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The Ordinary vs Minimalist

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

The Ordinary and Minimalist are two contemporary skincare lines that offer targeted, ingredient-led solutions for diverse complexions. The Ordinary is known for serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and toners featuring hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane, while the brand specializes in sunscreens, moisturizers, and cleansers. Both brands suit different needs, with the former fitting dry and sensitive skin best and the latter suiting acne-prone and oily skin. They primarily differ in their regional origins, founding years, corporate ownership, and core formulations.

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

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Minimalist is an Indian skincare brand founded in 2020 and owned by Unilever PLC since 2025.

m.economictimes.comunilever.combeminimalist.copersonalcareinsights.com

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

Popular The Ordinary vs Minimalist products

People Say

The OrdinaryMinimalist
  • Hydration and plumping Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “very moisturizing — Minimalist SPF 50 Sunscreen”
    • “calmed it when my skin was super irritated — Minimalist Vitamin B5 10% Moisturizer”
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Great value and affordable 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
    • “doesn't make skin feel tight — Minimalist Salicylic Acid + LHA 2% Face Cleanser”
    • “zero smell — Minimalist Vitamin B5 10% Moisturizer”
    • “great for sensitive skin — Minimalist Salicylic Acid + LHA 2% Face Cleanser”
    • “Finally a cleanser that doesn't sting my face. — The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser”
  • Matte finish and oil control Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “perfect moisturizer for oily skin — Minimalist Vitamin B5 10% Moisturizer”
    • “keeps skin oil-free for hours — Minimalist Salicylic Acid + LHA 2% Face Cleanser”
    • “controlled my sebum production — The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
  • Texture smoothing and improvement Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “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”
  • Lightweight absorption Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “absorbs quickly and doesn't feel greasy — Minimalist Vitamin B5 10% Moisturizer”
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
  • Sticky finish Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “feels very sticky — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
    • “feels very sticky — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
    • “sticky after application feel — Minimalist Vitamin B5 10% Moisturizer”
  • Pilling under makeup Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “pills under makeup — Minimalist SPF 50 Sunscreen”
    • “crumbles and piles under moisturizer — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
  • Unpleasant 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”
    • “smells like chemicals — Minimalist Salicylic Acid + LHA 2% Face Cleanser”
  • Drying formulas Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “incredibly drying — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “dried out skin — The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG”
    • “not moisturizing enough — Minimalist Vitamin B5 10% Moisturizer”

The Ordinary vs Minimalist routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

The Ordinary vs Minimalist routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

The Ordinary vs Minimalist routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Minimalist: which is better?

The Ordinary is a Superior fit for dry skin, whereas Minimalist achieves a High fit level for this skin type. The Ordinary is best suited for dry, sensitive skin, and skin with dark spots, while Minimalist works best for acne-prone, oily, and combination skin.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Minimalist?

The Ordinary offers superior value and a wider selection of serums, while Minimalist delivers better hydration and oil control with a smaller range. Lovi rates The Ordinary as Superior for dry skin compared to Minimalist which has a High routine fit for dry skin.

The Ordinary or Minimalist for dry skin?

The Ordinary is the better choice for dry skin because Lovi rates its routine as Superior, compared to High for Minimalist. The Ordinary also offers more affordable prices for its serums and better texture-smoothing benefits.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Minimalist?

The Ordinary is more affordable, as reviewers often note its great value and budget-friendly prices for serums.

When were The Ordinary and Minimalist founded, and who owns them?

The Ordinary was founded in Canada in 2016 and is owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. Minimalist was founded in India in 2020 and is owned by Unilever PLC.

Which brand performs better for hydration and plumping according to review themes?

Minimalist performs better for hydration and plumping based on review themes. Hyaluronic acid helps provide hydration and plumping benefits across the products on this page.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Do any products from either The Ordinary or Minimalist contain fragrance?

Every product on this page from both The Ordinary and Minimalist lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

The Ordinary or Minimalist for sensitive skin?

The Ordinary is a better fit for sensitive skin, offering Superior routine fit compared to Minimalist's High. Reviewers note that The Ordinary products on this page help provide gentle and non-irritating care.

The Ordinary or Minimalist for acne-prone skin?

For acne-prone skin, both brands offer routines with a Superior Lovi fit level. The Ordinary features affordable dark spot fading and acne-clearing serums on this page, while Minimalist is noted by reviewers for a better matte finish and lightweight absorption.

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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