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The Ordinary vs Medik8

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

The Ordinary and Medik8 are skincare brands founded in Canada in 2016 and Britain in 2009, respectively. The Canadian brand offers serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and toners built around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane, while the British brand provides serums, moisturizers, eye products, and toners built around hyaluronic acid. Both suit dry skin and sensitive skin best, but they differ in their specific formulations and targeted treatments for acne-prone skin, dark spots, and mature skin.

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

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Medik8 is a British skincare brand founded in 2009 and owned by L'Oréal Groupe since 2025.

loreal.commedik8.comtracxn.com

This page compares some of the most popular The Ordinary and Medik8 products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular The Ordinary vs Medik8 products

People Say

The OrdinaryMedik8
  • Texture and Pores Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “glass skin effect — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “pores look significantly smaller — The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
    • “smoother skin — Medik8 Surface Radiance Cleanse”
    • “My skin was smoother, my skin texture felt more resurfaced. — Medik8 Sleep Glycolic”
  • Gentle and Non-Irritating Formula Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “zero irritation or peeling — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “only Vitamin C my sensitive skin can tolerate — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “Best retinol replacement — Medik8 Bakuchiol Peptides”
    • “never had any reaction to it with my sensitive skin — The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA”
  • Texture and Absorption (Lightweight/Elegant) Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA”
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
    • “absorbed effortlessly — Medik8 Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream”
    • “Absorbs fast — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
  • Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Restores moisture — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
    • “Instantly quenched the skin — Medik8 Hydr8 B5 Intense”
    • “Plumps skin with moisture — Medik8 Bakuchiol Peptides”
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Value and Pricing Mostly MentionedRarely 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%”
    • “better value than Skinceuticals — Medik8 Super C Ferulic”
  • Brightening and Dark Spots Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “I wake up glowing. It adds back that youthful bloom that I've lost. — Medik8 Sleep Glycolic”
    • “unlocked a serious glow — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “pigmentation lightened slightly — Medik8 Oxy-R Peptides”
    • “Dark spots have faded noticeably — The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA”
  • Other Minor Complaints and Performance Issues Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “too oily for my combination skin — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “Not as effective as retinol — Medik8 Bakuchiol Peptides”
    • “no difference — Medik8 Oxy-R Peptides”
    • “foams up like soap — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
  • Pilling and Makeup Compatibility Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “Didn't mix well with my foundation — Medik8 Hydr8 B5 Intense”
    • “crumbles and piles under moisturizer — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
  • Skin Irritation and Burning Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “stinging sensation — Medik8 Super C Ferulic”
    • “caused slight redness — Medik8 Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye 3”
    • “Caused stinging and redness — Medik8 Press & Glow”
    • “irritated AF the next day — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”

The Ordinary vs Medik8 routines for dry skin

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The Ordinary vs Medik8 routines for oily skin

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The Ordinary vs Medik8 routines for combination skin

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Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Medik8: which is better?

Both brands are great, but The Ordinary is better for affordability and value, while Medik8 is often chosen for hydration and brightening. The Ordinary products on this page are known for providing great value serums, and topical hyaluronic acid helps improve skin quality and signs of skin aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Medik8?

The Ordinary delivers better value and pricing, whereas Medik8 performs better for hydration, brightening, and gentle formulas. Both brands offer products on this page that achieve equal routine fit levels for dry, combination, sensitive, mature, and dry sensitive skin.

The Ordinary or Medik8 for dry skin?

Both The Ordinary and Medik8 offer a Superior routine fit for dry skin based on the products on this page. Hyaluronic acid helps provide deep hydration, and topical hyaluronic acid may improve skin quality and signs of skin aging.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Medik8: which cleanser is better?

The Ordinary offers better value with the products on this page, while Medik8 excels in gentleness and soothing performance. For cleansing specifically, both brands feature cleansers with high fit levels across multiple skin types.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Medik8?

The Ordinary offers better value and pricing among the products on this page. Reviewers note that Medik8 has a high price point, whereas The Ordinary provides affordable and great value serums.

Which brand has more fragrance-free products, The Ordinary or Medik8?

The products on this page show that The Ordinary has more fragrance-free options, as every single one of its products lists no fragrance, while Medik8 includes fragrance in one of its items.

How do the founding years and current parent companies of The Ordinary and Medik8 compare?

The Ordinary was founded in Canada in 2016 and is owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. Medik8 was founded in the United Kingdom in 2009 and is owned by L'Oréal Groupe.

Which brand performs better for brightening and dark spots according to reviewers?

Medik8 performs better for brightening and dark spots according to reviewers. The products on this page help improve skin radiance and fade discoloration.

The Ordinary or Medik8 for oily skin?

For oily skin, The Ordinary offers a Superior routine fit, while Medik8 provides a High routine fit.

The Ordinary or Medik8: which moisturizer is better?

Both The Ordinary and Medik8 offer great moisturizers, with The Ordinary providing better value and Medik8 delivering superior deep hydration for dry skin. The products on this page help improve skin quality and signs of aging with ingredients like hyaluronic acid.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Drug Delivery, 2017

The Ordinary or Medik8 for sensitive skin?

Both brands offer a Superior routine fit for sensitive skin, but The Ordinary is better known for its value and pricing. Medik8 formulas may feel more luxurious, though they tend to have a higher price point.

The Ordinary or Medik8 for acne-prone skin?

The Ordinary is a better fit for acne-prone skin, achieving a Superior routine fit level compared to Medik8's High level. The products on this page help clear acne and soothe the skin.

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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