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The Ordinary vs Estée Lauder

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

The Ordinary and Estée Lauder are two distinct skincare lines under the same parent company, offering targeted approaches tailored to different needs. The Canadian brand centers its serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and toners on hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane, suiting dry and dry sensitive skin best while also addressing acne-prone, dark-spot, and mature concerns with specific formulas. Meanwhile, the American brand provides a comprehensive range of moisturizers, serums, eye products, and cleansers expertly formulated with hydrating hyaluronic acid and glycerin to suit acne-prone and mature skin through nourishing properties and standout solutions. Ultimately, while both utilize key ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin to enhance hydration and barrier function, they differ in their foundational product range, specific targeted formulations, and overall skin type focus.

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

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Estée Lauder is an American skincare brand founded in 1946 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc..

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

Popular The Ordinary vs Estée Lauder products

People Say

The OrdinaryEstée Lauder
  • Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin drinks it up immediately — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair”
    • “The formula is incredibly hydrating and leaves my skin feeling smooth. — Estée Lauder Re-Nutriv”
    • “texture is dreamy — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Supercharged Gel-Creme”
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • 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%”
    • “skin feels like a baby's bottom — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair”
    • “silky smooth — Estée Lauder Micro Essence Treatment Lotion”
  • Value and Price Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “lasts forever — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “eliminated armpit odor — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “can't beat the price — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
  • Additional Benefits and Performance Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “never had any reaction to it with my sensitive skin — The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA”
    • “Nature's botox — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
    • “included SPF 15 is ideal for mild sun exposure — Estée Lauder DayWear Moisturizer”
    • “stronger — Estée Lauder Micro Essence Treatment Lotion”
  • Lightweight and Fast Absorbing Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA”
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
    • “Absorbs quickly into the skin — Estée Lauder Revitalizing Supreme+”
    • “watery — Estée Lauder Micro Essence Treatment Lotion”
  • Acne and Blemish Control Often MentionedNot 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”
  • High Price Point Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “way too expensive for the size — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair”
  • Inconsistent Results or Formula Issues Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “no change in pigment — The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG”
    • “Skin felt tight an hour later — The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA”
    • “didn't notice any difference — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair”
    • “just expensive water — Estée Lauder Micro Essence Treatment Lotion”
  • Pilling, Sticky, or Heavy Finish Mostly MentionedRarely Noted
    • “tacky film — Estée Lauder Micro Essence Treatment Lotion”
    • “Leaves a greasy film behind — Estée Lauder Take It Away Makeup Remover Lotion”
    • “crumbles and piles under moisturizer — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”

The Ordinary vs Estée Lauder routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

The Ordinary vs Estée Lauder routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 97% fit

The Ordinary vs Estée Lauder routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Estée Lauder: which is better?

The Ordinary is often preferred for value and acne control, while Estée Lauder stands out for deep hydration. Lovi rates The Ordinary as having a Superior routine fit for dry skin, compared to an Average fit for Estée Lauder.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Estée Lauder?

The Ordinary offers better value, acne control, and overall routine fit across most skin types, whereas Estée Lauder stands out for deep hydration and luxurious formulations despite a higher price point. Both brands feature products with hyaluronic acid to help improve skin quality and signs of aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Estée Lauder for dry skin?

The Ordinary offers a superior routine fit for dry skin compared to Estée Lauder. Additionally, products on this page from The Ordinary provide key ingredients like hyaluronic acid, which helps with hydration and wound healing.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Estée Lauder: which cleanser is better?

When comparing cleansers, the products on this page show that both brands offer gentle options, but The Ordinary is known for better value while Estée Lauder excels in hydration.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Estée Lauder?

The Ordinary is more affordable, offering products known for great value, whereas reviewers frequently note high price points as a drawback for Estée Lauder.

Which brand performs better for texture and pores?

The products on this page show that both brands perform equally well for texture and pores. Reviewers note that both brands offer effective options for smoothing texture and refining the look of skin.

Do products from The Ordinary contain fragrance?

Every product from The Ordinary on this page lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

How does the routine fit for mature skin compare between the two brands?

For mature skin, The Ordinary offers a superior routine fit, whereas Estée Lauder provides a high routine fit among the products on this page.

The Ordinary or Estée Lauder for oily skin?

For oily skin, The Ordinary provides a superior routine compared to Estée Lauder. The products on this page help manage oil and blemishes effectively while offering great value.

The Ordinary or Estée Lauder: which moisturizer is better?

When it comes to moisturizers, The Ordinary generally offers better value and superior routine fit levels for dry skin compared to Estée Lauder. The Ordinary products on this page often feature key hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, which helps improve skin hydration and wound healing.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Estée Lauder for sensitive skin?

The Ordinary is a better fit for sensitive skin, offering Superior routine fit compared to Estée Lauder's High fit. Every product on The Ordinary page lists no fragrance, helping you avoid irritation.

The Ordinary or Estée Lauder for acne-prone skin?

The Ordinary is a better choice for acne-prone skin, as the products on this page offer superior acne and blemish control compared to Estée Lauder. The Ordinary achieves a superior routine fit for acne-prone skin, whereas Estée Lauder achieves a high fit.

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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