-prone skin because the products on this page achieve a Superior routine fit, whereas Lancome achieves a High fit. Niacinamide may help reduce blemishes and improve skin clarity.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

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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