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The Ordinary vs Caudalie

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

The Ordinary and Caudalie are distinct skincare brands offering serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and toners tailored to varied needs. The Canadian brand centers on hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane, suiting dry and sensitive skin best while offering targeted solutions for acne-prone, dark spot, and mature skin. Conversely, the French brand grounds its botanical serums, toners, and moisturizers in vine and grape-derived formulas that suit dry and mature skin, with specific treatments for blemishes and uneven tone. Ultimately, both differ through their foundational philosophies, balancing clinical ingredient concentrations with botanical traditions to gently clarify, brighten, and firm the complexion.

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

glossy.coen.wikipedia.org

Caudalie is a French skincare brand founded in 1995.

en.wikipedia.orgen.caudalie.compitchbook.com

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

Popular The Ordinary vs Caudalie products

People Say

The OrdinaryCaudalie
  • Redness and sensitivity Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “calms down the redness immediately — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “Leaves my face feeling soft and not tight at all. — The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser”
    • “great for sensitive skin — Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum”
    • “calms my redness — Caudalie Grape Water”
  • Acne clearing and blemish reduction Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “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”
    • “cleared my hormonal acne — Caudalie Vinopure Purifying Gel Cleanser”
  • Skin smoothing and texture improvement Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “glass skin effect — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “never had any reaction to it with my sensitive skin — The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA”
    • “skin feels baby butt smooth — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
    • “skin feels baby soft — Caudalie Instant Detox Mask”
  • Great value and affordable 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%”
  • Pleasant scent and refreshing aromas Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “smells like a spa — Caudalie Beauty Elixir”
    • “gives a glass-skin look — Caudalie Beauty Elixir”
    • “wakes up my skin — Caudalie Beauty Elixir”
  • Hydration and plumping effects Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Provides intense hydration, smooths fine lines, and gives the skin an even, radiant appearance. — Caudalie Premier Cru The Cream”
    • “intense hydration — Caudalie Grape Water”
    • “skin feels plump — Caudalie Resveratrol-Lift Firming Cashmere Cream”
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Texture and pilling issues under makeup Mostly MentionedRarely Noted
    • “tacky finish — Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum”
    • “does not remove make-up — Caudalie Vinoclean Instant Foaming Cleanser”
    • “Incompatible with my makeup. — Caudalie Premier Cru The Cream”
    • “crumbles and piles under moisturizer — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
  • High price point and value concerns Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “expensive — Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum”
  • Unpleasant scent or fragrance issues 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”
    • “smell is strong — Caudalie Vinopure Purifying Toner”
  • Stinging, harshness and irritation Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “burns my eyes — Caudalie Beauty Elixir”
    • “bit dry for daily use — Caudalie Vinopure Purifying Toner”
    • “woke up swollen — Caudalie Vinoperfect Brightening Eye Cream”
    • “irritated AF the next day — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”

The Ordinary vs Caudalie routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

The Ordinary vs Caudalie routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

The Ordinary vs Caudalie routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Caudalie: which is better?

The Ordinary offers better value with superior routine fit across most skin types on this page, while Caudalie provides pleasant scents and strong hydration. Topical hyaluronic acid helps improve skin quality and signs of skin aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Caudalie?

The Ordinary offers more affordable, fragrance-free products that perform better for acne-clearing and texture smoothing, while Caudalie provides products with refreshing aromas and hydration benefits but at a higher price point. The Ordinary achieves a Superior routine fit across most skin types on this page compared to Caudalie's High fit level.

The Ordinary or Caudalie for dry skin?

The Ordinary is a better fit for dry skin, offering Superior routine fit compared to Caudalie's High fit level. The products on this page help provide deep hydration and nourishment for dry skin types.

The Ordinary or Caudalie: which cleanser is better?

The Ordinary offers better-rated cleansers on this page, with options like the Glycolipid Cream Cleanser achieving a Superior fit for dry skin while Caudalie cleansers generally receive lower fit levels for dry skin.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Caudalie?

The Ordinary provides much better value and more affordable pricing compared to Caudalie among the products on this page.

Which brand has better options for addressing dark spots, The Ordinary or Caudalie?

The Ordinary offers better options for addressing dark spots, as the products on this page achieve a Superior Lovi fit level for skin with dark spots more frequently than Caudalie. Niacinamide helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation and suppresses melanosome transfer.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

How do the fragrance-free options compare between The Ordinary and Caudalie?

The Ordinary offers fragrance-free options across all the products on this page, whereas Caudalie features fragrance in 12 of its 20 products.

Which brand is better suited for mature skin, The Ordinary or Caudalie?

The Ordinary offers a Superior routine fit for mature skin, compared to Caudalie which has a High fit level. The Ordinary products on this page help address signs of aging with ingredients like retinol, which stimulates collagen accumulation in naturally aged human skin.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000

The Ordinary or Caudalie for oily skin?

For oily skin, The Ordinary provides a superior routine fit compared to Caudalie's high fit. Reviewers note that The Ordinary offers better acne clearing and texture improvement.

The Ordinary or Caudalie: which moisturizer is better?

When comparing moisturizers, The Ordinary provides superior routines for dry skin and better overall value, while Caudalie products on this page offer great hydration and plumping effects. Topical hyaluronic acid, featured in moisturizers across both brands, helps improve skin quality and signs of skin aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Caudalie for sensitive skin?

The Ordinary is superior for sensitive skin on this page, offering gentle and non-irritating serums alongside a Superior routine fit. Caudalie provides a High routine fit for sensitive skin, though some products on this page may cause stinging, harshness, and irritation.

The Ordinary or Caudalie for acne-prone skin?

The Ordinary is better suited for acne-prone skin, offering superior routine fit and performing better for acne clearing and blemish reduction among the products on this page.

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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