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Medicube vs The Ordinary

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

Medicube and The Ordinary are two prominent skincare brands founded in 2016 that offer targeted solutions for diverse complexions. The Korean brand utilizes ingredients like niacinamide, collagen, and hyaluronic acid within moisturizers, serums, toners, and masks to serve dry skin and oily acne-prone skin best. Conversely, the Canadian brand features serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and toners built around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane to suit dry skin and sensitive skin. Ultimately, they differ through their distinct ingredient formulations and specific product ranges tailored for individual skin needs.

Medicube is a Korean skincare brand founded in 2016 and owned by APR Corp..

medicubereviews.co.ukglossy.co

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

glossy.coen.wikipedia.org

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

Popular Medicube vs The Ordinary products

People Say

MedicubeThe Ordinary
  • Hydration and Moisture Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “skin feels bouncier and hydrated — Medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Serum”
    • “glass skin — Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Gel Mask”
    • “woke up with baby soft skin — Medicube Collagen Jelly Cream”
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Skin Texture and Smoothing 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%”
    • “gives my skin a smooth, glass-like finish — Medicube Zero Pore Pad”
  • Value and Pricing Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “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%”
  • Acne and Blemish Control Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “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”
    • “active breakouts look less inflamed — Medicube Red Succinic Acid Peeling Pad”
  • Glow and Radiance Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “gave me instant glass skin — Medicube Collagen Jelly Cream”
    • “woke up with glowing skin — Medicube Collagen Night Wrapping Mask”
    • “healthy, dewy glow — Medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Serum”
    • “glass skin effect — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
  • Pore Care and Cleansing Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “Pores drastically reduced — Medicube Zero Foam Cleanser”
    • “Mochi-like foam — Medicube Zero Foam Cleanser”
    • “Removes every trace of oil — Medicube Red Foam Cleanser”
    • “pores look significantly smaller — The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
  • Sticky and Tacky Finish Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “hair sticks to my face — Medicube Collagen Jelly Cream”
    • “feels way too sticky and tacky — Medicube DEEP VITA-C CAPSULE CREAM”
    • “feels very sticky — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
    • “feels very sticky — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
  • Irritation and Breakouts Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “broke me out in cysts — The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
    • “broke me out in cysts — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
    • “gave me cystic acne — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “caused redness and sensitivity — Medicube Zero Pore Pad”
  • Drying and Stinging Effects Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Skin feels very tight — Medicube Zero Foam Cleanser”
    • “skin felt very tight — Medicube Zero Pore Blackhead Mud Mask”
    • “Skin feels quite dry after washing — Medicube Red Foam Cleanser”
    • “stings a little but worth it — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
  • Packaging and Quantity Concerns Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “The 50ml tube runs out way too fast. — The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser”
    • “Wish it came in a pump — The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA”
    • “Expensive for Ordinary — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
    • “tube is tiny for the price — Medicube Collagen Night Wrapping Mask”

Medicube vs The Ordinary routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Medicube vs The Ordinary routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Medicube vs The Ordinary routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Medicube or The Ordinary: which is better?

The Ordinary provides better value and acne-clearing serums on the products on this page, while Medicube does better with hydration and radiant glow. For dry skin, both brands share a Superior routine fit, but The Ordinary is Superior for oily skin and sensitive skin compared to Medicube's High fit level.

What is the difference between Medicube and The Ordinary?

Medicube focuses on deep hydration and glowing radiance with products like its Age-R Booster Gel, while The Ordinary offers affordable serums that help with acne-clearing and texture-smoothing.

Medicube or The Ordinary for dry skin?

Both Medicube and The Ordinary achieve a Superior routine fit for dry skin. Medicube features deep hydration moisturizers, while The Ordinary offers products like Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA that help nourish dry skin. Sodium hyaluronate in these brands helps improve skin hydration and signs of aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Drug Delivery, 2017

Medicube or The Ordinary: which cleanser is better?

Medicube offers superior or high cleansers like the Zero Foam Cleanser for dry and oily skin, while The Ordinary features the Glycolipid Cream Cleanser with superior or high fit levels across a wide range of skin types.

Which is more affordable, Medicube or The Ordinary?

The Ordinary is more affordable than Medicube, as reviewers on the page frequently note pricing and value issues for Medicube while praising The Ordinary for being affordable and a great value.

Between Medicube and The Ordinary, which brand performs better for glowing and radiant skin?

Medicube performs better for glowing and radiant skin as it focuses on radiant glow and deep hydration. Niacinamide helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation and suppress melanosome transfer, which supports an even and glowing complexion.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

How do the fragrance options compare between Medicube and The Ordinary skincare products?

Medicube offers mostly fragrance-free products on this page alongside a couple containing fragrance, whereas every product from The Ordinary lists no fragrance.

Which brand offers better results for pore care and cleansing, Medicube or The Ordinary?

Medicube offers better results for pore care and cleansing than The Ordinary. Reviewers frequently note its deep hydration and radiant glow alongside pore care benefits.

Medicube or The Ordinary for oily skin?

For oily skin, The Ordinary provides a Superior Lovi routine fit while Medicube offers a High fit. The Ordinary excels particularly in acne-clearing serums and texture-smoothing treatments, whereas Medicube focuses more on pore care and cleansing.

Medicube or The Ordinary: which moisturizer is better?

Medicube helps deliver deep hydration with its moisturizers, which reviewers mostly mention as a key benefit. The Ordinary also offers strong moisturizing options like its Natural Moisturizing Factors formulas, while providing greater affordability.

Medicube or The Ordinary for sensitive skin?

The Ordinary provides a superior routine fit for sensitive skin compared to Medicube, which offers a high fit. The Ordinary features gentle, non-irritating serums and every product on the page lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

Medicube or The Ordinary for acne-prone skin?

For acne-prone skin, both brands offer products on this page with a high Lovi fit level. The Ordinary tends to do better for acne and blemish control according to reviewers.

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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