🇫🇷France

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 · 98% fit

The Ordinary vs Elemis routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 97% 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 delivers better value and fragrance-free formulas, whereas Elemis offers luxurious hydrating moisturizers for dry and mature skin types. Lovi rates The Ordinary as Superior across all skin types compared to Elemis at High.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Elemis?

The Ordinary focuses on affordable, fragrance-free targeted treatments that Lovi rates as a Superior fit across every skin type, whereas Elemis offers a more luxurious, highly fragranced range that is a High fit for dry and mature skin. Reviewers note that The Ordinary delivers great value and smooths skin texture, while Elemis stands out for hydration and rich moisturizers.

The Ordinary or Elemis for dry skin?

For dry skin, both brands work well, but The Ordinary has a superior routine fit compared to the high fit of Elemis. Reviewers frequently praise The Ordinary for affordability and Elemis for hydrating moisturizers, while every product on The Ordinary page lists no fragrance.

The Ordinary or Elemis: which cleanser is better?

Both brands offer cleansers that are generally well received, with Glycolipid Cream Cleanser from The Ordinary achieving a High Lovi fit for dry skin and Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash from Elemis achieving a High Lovi fit for mature skin. The Ordinary stands out for value and price, while Elemis excels in hydration and moisture.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Elemis?

The Ordinary offers much more affordable products and better value overall compared to Elemis. Reviewers frequently praise The Ordinary for its budget-friendly serums, whereas Elemis's high price point is a common complaint.

Between The Ordinary and Elemis, which brand offers fragrance-free products?

The Ordinary offers fragrance-free products, as every product on its page lists no fragrance in its ingredients. In contrast, most of Elemis's products on this page contain added fragrance.

How do the founding years and corporate ownership of The Ordinary and Elemis compare?

The Ordinary was founded in Canada in 2016 and is owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc., whereas Elemis was founded in the United Kingdom in 1989 and is owned by the L'Occitane Group.

Which brand performs better for hydration and moisture according to reviewers?

Elemis performs better for hydration and moisture according to reviewers.

The Ordinary or Elemis for oily skin?

When it comes to oily skin, The Ordinary provides a Superior routine fit compared to Elemis, which offers a High fit. Shoppers praise The Ordinary for its affordable serums and gentle formulas, while Elemis is noted for having a higher price point and a strong fragrance in many of its products.

The Ordinary or Elemis: which moisturizer is better?

Both The Ordinary and Elemis offer effective moisturizers, with The Ordinary rated Superior for dry skin compared to Elemis having a High fit. The Ordinary products on this page list no fragrance, while many Elemis options contain added scent. Additionally, Elemis is often noted for luxurious textures and hydration, whereas The Ordinary provides affordable value.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Elemis for sensitive skin?

The Ordinary has a Superior routine fit for sensitive skin, while Elemis has a High fit. Every product from The Ordinary on this page is fragrance-free, whereas most Elemis products contain fragrance.

The Ordinary or Elemis for acne-prone skin?

The Ordinary is a better fit for acne-prone skin, offering superior routine performance compared to Elemis, which has a high fit. The Ordinary products on this page list no fragrance, while Elemis includes fragrance in the majority of its products.

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?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play