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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 two distinct skincare lines known for curated serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and toners. The Canadian brand centers its formulations around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane to suit dry and dry sensitive skin, whereas the British brand weaves together glycerin and shea to deeply restore dry and mature skin. Both brands offer targeted solutions for acne-prone skin, dark spots, and mature skin, yet they differ in their foundational ingredients and overall heritage.

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 · 96% fit

The Ordinary vs Elemis routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Elemis: which is better?

The Ordinary offers better value and prices, whereas Elemis excels in hydration and moisture. Reviewers note that The Ordinary products on this page often feature fragrance-free formulas, while many Elemis products contain added fragrances.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Elemis?

The Ordinary provides better value and is fragrance-free across the products on this page, whereas Elemis focuses on luxurious textures with a higher price point. Both brands offer solid options for dry and mature skin, but The Ordinary achieves a superior routine fit for dry, oily, and sensitive skin types.

The Ordinary or Elemis for dry skin?

The Ordinary offers a superior routine fit for dry skin compared to Elemis, providing highly effective hydration. Topical hyaluronic acid helps improve skin quality and signs of aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Elemis: which cleanser is better?

The Ordinary offers a better cleanser option for everyday value and ingredient simplicity, featuring fragrance-free choices like the Glycolipid Cream Cleanser that are well-suited for multiple skin types. Elemis provides luxurious cleansers with strong fragrances, which may cause sensitivity for some users.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Elemis?

The Ordinary is more affordable than Elemis, offering budget-friendly serums and great overall value as noted by reviewers. In contrast, Elemis frequently receives complaints regarding its high price point.

Which brand has a better routine fit for mature skin?

The Ordinary has a better routine fit for mature skin, reaching a Superior level compared to Elemis which is High. Reviewers often mention The Ordinary for smoothing and refining skin texture at an affordable price.

Do products from The Ordinary or Elemis contain fragrance?

The products on this page from The Ordinary list no fragrance in their ingredients, while most products from Elemis on this page do list fragrance. Specifically, 18 out of 22 Elemis products contain fragrance.

Which brand is better for fading dark spots?

The Ordinary is a better choice for fading dark spots, as Lovi rates its routine as Superior compared to High for Elemis. Reviewers frequently praise The Ordinary for its dark spot fading serums, and the products on this page list no fragrance.

The Ordinary or Elemis for oily skin?

The Ordinary offers a superior routine fit for oily skin compared to Elemis, which has a high fit. Reviewers often mention The Ordinary for smoothing skin texture and providing great value, while Elemis products on this page frequently feature heavy, thick, or sticky texture issues.

The Ordinary or Elemis: which moisturizer is better?

The Ordinary is often a better choice for moisturizers due to offering superior value and price alongside highly rated options like Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA. Elemis moisturizers provide luxurious hydration and smoother texture, but reviewers frequently note a high price point.

The Ordinary or Elemis for sensitive skin?

The Ordinary is superior for sensitive skin because Lovi rates its routine fit as Superior compared to High for Elemis. Reviewers also note that the products on this page from The Ordinary have the advantage regarding scent and fragrance, while Elemis has occasional mentions of strong fragrance and skin irritation.

The Ordinary or Elemis for acne-prone skin?

Both The Ordinary and Elemis fit acne-prone skin well, but The Ordinary offers better value and a wider range of fragrance-free products on this page. Salicylic acid helps clear blemishes, and the products on this page are unlikely to cause irritation.

American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2019

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

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