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The Ordinary vs No7

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

The Ordinary and No7 are two established skincare labels offering dedicated serums, moisturizers, and targeted treatments for various complexions. The Canadian brand centers its formulations around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane to suit dry and sensitive skin, while the British brand relies on vitamin C, shea butter, and hyaluronic acid to support dry and mature skin. Both lines address specific concerns through distinct hero products, ranging from specialized acids for blemishes and dark spots to restorative eye and night creams. Ultimately, the two lines diverge in their foundational ingredients and generational expertise, offering shoppers a choice between minimalist scientific actives and comprehensive botanical conditioning.

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

glossy.coen.wikipedia.org

No7 is a British skincare brand founded in 1935 and owned by Sycamore Partners since 2025.

cosmeticsbusiness.comen.wikipedia.org

This page compares some of the most popular The Ordinary and No7 products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular The Ordinary vs No7 products

People Say

The OrdinaryNo7
  • Hydration, plumping, and value Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
    • “lasts forever — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “Skin feels softer — No7 Future Renew Damage Reversal Serum”
    • “zero irritation — No7 Pure Retinol Eye Cream”
  • Smoothes skin texture and improves glow Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “glass skin effect — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “eliminated armpit odor — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “skin feels so soft — No7 Total Renewal Micro-Dermabrasion Exfoliator”
    • “skin feels velvety — No7 Pure Retinol”
  • Reduces redness and clears acne Often MentionedNot noted
    • “calms down the redness immediately — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “pimples disappear within a day — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
    • “scars and hormonal acne faded — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
  • Irritation, stinging, and breakouts Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Smells like vinegar — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
    • “irritated AF the next day — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
    • “Can be drying — No7 Pure Retinol 1% Night Concentrate”
    • “caused flaky skin — No7 Pure Retinol”
  • Texture and pilling issues under makeup Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “crumbles and piles under moisturizer — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”

The Ordinary vs No7 routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

The Ordinary vs No7 routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

The Ordinary vs No7 routines for combination skin

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Questions and answers

The Ordinary or No7: which is better?

Both The Ordinary and No7 are great choices, but The Ordinary does better at reducing redness and clearing acne. Lovi rates the routine fit for oily skin as Superior for The Ordinary and High for No7.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and No7?

The Ordinary fits oily skin, sensitive skin, oily acne-prone skin, and skin with dark spots at a higher level than No7. Both brands offer affordable options and help improve skin texture, but The Ordinary is notably better for reducing redness and clearing acne.

The Ordinary or No7 for dry skin?

Both The Ordinary and No7 offer a Superior routine fit for dry skin. The products on this page for both brands feature hyaluronic acid, which helps improve skin quality and signs of skin aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or No7: which moisturizer is better?

Both The Ordinary and No7 offer moisturizers with a Superior routine fit for dry and dry sensitive skin. The Ordinary features fragrance-free options like Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA and Natural Moisturizing Factors + Beta Glucan, whereas certain No7 moisturizers, such as the Future Renew Damage Reversal Night Cream, include fragrance in their ingredients.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or No7?

The products on this page from The Ordinary are noted for affordable and great value serums, whereas No7 does not highlight affordability as a primary brand benefit. Lovi shows that The Ordinary provides superior or high fit levels across a wide range of skin types.

Which brand has fragrance-free products, The Ordinary or No7?

Both The Ordinary and No7 offer fragrance-free options, as every single product on The Ordinary page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, while 10 of the 13 products on the No7 page are also fragrance-free.

The Ordinary or No7 for oily skin?

For oily skin, Lovi finds The Ordinary has a Superior routine fit, while No7 has a High routine fit. The Ordinary does better at reducing redness and clearing acne among the products on this page.

The Ordinary or No7 for sensitive skin?

For sensitive skin, both brands work well, but Lovi rates The Ordinary as Superior and No7 as High. Every product from The Ordinary on this page lists no fragrance, whereas No7 includes fragrance in some of its formulas.

The Ordinary or No7 for acne-prone skin?

Both The Ordinary and No7 provide a Superior routine fit for acne-prone skin. The Ordinary helps reduce redness and clear acne across the products on this page.

The Ordinary or No7 for mature skin?

Both The Ordinary and No7 offer products on this page with a Superior routine fit for mature skin. Lovi rates the routine fit for mature skin as Superior for The Ordinary and Superior for No7. Additionally, topical retinol helps improve naturally aged skin by stimulating collagen accumulation.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000

The Ordinary or No7 for skin with dark spots?

Both The Ordinary and No7 fit skin with dark spots well, but Lovi rates The Ordinary as Superior and No7 as High for this skin type. Niacinamide helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation and melanosome transfer, and the products on this page for The Ordinary offer a higher overall fit level.

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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