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The Ordinary vs Elemis

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

The Ordinary and Elemis are distinct skincare brands founded in Canada in 2016 and Britain in 1989, respectively. The Canadian brand offers serums, moisturizers, cleansers, toners, and more built around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane, suiting dry and dry sensitive skin best. Conversely, the British brand is celebrated for its curation of nourishing serums, rich moisturizers, gentle cleansers, refreshing toners, and more anchored by hydrating glycerin and softening shea, primarily suiting mature and dry skin. While both share an appreciation for glycerin, the former focuses on specialized active treatments for various concerns, whereas the latter emphasizes restorative formulas designed to restore suppleness.

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

glossy.coen.wikipedia.org

Elemis is a British skincare brand founded in 1989 and owned by L'Occitane Group since 2019.

elemis.comau.elemis.comen.wikipedia.org

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

Popular The Ordinary vs Elemis products

People Say

The OrdinaryElemis
  • Texture and Absorption Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Absorbs almost immediately, and my skin feels well hydrated all day. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
    • “whipped silk feel — Elemis Superfood Midnight Facial”
    • “cloud-light gel formula — Elemis Pro-Collagen Eye Revive Mask”
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA”
  • Smooths and Refines Skin Texture 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%”
    • “baby soft — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads”
  • Hydration and Moisture Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “The cream really hydrates and my face looks amazing. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Night Cream”
    • “Quenches thirsty skin... immediate improvement. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
    • “skin feels baby soft — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Value and 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%”
  • Other Benefits and Features Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “eliminated armpit odor — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “pores look significantly smaller — The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
    • “Nature's botox — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
    • “My neck doesn't sag... plumps my skin to look more youthful. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Night Cream”
  • Gentle and Sensitive Skin Friendly Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “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”
    • “no stinging or redness — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
    • “Feels incredibly gentle and instantly rebalances my skin's pH. — Elemis Balancing Lavender Toner”
  • High Price Point Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “Complete waste of money for me. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
  • Heavy, Thick, or Sticky Texture Issues Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “Great product, a bit heavy. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Night Cream”
    • “slightly tacky to touch — Elemis Pro-Collagen Eye Revive Mask”
    • “leaves white flakes — Elemis Pro-Collagen Advanced Eye Treatment”
    • “feels very sticky — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Other Complaints and Issues Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “blurry vision — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
    • “tends to flake off — Elemis Pro-Collagen Eye Revive Mask”
    • “slight tingling sensation — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash”
    • “foams up like soap — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
  • Scent and Fragrance 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”
    • “The smell is very strong... could not handle for long. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”

The Ordinary vs Elemis routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 97% fit

The Ordinary vs Elemis routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

The Ordinary vs Elemis routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Elemis: which is better?

The Ordinary offers better value with more affordable and fragrance-free products on this page, while Elemis provides more luxurious textures and richer hydration. Lovi rates The Ordinary as having a Superior routine fit for dry skin, whereas Elemis has a High fit level.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Elemis?

The Ordinary focuses on targeted, fragrance-free formulas that offer affordable value, while Elemis leans toward luxurious, highly rated hydrating moisturizers that often include fragrance. Both brands perform well for dry and sensitive skin, but The Ordinary has superior routine fit levels across most skin types.

The Ordinary or Elemis for dry skin?

The Ordinary offers a superior routine fit for dry skin compared to Elemis, which has a high fit. The Ordinary features fragrance-free products on this page and provides better value, while Elemis leans toward luxury textures and hydration.

The Ordinary or Elemis: which cleanser is better?

The Ordinary is a better choice for cleansers because the products on this page offer great value and have no fragrance, whereas Elemis products often come with a high price point and a strong fragrance.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Elemis?

The Ordinary is more affordable, offering products noted for great value compared to Elemis, which has a high price point. Reviewers frequently mention value and price as a strong point for The Ordinary and high prices for Elemis.

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

The Ordinary has more fragrance-free products, as every product on its page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, whereas only 4 of the 22 products on the Elemis page are fragrance-free.

The Ordinary or Elemis: which is better for mature skin?

The Ordinary is better for mature skin on this page, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to Elemis's High fit. Reviewers also note that The Ordinary provides better value and price alongside targeted anti-aging benefits.

Which brand is owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc., The Ordinary or Elemis?

The Ordinary is owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 2021, whereas Elemis is owned by L'Occitane Group.

The Ordinary or Elemis for oily skin?

The Ordinary offers a Superior routine fit for oily skin, whereas Elemis has a High fit. The Ordinary features targeted ingredients like niacinamide that help regulate oil production and improve skin clarity.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

The Ordinary or Elemis: which moisturizer is better?

The Ordinary offers better-fitting moisturizers for dry skin, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to Elemis, which reaches a High fit level. The Ordinary products on this page also list no fragrance, helping to avoid skin irritation.

The Ordinary or Elemis for sensitive skin?

The Ordinary is a better fit for sensitive skin, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to Elemis at High. Furthermore, every product on The Ordinary page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, whereas most Elemis products contain added fragrance.

The Ordinary or Elemis for acne-prone skin?

Both brands are a High fit for acne-prone skin, but The Ordinary may be better for shoppers seeking fragrance-free options and lower prices. The Ordinary offers products on this page with High and Superior fit levels for acne-prone skin, while Elemis provides a High fit for its acne-prone skin routine.

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

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