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The Ordinary vs ISDIN

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

The Ordinary and ISDIN are established skincare brands offering distinct approaches to daily wellness and targeted care. The Canadian brand centers its serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and toners on hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane, while the Spanish brand is known for elegant moisturizers, advanced sunscreens, restorative serums, and targeted eye products. Both brands suit dry skin and sensitive skin best, with specific solutions addressing acne-prone skin, dark spots, and mature skin. They differ primarily in their founding heritage and proprietary formulations, giving buyers a choice between ingredient-focused simplicity and luxurious daily comfort.

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

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ISDIN is a Spanish skincare brand founded in 1975 and owned by Puig.

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

Popular The Ordinary vs ISDIN products

People Say

The OrdinaryISDIN
  • Lightweight Texture and Absorption Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs instantly — ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica”
    • “ultra-light fluid product, which makes it super easy to apply — ISDIN Fusion Water”
    • “Lightweight formula absorbs fast — ISDIN Hyaluronic Concentrate”
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
  • 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 smooth and healthy — ISDIN K-Ox Eyes”
    • “I am more on a dehydrated side and this helps me look hydrated and smooth. — ISDIN Flavo-C Serum”
  • Affordability and Value 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 Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Improved moisture and texture — ISDIN Hyaluronic Moisture”
    • “My skin felt sooo hydrated and looks so plump and dewey. — ISDIN Fusion Water”
    • “Skin feels intensely hydrated — ISDIN Hyaluronic Concentrate”
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Acne and Blemish Control 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”
  • Texture Issues and Pilling Mostly MentionedRarely Noted
    • “Pilled up on my skin — ISDIN Hyaluronic Moisture”
    • “crumbles and piles under moisturizer — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
  • High Price Point Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Expensive for Ordinary — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
    • “very expensive — ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica”
  • Fragrance and Scent Concerns 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 overpowering — ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica”
  • Skin Irritation and Sensitivity Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “I think the serum is too strong for my face as it has burned and left very rough and a peeling face. — ISDIN Flavo-C Serum”
    • “slight peeling — ISDIN Retinal Intense Serum”
    • “irritated AF the next day — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”

The Ordinary vs ISDIN routines for dry skin

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The Ordinary vs ISDIN routines for oily skin

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The Ordinary vs ISDIN routines for combination skin

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Questions and answers

The Ordinary or ISDIN: which is better?

The Ordinary offers better affordability and value, whereas ISDIN stands out for its lightweight texture and hydration.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and ISDIN?

The Ordinary offers budget-friendly products known for acne and blemish control, whereas ISDIN focuses on lightweight textures, hydration, and plumpness. Lovi indicates that both brands achieve a Superior routine fit for dry, oily, combination, sensitive, acne-prone, mature, and dark-spot-prone skin types.

The Ordinary or ISDIN for dry skin?

Both The Ordinary and ISDIN offer a Superior routine fit for dry skin. The Ordinary features affordable serums and zero fragrance across the products on this page, while ISDIN is often noted for lightweight moisturizers.

The Ordinary or ISDIN: which moisturizer is better?

Both The Ordinary and ISDIN offer effective moisturizers, with Lovi rating their overall dry skin routines as Superior. The Ordinary provides affordable options like Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA, while ISDIN features lightweight formulas such as Hyaluronic Moisture. Hyaluronic acid helps maintain skin hydration.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or ISDIN?

The Ordinary offers better affordability and value compared to ISDIN, making its serums a more budget-friendly option for shoppers. Reviewers frequently note that ISDIN comes with a high price point.

Which brand has better lightweight texture and absorption, The Ordinary or ISDIN?

ISDIN does better than The Ordinary for lightweight texture and absorption. Reviewers frequently mention ISDIN's ultralight sunscreens and lightweight moisturizers.

Do The Ordinary products contain fragrance?

The products on this page by The Ordinary list no fragrance in their ingredients.

How do the prices of The Ordinary and ISDIN compare according to reviewers?

Reviewers note that The Ordinary offers affordable and great value serums while calling out its high price point as a negative, whereas they frequently mention ISDIN for having a high price point.

The Ordinary or ISDIN for oily skin?

Both The Ordinary and ISDIN offer products that help with oily skin, and Lovi rates both brands as having a Superior routine fit for this skin type. Reviewers note that ISDIN does better for lightweight texture and absorption, while The Ordinary is known for better affordability and value.

The Ordinary or ISDIN for sensitive skin?

Both The Ordinary and ISDIN provide a Superior routine fit for sensitive skin. The Ordinary features no fragrance across the products on this page, whereas ISDIN has fragrance in some of its formulas.

The Ordinary or ISDIN for acne-prone skin?

Both The Ordinary and ISDIN offer products that fit acne-prone skin well. Lovi rates the routine fit for both brands as Superior 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?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

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