🇫🇷France

The Ordinary vs RoC

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

The Ordinary and RoC are accessible skincare brands offering diverse serums, moisturizers, and cleansers built around effective ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, squalane, and retinol. The Canadian line features single-ingredient focuses that suit dry, dry sensitive, acne-prone, and mature skin best, while the French line relies on targeted formulations to serve mature skin and skin with dark spots well. Ultimately, both brands differ through their formulation approaches, as the first centers on customizable actives and the second on expertly blended proprietary complexes.

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

glossy.coen.wikipedia.org

RoC is a French skincare brand founded in 1957 and owned by Bridgepoint Group plc since 2024.

en.wikipedia.orgprnewswire.combeautymatter.com

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

Popular The Ordinary vs RoC products

People Say

The OrdinaryRoC
  • Skin Texture Smoothing Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “glass skin effect — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “skin feels baby butt smooth — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
    • “diminished my forehead lines — RoC Derm Correxion Fill + Treat Serum”
    • “face looked smoother — RoC Daily Resurfacing Disks”
  • Great Value and Pricing Mostly MentionedSometimes 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%”
    • “Worth the price — RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Eye Cream”
  • Hydration and Plumping Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “skin is no longer dry — RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Max Hydration Cream”
    • “Areas stay hydrated all day — RoC Multi Correxion Hydrate + Plump Eye Cream”
    • “My skin looks smoother and hydrated. — RoC Derm Correxion Contour Cream”
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Gentle and Non-Irritating Formula 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”
    • “doesn't leave my skin feeling tight — RoC BARRIER RENEW® GEL-TO-FOAM CLEANSER”
    • “No irritation for me — RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Eye Cream”
  • Effective Wrinkle and Fine Line Reduction Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “wrinkles look less deep — RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream”
    • “Fine lines definitely softer — RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Eye Cream”
    • “crow's feet are fading — RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Serum”
  • Matte and Non-Greasy Finish Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “absorbs nicely — RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream”
    • “Absorbs easily and quickly — RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Eye Cream”
    • “absorbs quickly without residue — RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Max Hydration Cream”
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA”
  • Unpleasant Scent and Fragrance 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 perfume — RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream”
  • Skin Irritation and Harshness Rarely NotedSometimes Noted
    • “ruined moisture barrier — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “Caused breakouts — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
    • “caused redness and burning — The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
    • “caused redness and stinging — RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream”
  • Sticky and Tacky Finish Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “slightly tacky feel — RoC Multi Correxion Revive + Glow Daily Serum”
    • “feels very sticky — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”

The Ordinary vs RoC routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

The Ordinary vs RoC routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 97% fit

The Ordinary vs RoC routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or RoC: which is better?

Both brands are great choices depending on your goals, as The Ordinary offers better value and affordable serums while RoC excels at wrinkle and fine line reduction. Retinol helps stimulate collagen accumulation in naturally aged skin.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000

What is the difference between The Ordinary and RoC?

The Ordinary offers more affordable skincare with fragrance-free formulas, while RoC focuses on anti-aging benefits with ingredients like retinol. Both brands provide effective options, but The Ordinary is well-suited for sensitive skin types, whereas RoC helps reduce wrinkles and fine lines.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000

The Ordinary or RoC for dry skin?

Both The Ordinary and RoC achieve a Superior routine fit for dry skin. The Ordinary offers fragrance-free formulas that shoppers often praise for affordability, while RoC includes ingredients like retinol that help stimulate collagen accumulation in naturally aged human skin.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000Archives of Dermatology, 2007

The Ordinary or RoC: which cleanser is better?

The Ordinary offers a great range of cleansers like the Glycolipid Cream Cleanser and Glucoside Foaming Cleanser that suit dry and sensitive skin very well. RoC features options such as the Barrier Renew Gel-to-Foam Cleanser, which also helps clean and refresh the skin effectively.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or RoC?

The Ordinary is more affordable, as reviewers often mention its great value and pricing compared to RoC.

Which brand has a stronger fragrance or scent issue according to reviewers, The Ordinary or RoC?

RoC has a stronger fragrance or scent issue, as some reviewers note it has a strong fragrance and scent while every product on The Ordinary page lists no fragrance.

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

The Ordinary was founded in Canada in 2016 and is owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. In contrast, RoC was founded in France in 1957 and is owned by Bridgepoint Group plc.

Which brand performs better for hydration and plumping based on review themes?

RoC performs better for hydration and plumping based on review themes. Hyaluronic acid helps provide hydration and anti-aging effects in skin.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or RoC for sensitive skin?

The Ordinary offers a Superior fit for sensitive skin, whereas RoC provides a High fit. Reviewers note that the products on this page from The Ordinary are gentle and non-irritating, and every product on the page lists no fragrance.

The Ordinary or RoC: which moisturizer is better?

The Ordinary is a better choice for shoppers seeking value, as it offers products like Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA which provides superior fit levels for dry skin. Retinol helps stimulate collagen accumulation in naturally aged skin, making RoC moisturizers effective for anti-aging benefits.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000

The Ordinary or RoC for acne-prone skin?

Both The Ordinary and RoC offer a Superior routine fit for acne-prone skin. The Ordinary features affordable acne-clearing serums with ingredients like niacinamide, which helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

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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