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The Ordinary vs Dr. Barbara Sturm

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

The Ordinary and Dr. Barbara Sturm are two distinct skincare lines representing minimalist science and advanced botanical care, respectively. The Canadian brand offers serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and toners built around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane, while the German brand is deeply loved for its gentle moisturizers, clarifying exfoliants, and nourishing serums built on scientifically advanced formulas. Both lines suit dry and sensitive skin best, with specific formulations addressing acne-prone skin, dark spots, and mature skin. They ultimately differ in their ownership, origins, and the specific composition of their hydrating and barrier-supporting ingredients.

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

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Dr. Barbara Sturm is a German skincare brand founded in 2014 and owned by Puig since 2024.

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

Popular The Ordinary vs Dr. Barbara Sturm products

People Say

The OrdinaryDr. Barbara Sturm
  • Redness and sensitivity Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “doesn't irritate my sensitive skin — Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum”
    • “reduced redness — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
    • “calms down the redness immediately — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
  • Skin texture 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 texture is immediately more even — Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser”
  • Hydration and plumping Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin drank it up — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
    • “lines less visible — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
    • “skin feels softer — Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum”
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Great 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%”
  • Lightweight absorption Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “sinks in immediately — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
  • Acne clearing and blemish reduction Often MentionedNot 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”
  • Extremely expensive Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “way too expensive — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
  • Sticky finish and residue Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “tacky finish — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
    • “feels very sticky — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Slow results Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “not a miracle worker overnight — The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA”
    • “Didn't do anything special — The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA”
    • “did nothing — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
  • Skin stinging and irritation Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “quite red after — Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser”
    • “stings a little but worth it — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
  • Makeup pilling and compatibility Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “pills under makeup — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
    • “crumbles and piles under moisturizer — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Dr. Barbara Sturm: which is better?

The Ordinary offers better value and acne-clearing benefits among the products on this page, while Dr. Barbara Sturm provides superior hydration and soothing for redness and sensitivity. Niacinamide may help reduce cutaneous pigmentation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Dr. Barbara Sturm?

The Ordinary offers much better value and excels at acne clearing, whereas Dr. Barbara Sturm provides superior hydration and plumping for the skin.

The Ordinary or Dr. Barbara Sturm: which moisturizer is better?

When comparing moisturizers, the products on this page show that The Ordinary fits dry skin with a Superior Lovi fit level for formulas like Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA and Natural Moisturizing Factors + Beta Glucan. Dr. Barbara Sturm offers options such as Hyaluronic Serum, but reviewers note that Dr. Barbara Sturm carries a sticky finish and residue.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Dr. Barbara Sturm?

The Ordinary provides much greater value and price than Dr. Barbara Sturm, as reflected in the products on this page.

Which causes fewer breakouts, The Ordinary or Dr. Barbara Sturm?

The products on this page for The Ordinary are better for acne clearing and blemish reduction compared to Dr. Barbara Sturm, as niacinamide helps reduce breakouts and the brand offers dedicated acne-clearing serums.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

Which brand has more products listed on the comparison page for oily skin?

The Ordinary has significantly more products listed on the comparison page for oily skin than Dr. Barbara Sturm. The products on this page for The Ordinary offer various fit levels for oily skin, ranging from Superior to Low.

Do any products from either The Ordinary or Dr. Barbara Sturm contain added fragrance?

Every product on this page from both The Ordinary and Dr. Barbara Sturm lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

Which brand is owned by Puig and was founded in Germany?

Dr. Barbara Sturm is founded in Germany and owned by Puig.

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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