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The Ordinary vs Allies of Skin

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

The Ordinary and Allies of Skin are skincare brands that serve distinct approaches and routines. The Canadian brand centers its serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and toners around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane to suit dry and dry sensitive skin, whereas Allies of Skin is loved for thoughtful moisturizers, targeted serums, and advanced eye products infused with niacinamide to suit dry and oily acne-prone skin best. Both offer specialized care for acne-prone skin, dark spots, and mature skin, yet they differ through formulations where the first brand builds around single key ingredients and the other features advanced, multi-tasking blends.

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

glossy.coen.wikipedia.org

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

Popular The Ordinary vs Allies of Skin products

People Say

The OrdinaryAllies of Skin
  • Skin Texture Improvement and Smoothing 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 looks smoother and brighter — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “Woke up looking well-rested — Allies of Skin Retinal & Peptides Repair Night Cream”
  • Hydration and Plumping Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “nourished and hydrated — Allies of Skin Peptides & Omegas Firming Eye Cream”
    • “more like a spray serum — Allies of Skin Molecular Saviour Probiotics Treatment Mist”
    • “Skin feels hydrated — Allies of Skin Copper Tripeptide & Ectoin Advanced Repair Serum”
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • 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%”
  • Gentle and Non-Irritating Formulation Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Leaves my face feeling soft and not tight at all. — The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser”
    • “Finally a cleanser that doesn't sting my face. — The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser”
    • “Best retinol for sensitive skin — Allies of Skin Retinal & Peptides Repair Night Cream”
    • “feels super soothing, doesn't trigger redness — Allies of Skin Tranexamic & Arbutin Advanced Brightening Serum”
  • Acne Clearing and Blemish Reduction Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “pimples disappear within a day — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
    • “scars and hormonal acne faded — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “faded dark spots — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “Dramatic impact on acne — Allies of Skin Retinal & Peptides Repair Night Cream”
  • Lightweight Absorption and Texture Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “sinks easily into damp skin — Allies of Skin Tranexamic & Arbutin Advanced Brightening Serum”
    • “Absorbs instantly without sticky feeling — Allies of Skin Peptides & Antioxidants Firming Daily Treatment”
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
  • High Price Point Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Expensive for Ordinary — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
    • “Pricey — Allies of Skin Copper Tripeptide & Ectoin Advanced Repair Serum”
  • Sticky and Tacky Finish Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “didn't like how sticky face feels — Allies of Skin Molecular Saviour Probiotics Treatment Mist”
    • “feels very sticky — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Stinging and Skin Irritation Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Slightly irritating... when I first started — Allies of Skin Copper Tripeptide & Ectoin Advanced Repair Serum”
    • “rashes popped up on my neck — Allies of Skin Tranexamic & Arbutin Advanced Brightening Serum”
    • “stings my eyes — Allies of Skin Peptides & Omegas Firming Eye Cream”
    • “stings a little but worth it — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
  • Slow or Ineffective Results Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “no change in pigment — The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG”
    • “not a miracle worker overnight — The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA”
    • “Didn't do anything special — The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA”
    • “still not impressed with the results — Allies of Skin Tranexamic & Arbutin Advanced Brightening Serum”

The Ordinary vs Allies of Skin routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 97% fit

The Ordinary vs Allies of Skin routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

The Ordinary vs Allies of Skin routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Allies of Skin: which is better?

Both The Ordinary and Allies of Skin provide superior routine fit levels across most skin types, with The Ordinary standing out for offering great value, affordability, and effective acne-clearing serums. Allies of Skin tends to be better for hydration and plumping, though reviewers often note a higher price point and initial skin reactions compared to the products on this page.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Allies of Skin?

The Ordinary offers more affordable prices and better acne-clearing serums among the products on this page, whereas Allies of Skin delivers higher hydration and plumping. Both brands provide fragrance-free formulas, but Allies of Skin comes at a higher price point and is more often noted for initial irritation.

The Ordinary or Allies of Skin for dry skin?

Both The Ordinary and Allies of Skin are a Superior fit for dry skin. The products on this page help deliver intense hydration and barrier support.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Allies of Skin: which moisturizer is better?

The products on this page show that both The Ordinary and Allies of Skin offer moisturizers with a Superior routine fit for dry skin. The Ordinary features options like Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA while Allies of Skin provides the Molecular Saviour Probiotics Treatment Mist, and both brands are free of fragrance across their ranges.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Allies of Skin?

The Ordinary is more affordable, as reviewers on the products on this page frequently praise its great value and pricing, whereas Allies of Skin carries a high price point.

How do The Ordinary and Allies of Skin compare for skin texture improvement?

For skin texture improvement, The Ordinary does better among the products on this page. Reviewers note that its texture-smoothing serums help refine the skin effectively.

Which brand is better for addressing skin with dark spots, The Ordinary or Allies of Skin?

Both brands are great for skin with dark spots, with Lovi giving the products on this page a Superior fit for this concern. Reviewers say that The Ordinary offers great value for fading dark spots, while Allies of Skin provides effective brightening serums.

What key ingredients are found across The Ordinary and Allies of Skin products?

The products on this page from The Ordinary list hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane as key ingredients, while Allies of Skin products feature niacinamide across their range. Topical hyaluronic acid helps improve skin quality and signs of aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

The Ordinary or Allies of Skin for oily skin?

Both brands achieve a Superior routine fit for oily skin, making them equally well-suited options on this page. The Ordinary offers great value and acne-clearing products, while Allies of Skin provides lightweight absorption and effective moisturizers.

The Ordinary or Allies of Skin for sensitive skin?

Both The Ordinary and Allies of Skin achieve a Superior routine fit for sensitive skin. The products on this page help deliver gentle care, though Allies of Skin may carry a higher likelihood of initial irritation based on reviewer feedback.

The Ordinary or Allies of Skin for acne-prone skin?

The products on this page show that Allies of Skin has a Superior routine fit for acne-prone skin, while The Ordinary has a High routine fit for acne-prone 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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