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The Ordinary vs Elemis

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

The Ordinary and Elemis are distinct skin care brands that offer targeted serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and toners. Founded in Canada in 2016 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc., The Ordinary relies on hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane to best suit dry and sensitive skin. Meanwhile, the British brand Elemis, founded in 1989 and owned by L'Occitane Group, is celebrated for curated formulations that weave together glycerin and shea to best suit dry and mature skin. These choices differ fundamentally as the Canadian brand centers on specific single-ingredient concentrations for varied concerns, whereas the British brand centers on deeply restorative, multi-ingredient luxury.

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

glossy.coen.wikipedia.org

Elemis is a British skincare brand founded in 1989 and owned by L'Occitane Group since 2019.

elemis.comau.elemis.comen.wikipedia.org

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

Popular The Ordinary vs Elemis products

People Say

The OrdinaryElemis
  • Texture and Absorption Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Absorbs almost immediately, and my skin feels well hydrated all day. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
    • “whipped silk feel — Elemis Superfood Midnight Facial”
    • “cloud-light gel formula — Elemis Pro-Collagen Eye Revive Mask”
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA”
  • Smooths and Refines Skin Texture 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%”
    • “baby soft — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads”
  • Hydration and Moisture Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “The cream really hydrates and my face looks amazing. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Night Cream”
    • “Quenches thirsty skin... immediate improvement. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
    • “skin feels baby soft — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • 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%”
  • Other Benefits and Features Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “eliminated armpit odor — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “pores look significantly smaller — The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
    • “Nature's botox — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
    • “My neck doesn't sag... plumps my skin to look more youthful. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Night Cream”
  • Gentle and Sensitive Skin Friendly Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “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”
    • “no stinging or redness — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
    • “Feels incredibly gentle and instantly rebalances my skin's pH. — Elemis Balancing Lavender Toner”
  • High Price Point Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “Complete waste of money for me. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
  • Heavy, Thick, or Sticky Texture Issues Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “Great product, a bit heavy. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Night Cream”
    • “slightly tacky to touch — Elemis Pro-Collagen Eye Revive Mask”
    • “leaves white flakes — Elemis Pro-Collagen Advanced Eye Treatment”
    • “feels very sticky — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Other Complaints and Issues Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “blurry vision — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
    • “tends to flake off — Elemis Pro-Collagen Eye Revive Mask”
    • “slight tingling sensation — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash”
    • “foams up like soap — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
  • Scent and Fragrance 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”
    • “The smell is very strong... could not handle for long. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”

The Ordinary vs Elemis routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

The Ordinary vs Elemis routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

The Ordinary vs Elemis routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Elemis: which is better?

The Ordinary is generally better for budget-friendly routines and fragrance-sensitive skin, while Elemis is often favored for luxurious hydrating moisturizers and smoother skin texture. Both brands perform well across most skin types, but The Ordinary offers better overall value and scent-free options on this page.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Elemis?

The Ordinary offers better value with fragrance-free options and superior routine fits for most skin types, whereas Elemis focuses on luxurious hydrating moisturizers with stronger fragrance notes. Reviewers often mention Elemis for its rich textures, while shoppers praise The Ordinary for affordability and targeted serums.

The Ordinary or Elemis for dry skin?

The Ordinary is a superior fit for dry skin compared to Elemis, which reaches a high fit level on this page. The products on this page for The Ordinary offer targeted hydration with ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Elemis: which cleanser is better?

The Ordinary offers better value with its cleansers, while Elemis cleansers provide a luxurious feel but are priced much higher.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Elemis?

The Ordinary is more affordable, offering budget-friendly serums and great overall value compared to Elemis, which is frequently noted for its high price point.

Between The Ordinary and Elemis, which brand has a better routine fit for mature skin?

The Ordinary has a superior routine fit for mature skin compared to Elemis, which has a high fit. The products on this page for The Ordinary also feature fragrance-free formulations.

Which brand performs better when it comes to scent and fragrance according to reviews?

The Ordinary performs better regarding scent and fragrance, as every product on its page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, whereas most Elemis products contain added fragrance.

How do the founding years and corporate ownership of The Ordinary and Elemis compare?

The Ordinary was founded in Canada in 2016 and is owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc., while Elemis was founded in the United Kingdom in 1989 and is owned by the L'Occitane Group.

The Ordinary or Elemis for sensitive skin?

The Ordinary is a Superior fit for sensitive skin on this page, while Elemis is rated High. Furthermore, every product on The Ordinary page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, whereas most Elemis products on this page contain added fragrance.

The Ordinary or Elemis: which moisturizer is better?

The Ordinary offers a better value and fragrance-free formulation across the products on this page, while Elemis is praised for its luxurious hydration and moisturizers. Both brands feature strong options for dry skin, though The Ordinary achieves a Superior routine fit compared to Elemis, which is rated High.

The Ordinary or Elemis for acne-prone skin?

The Ordinary is a better fit for acne-prone skin, offering a Superior routine compared to Elemis, which is High. Every product on The Ordinary page lists no fragrance, whereas most Elemis products contain fragrance.

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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