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The Ordinary vs Biore

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

The Ordinary and Biore are two distinct skincare lines known for approachable formulations designed to address diverse complexions. The Canadian brand centers its offerings around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane within serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and toners that suit dry and sensitive skin best. Meanwhile, the Japanese brand is beloved for accessible sunscreens, cleansers, masks, and makeup removers that cater well to sensitive and mature skin. These respective portfolios differ primarily in their core ingredient philosophies, offering targeted solutions for acne-prone skin, dark spots, and aging.

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

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Biore is a Japanese skincare brand founded in 1980 and owned by Kao Corporation.

biore.comkao.com

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

Popular The Ordinary vs Biore products

People Say

The OrdinaryBiore
  • High protection and application Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “Gets the gunk out — Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips”
    • “Face feels squeaky clean — Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser”
    • “SPF 50+ PA++++ — Biore UV Aqua Rich”
  • Redness and acne reduction Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “calms down the redness immediately — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “glass skin effect — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “pimples disappear within a day — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
    • “Helped clear my blackheads — Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser”
  • Great value and pricing 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%”
  • Hydration and plumping Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
    • “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”
    • “feels like a moisturizer — Biore UV Aqua Rich”
  • Gentle application Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Minimal effort required — Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips”
    • “No greasy film, leaves skin fresh, rinses easily. — Biore Makeup Remover Perfect Oil”
    • “Works in shower, effective on wet hands/face. — Biore Makeup Remover Perfect Oil”
    • “no irritation at all — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Makeup compatibility Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “primer-like — Biore UV Aqua Rich”
    • “Removes waterproof mascara, eyeliner, foundation. — Biore Makeup Remover Perfect Oil”
    • “Makeup sits beautifully on top — The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA”
  • Stinging and irritation Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “irritated AF the next day — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
    • “stings a little but worth it — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
    • “Skin felt tight an hour later — The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA”
    • “Made my skin peel — Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser”
  • Texture and pilling issues Mostly MentionedRarely Noted
    • “Too liquidy, thin consistency, messy application. — Biore Makeup Remover Perfect Oil”
    • “crumbles and piles under moisturizer — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
  • Unpleasant scent 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”
    • “smells like alcohol — Biore UV Aqua Rich”
  • Breakouts and purging Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “broke me out in cysts — The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
    • “broke me out in cysts — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
    • “caused cystic acne — Biore UV Aqua Rich”
    • “Caused breakouts, closed comedones, cystic acne. — Biore Makeup Remover Perfect Oil”

The Ordinary vs Biore routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

The Ordinary vs Biore routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

The Ordinary vs Biore routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Biore: which is better?

The Ordinary is often better for tackling acne, dark spots, and dryness thanks to its targeted serums and great value. Biore provides high protection and gentle application, making it a strong choice for sunscreens and makeup removal.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Biore?

The Ordinary fits dry skin, sensitive skin, and skin with dark spots best, whereas Biore fits sensitive skin, mature skin, and combination skin best. The Ordinary provides superior routine fit across most skin types compared to Biore on this page.

The Ordinary or Biore for dry skin?

For dry skin, both brands work well, but The Ordinary has a Superior routine fit compared to Biore's High routine fit. The products on this page from The Ordinary provide strong hydration and plumping benefits.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Biore: which cleanser is better?

The Ordinary provides a better range of cleansers for most shoppers, as the products on this page achieve a Superior routine fit across nearly all skin types compared to Biore. The Ordinary cleanser options like the Glucoside Foaming Cleanser and Glycolipid Cream Cleanser help support dry, oily, and sensitive skin effectively.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Biore?

The Ordinary is more affordable, as it is widely praised by reviewers for its great value and pricing compared to Biore.

When was The Ordinary founded and who owns it compared to Biore?

The Ordinary was founded in 2016 in Canada and has been owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 2021. In comparison, Biore was founded earlier in 1980 in Japan and is owned by the Kao Corporation.

Which brand performs better for redness and acne reduction?

The Ordinary performs better for redness and acne reduction, as shown by reviewer feedback on the products on this page.

Do products from The Ordinary and Biore contain fragrance?

Every product on this page from The Ordinary and Biore lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

The Ordinary or Biore for oily skin?

For oily skin, Lovi rates The Ordinary as a Superior fit and Biore as a High fit. The Ordinary offers better redness and acne reduction, while Biore provides high protection and application.

The Ordinary or Biore for sensitive skin?

The Ordinary is a Superior fit for sensitive skin, whereas Biore is High. The Ordinary features a wider variety of gentle serums designed to soothe sensitive skin, while Biore offers high protection and comfortable application.

The Ordinary or Biore for acne-prone skin?

The Ordinary is a better fit for acne-prone skin, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to Biore's High rating. The products on this page help reduce acne and redness effectively, although some options may cause stinging and irritation.

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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