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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 prominent skincare brands offering serums, moisturizers, cleansers, toners, and eye products built around key ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane. Both brands suit dry skin and dry sensitive skin best, while providing targeted formulas for acne-prone skin, dark spots, and mature skin. The Canadian brand, founded in 2016 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 2021, relies on hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane to reduce wrinkles, increase hydration, and boost collagen. Conversely, the British brand, founded in 2009 and acquired by L'Oréal Groupe in 2025, utilizes hyaluronic acid to lengthen wrinkle reduction effects differently.

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

glossy.coen.wikipedia.org

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

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The Ordinary vs Medik8 routines for oily skin

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The Ordinary vs Medik8 routines for combination skin

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Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Medik8: which is better?

Both The Ordinary and Medik8 offer great options, with The Ordinary standing out for value and pricing while Medik8 excels in hydration and brightening. For the products on this page, both brands achieve a Superior routine fit for dry skin, combination skin, sensitive skin, mature skin, and dry sensitive skin.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Medik8?

Both The Ordinary and Medik8 offer great routines for most skin types, but The Ordinary is known for being affordable and great value, while Medik8 is praised for hydration, brightening, and gentle formulas.

The Ordinary or Medik8 for dry skin?

Both The Ordinary and Medik8 are a Superior fit for dry skin. The routine fit level is equal for both brands on this page.

The Ordinary or Medik8: which cleanser is better?

Both The Ordinary and Medik8 offer great cleansers, but The Ordinary provides better value while Medik8 is often praised for being exceptionally gentle. For instance, The Ordinary Glycolipid Cream Cleanser has a High fit for dry skin, dry sensitive skin, and oily skin, whereas the Medik8 Surface Radiance Cleanse has a Superior fit for acne-prone skin and oily acne-prone skin.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Medik8?

The Ordinary offers better value and pricing than Medik8, making it the more affordable brand on this page.

Which brand has more fragrance-free products, The Ordinary or Medik8?

Both The Ordinary and Medik8 offer mostly fragrance-free options, but The Ordinary has more fragrance-free products on this page since every single one of its products lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

The Ordinary or Medik8 for oily skin?

For oily skin, The Ordinary achieves a Superior routine fit while Medik8 reaches a High fit on this page.

The Ordinary or Medik8: which moisturizer is better?

Both The Ordinary and Medik8 offer great moisturizers, with The Ordinary being better for value and Medik8 doing better for deep hydration and plumping. The Ordinary provides moisturizers with a High fit level for dry skin, while Medik8 features Hydr8 B5 Intense with a Superior fit level for dry skin.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Medik8 for sensitive skin?

Both The Ordinary and Medik8 have a Superior routine fit for sensitive skin. The Ordinary offers great value and fragrance-free products on this page, while Medik8 provides gentle formulas with deep hydration.

The Ordinary or Medik8 for acne-prone skin?

Both The Ordinary and Medik8 offer a High routine fit for acne-prone skin on the products on this page. Reviewers note that The Ordinary provides affordable options, while Medik8 is praised for gentle formulas.

The Ordinary or Medik8 for skin with dark spots?

Both The Ordinary and Medik8 offer great options for skin with dark spots, with routine fit levels of Superior and High respectively. Niacinamide helps reduce pigmentation and suppress melanosome transfer, making it a key ingredient found in products from both brands.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

The Ordinary or Medik8 for mature skin?

Both The Ordinary and Medik8 are a great choice for mature skin, achieving a Superior routine fit on this page. The Ordinary products on this page help improve texture and value, while Medik8 provides deep hydration and brightening.

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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