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The Ordinary vs Pixi

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

The Ordinary and Pixi are popular skincare brands that offer a thoughtful array of serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and toners. The Canadian brand centers its formulations around ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane, while the British brand is loved for its nourishing toners, targeted serums, and refreshing eye products. Both lines suit dry skin, though the former fits sensitive skin best and the latter accommodates acne-prone skin. Ultimately, they differ in their foundational ingredients and specific target concerns, while each providing balanced care for varying daily needs.

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

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Pixi is a British skincare brand founded in 1999.

pixibeauty.comtracxn.compitchbook.com

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

Popular The Ordinary vs Pixi products

People Say

The OrdinaryPixi
  • Hydration and plumping Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Instant surge of hydration — Pixi Hydrating Milky Mist”
    • “deeply hydrates and balances — Pixi Antioxidant Tonic”
    • “leaves under-eyes super soft — Pixi DetoxifEYE Depuffing Eye Patches”
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Improves skin texture and smoothness Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “glass skin effect — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “skin feels baby butt smooth — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
    • “Skin feels incredible, so smooth — Pixi Glow Peel Pads”
    • “forehead bumps gone — Pixi Glow Tonic”
  • 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%”
  • Instant glow and radiance Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “gives instant glow — Pixi Glow Tonic”
    • “Skin is noticeably brighter — Pixi Glow Peel Pads”
    • “healthy radiance — Pixi Glow Mist”
    • “tight, bright and shiny — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
  • Lightweight absorption Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Absorbs fairly quickly into the skin. — Pixi Vitamin-C Serum”
    • “unique gel-like texture — Pixi Antioxidant Tonic”
    • “absorbs really fast — Pixi Rose Oil Blend”
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
  • Redness reduction and soothing Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “calms down the redness immediately — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “deflates morning bags — The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG”
    • “instantly cooling upon application — Pixi DetoxifEYE Depuffing Eye Patches”
    • “calms my redness instantly — Pixi Rose Tonic”
  • Sticky or tacky finish and residue Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “feels very sticky — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
    • “feels very sticky — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
    • “too greasy — Pixi Glow Mist”
    • “slightly tacky to touch — Pixi Antioxidant Tonic”
  • 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”
    • “smell is overpowering — Pixi Glow Tonic”
  • Skin stinging, burning, and irritation Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Massive burning sensation — Pixi Glow Peel Pads”
    • “burned my face — Pixi Glow Tonic”
    • “Not for those with super-sensitive skin — Pixi Glow Peel Pads”
    • “stings a little but worth it — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
  • Makeup pilling and compatibility issues Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “separates foundation — Pixi Glow Mist”
    • “It doesn't work with my makeup at all. — Pixi Vitamin-C Serum”
    • “crumbles and piles under moisturizer — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”

The Ordinary vs Pixi routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

The Ordinary vs Pixi routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

The Ordinary vs Pixi routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Pixi: which is better?

Both The Ordinary and Pixi offer great value and equal routine fit across all skin types, so the choice depends on your ingredient preferences and budget. The Ordinary is known for affordable, single-ingredient serums without fragrance, whereas Pixi provides popular toners and mists with a focus on deep hydration and instant glow.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Pixi?

The Ordinary offers budget-friendly, fragrance-free formulas that focus heavily on active ingredients, whereas Pixi delivers lightweight hydration and radiance with products that often feature added fragrances and botanical extracts. Both brands achieve superior routine fit levels across all skin types.

The Ordinary or Pixi for dry skin?

Both The Ordinary and Pixi offer a Superior routine fit for dry skin. The Ordinary features a high concentration of hydrating key ingredients across the products on this page like hyaluronic acid, which helps improve skin moisture and supports wound healing.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015

The Ordinary or Pixi: which moisturizer is better?

Both The Ordinary and Pixi offer moisturizers and hydrating oils, with The Ordinary achieving a Superior routine fit for dry skin through fragrance-free options like Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA. Pixi also reaches a Superior routine fit for dry skin with products like the Hydrating Milky Mist, though 3 of its 10 products on this page contain fragrance.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Pixi?

The Ordinary is more affordable because its reviewers frequently mention its great value and pricing.

Which brand has a stronger fragrance profile across its products, The Ordinary or Pixi?

Pixi has a stronger fragrance profile across its products, since 3 of the 10 products on its page list a fragrance. In contrast, every product on The Ordinary page lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

How do the founding years and ownership structures of The Ordinary and Pixi differ?

The Ordinary was founded in Canada in 2016 and is owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. Pixi was founded in the United Kingdom in 1999 and is independently owned.

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

Pixi performs better for hydration and plumping according to review themes. Hyaluronic acid helps provide deep hydration across the products on this page.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015

The Ordinary or Pixi for acne-prone skin?

Both The Ordinary and Pixi offer an equal routine fit of Superior for acne-prone skin, with every product on The Ordinary page listing no fragrance while 7 of 10 Pixi products list no fragrance. Hyaluronic acid helps maintain skin hydration, and niacinamide may help control skin aging and pigmentation.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Antioxidants, 2021

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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