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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 skincare brands built around hyaluronic acid, offering serums, moisturizers, cleansers, toners, and more. The Canadian brand is known for glycerin and squalane, suiting dry skin and dry sensitive skin best, while the British brand is known for suiting dry skin and sensitive skin best. Both brands differ in their specific offerings for acne-prone skin, skin with dark spots, and mature skin, as well as their founding years, parent companies, and origins.

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

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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 · 98% fit

The Ordinary vs Medik8 routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 97% 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?

Both The Ordinary and Medik8 offer great options, but The Ordinary provides better value and pricing while Medik8 is often praised for superior hydration, moisture, and brightening results.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Medik8?

The Ordinary stands out for offering affordable and great value serums across the products on this page, whereas Medik8 is noted for providing deeper hydration and moisture. Both brands feature gentle and non-irritating formulas that fit dry skin, sensitive skin, and dry sensitive skin exceptionally well.

The Ordinary or Medik8 for dry skin?

Both brands achieve a Superior routine fit for dry skin. Hyaluronic acid helps provide deep hydration and moisture.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Drug Delivery, 2017

The Ordinary or Medik8: which cleanser is better?

Both The Ordinary and Medik8 offer great cleansers, with options like Glycolipid Cream Cleanser from The Ordinary and Surface Radiance Cleanse from Medik8 helping to suit different skin needs. Reviewers find that Medik8 tends to provide a more luxurious experience, while The Ordinary delivers better value for the price.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Medik8?

The Ordinary is more affordable than Medik8, offering budget-friendly prices and great value serums among the products on this page.

The Ordinary or Medik8 for fading dark spots?

Both The Ordinary and Medik8 offer a High routine fit for skin with dark spots, while reviewers note that Medik8 does better with brightening and dark spots. Niacinamide may help in reducing cutaneous pigmentation and suppressing melanosome transfer.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

The Ordinary or Medik8 for oily skin?

For oily skin, The Ordinary has a Superior routine fit while Medik8 has a High fit on the products on this page.

The Ordinary or Medik8: which moisturizer is better?

Both The Ordinary and Medik8 offer great moisturizers, with The Ordinary providing better value and Medik8 delivering superior hydration and moisture. The Ordinary products on this page list no fragrance, while Medik8 has 1 of 12 products with fragrance.

The Ordinary or Medik8 for sensitive skin?

Both brands achieve a Superior routine fit for sensitive skin on the products on this page. Reviewers report that Medik8 is gentle and non-irritating, while The Ordinary offers great value.

The Ordinary or Medik8 for acne-prone skin?

Both brands achieve a Superior routine fit for acne-prone skin, but The Ordinary stands out for offering great value serums.

The Ordinary or Medik8 for mature skin?

For mature skin, both The Ordinary and Medik8 offer great options, with routine fits rated as Superior and High respectively. Hyaluronic acid helps provide deep hydration and plumping for aging skin.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Medik8 for dry sensitive skin?

Both The Ordinary and Medik8 provide a Superior routine fit for dry sensitive skin. Reviewers note that Medik8 offers better hydration and moisture, while the products on this page from The Ordinary provide a more affordable value.

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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