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The Ordinary vs Medik8

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

The Ordinary and Medik8 are prominent skincare brands offering serums, moisturizers, cleansers, toners, and eye products built around key ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane. Both brands suit dry skin and dry sensitive skin best, while providing targeted formulas for acne-prone skin, dark spots, and mature skin. The Canadian brand, founded in 2016 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 2021, relies on hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane to reduce wrinkles, increase hydration, and boost collagen. Conversely, the British brand, founded in 2009 and acquired by L'Oréal Groupe in 2025, utilizes hyaluronic acid to lengthen wrinkle reduction effects differently.

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

glossy.coen.wikipedia.org

Medik8 is a British skincare brand founded in 2009 and owned by L'Oréal Groupe since 2025.

loreal.commedik8.comtracxn.com

This page compares some of the most popular The Ordinary and Medik8 products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular The Ordinary vs Medik8 products

People Say

The OrdinaryMedik8
  • Texture and Pores Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “glass skin effect — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “pores look significantly smaller — The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
    • “smoother skin — Medik8 Surface Radiance Cleanse”
    • “My skin was smoother, my skin texture felt more resurfaced. — Medik8 Sleep Glycolic”
  • Gentle and Non-Irritating Formula Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “zero irritation or peeling — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “only Vitamin C my sensitive skin can tolerate — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “Best retinol replacement — Medik8 Bakuchiol Peptides”
    • “never had any reaction to it with my sensitive skin — The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA”
  • Texture and Absorption (Lightweight/Elegant) Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA”
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
    • “absorbed effortlessly — Medik8 Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream”
    • “Absorbs fast — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
  • Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Restores moisture — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
    • “Instantly quenched the skin — Medik8 Hydr8 B5 Intense”
    • “Plumps skin with moisture — Medik8 Bakuchiol Peptides”
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Value and Pricing Mostly MentionedRarely 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%”
    • “better value than Skinceuticals — Medik8 Super C Ferulic”
  • Brightening and Dark Spots Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “I wake up glowing. It adds back that youthful bloom that I've lost. — Medik8 Sleep Glycolic”
    • “unlocked a serious glow — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “pigmentation lightened slightly — Medik8 Oxy-R Peptides”
    • “Dark spots have faded noticeably — The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA”
  • Other Minor Complaints and Performance Issues Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “too oily for my combination skin — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “Not as effective as retinol — Medik8 Bakuchiol Peptides”
    • “no difference — Medik8 Oxy-R Peptides”
    • “foams up like soap — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
  • Pilling and Makeup Compatibility Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “Didn't mix well with my foundation — Medik8 Hydr8 B5 Intense”
    • “crumbles and piles under moisturizer — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
  • Skin Irritation and Burning Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “stinging sensation — Medik8 Super C Ferulic”
    • “caused slight redness — Medik8 Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye 3”
    • “Caused stinging and redness — Medik8 Press & Glow”
    • “irritated AF the next day — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”

The Ordinary vs Medik8 routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 97% fit

The Ordinary vs Medik8 routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

The Ordinary vs Medik8 routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Medik8: which is better?

The Ordinary offers better value and pricing, while Medik8 excels in hydration, brightening, and gentle formulas. Both brands feature high routine fits for dry and sensitive skin types across the products on this page.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Medik8?

The Ordinary excels in value and pricing, while Medik8 does better in hydration, brightening, and gentle formulas. Both brands offer products on this page that help improve skin texture and hydration.

The Ordinary or Medik8 for dry skin?

Both The Ordinary and Medik8 offer a Superior routine fit for dry skin. The Ordinary features key moisturizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane across the products on this page to help support hydration.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Medik8: which cleanser is better?

Both The Ordinary and Medik8 offer great cleansers with distinct benefits for different skin types. The products on this page include options like The Ordinary Glycolipid Cream Cleanser and Medik8 Surface Radiance Cleanse, helping shoppers choose based on their specific hydration or brightening needs.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Medik8?

The Ordinary offers better affordability, as reviewers often note value and pricing as a strong advantage for the products on this page.

Which brand has more products containing fragrance, The Ordinary or Medik8?

Medik8 has more products containing fragrance, as 1 of its 12 products on the page lists a fragrance, while The Ordinary has zero fragranced products.

How do the founding years and current parent companies of The Ordinary and Medik8 compare?

The Ordinary was founded in Canada in 2016 and has been owned by The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. since 2021, whereas Medik8 was founded in the United Kingdom in 2009 and is owned by L'Oreal Groupe as of 2025.

Which brand performs better for brightening and dark spots according to reviewers?

Medik8 performs better for brightening and dark spots according to reviewers. The products on this page for both brands feature effective key ingredients like hyaluronic acid, but Medik8 is specifically noted for brighter results.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Medik8 for oily skin?

The Ordinary is a better fit for oily skin, as its routine fit level for oily skin is Superior, whereas Medik8 reaches a High fit level.

The Ordinary or Medik8: which moisturizer is better?

Both The Ordinary and Medik8 offer moisturizers that provide deep hydration. The Ordinary stands out for delivering great value, while Medik8 provides more luxurious textures and enhanced brightening effects.

The Ordinary or Medik8 for sensitive skin?

Both The Ordinary and Medik8 provide a Superior routine fit for sensitive skin. The products on this page for both brands are formulated without fragrance.

The Ordinary or Medik8 for acne-prone skin?

Both The Ordinary and Medik8 are well suited for acne-prone skin, with routine fit levels reaching High for both brands on this page. Niacinamide helps reduce pigmentation and soothe skin, while ingredients like salicylic acid and retinoids assist in clearing pores and improving texture.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000

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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