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The Ordinary vs Aēsop

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

The Ordinary and Aēsop are two distinctive skincare lines built around well-researched formulations and considered ingredients. The Ordinary offers serums, moisturizers, cleansers, toners, and more, driven by hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane, while Aēsop is widely loved for its thoughtfully formulated moisturizers, cleansers, and serums, all driven by botanical and scientifically validated ingredients. The first brand fits dry skin and dry sensitive skin best, whereas its counterpart suits balanced, combination, and sensitive skin best, owing to their gentle yet effective compositions. Ultimately, both differ primarily in their core ingredient philosophies and the specific skin types they address most effectively.

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

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

Popular The Ordinary vs Aēsop products

People Say

The OrdinaryAēsop
  • Hydration and moisture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “woke up with baby-soft skin — Aēsop Damascan Rose Facial Treatment”
    • “Savior of my winter-fueled dry skin. — Aēsop B Triple C Facial Balancing Gel”
    • “delivers deep hydration that really fills your skin — Aēsop Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Intense Serum”
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Value for money 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%”
  • 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”
    • “my small blemishes noticeably diminished — Aēsop Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Intense Serum”
  • Gentle cleansing and skin balancing Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Intensely hydrating yet mattifying effect. — Aēsop B Triple C Facial Balancing Gel”
    • “Leaves my face feeling soft after cleansing. — Aēsop Parsley Seed Facial Cleanser”
    • “Will not remove makeup—which is exactly what you want for a gentle morning wash. — Aēsop Parsley Seed Facial Cleanser”
    • “never had any reaction to it with my sensitive skin — The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA”
  • Lightweight texture and absorption Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “absorbs well into the skin — Aēsop Damascan Rose Facial Treatment”
    • “absorbs incredibly fast — Aēsop Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Intense Serum”
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
  • Texture smoothing and glow Often MentionedNot noted
    • “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%”
  • High price Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Expensive for Ordinary — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
    • “quantity is too small — Aēsop Damascan Rose Facial Treatment”
  • Sticky or tacky finish Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “feels very sticky — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
    • “feels very sticky — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
    • “Can feel tacky on the skin — The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA”
    • “Thick, almost honey-like, and needs a moment to melt in. — Aēsop B Triple C Facial Balancing Gel”
  • Pilling under makeup Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “crumbles and piles under moisturizer — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “Struggles to get my waterproof mascara off completely. — The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser”
    • “When applied directly to the face, it feels slippery and pills up. — Aēsop B Triple C Facial Balancing Gel”
    • “causes my sunscreen and cushion foundation to pill — Aēsop Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Intense Serum”
  • Packaging and application issues Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “looks like blood mask — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
    • “The 50ml tube runs out way too fast. — The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser”
    • “Annoying that you have to rub it in hands for 10-20 seconds first. — The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser”
    • “The downside is the pump. — Aēsop Parsley Seed Facial Cleanser”
  • Unpleasant scent Rarely NotedSometimes Noted
    • “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”
    • “smells like carrots — Aēsop Damascan Rose Facial Treatment”

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Aēsop: which is better?

The Ordinary offers better value and acne-clearing options, while Aēsop excels in providing deep hydration and luxurious scents.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Aēsop?

The Ordinary offers budget-friendly products known for tackling acne and smoothing skin texture, while Aēsop provides luxurious formulations that deliver deep hydration and a refreshing scent. Reviewers note that The Ordinary products on this page are more affordable, whereas Aēsop excels in moisture and balancing.

The Ordinary or Aēsop: which cleanser is better?

The products on this page from The Ordinary include cleansers that fit dry skin and oily skin well, whereas Aēsop offers cleansers rated lower for dry skin.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Aēsop?

The Ordinary is more affordable than Aēsop, with reviewers frequently noting value for money as a strength for The Ordinary while citing high prices as a drawback for Aēsop.

Which causes fewer breakouts, The Ordinary or Aēsop?

The Ordinary does better for acne clearing and blemish reduction.

Between The Ordinary and Aēsop, which brand is better for deep hydration?

Aēsop is better for deep hydration, as the products on this page outperform The Ordinary in review themes for moisture and hydration.

Which skincare brand is known for having a higher price, The Ordinary or Aēsop?

Aēsop is known for having a higher price, while The Ordinary is noted for offering better value for money and affordability.

Do products from The Ordinary and Aēsop contain added fragrance?

Every product on the products on this page for both The Ordinary and Aēsop lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

The Ordinary or Aēsop: which moisturizer is better?

The Ordinary offers better value for money and acne clearing with moisturizers like Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA, which has a Superior fit for dry skin, whereas Aēsop provides deeper hydration with options like Damascan Rose Facial Treatment.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

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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