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The Ordinary vs Neutrogena

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

The Ordinary and Neutrogena are trusted skincare lines that offer thoughtfully formulated serums, moisturizers, cleansers, toners, and more. The Canadian brand centers its approach on hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane, suiting dry and sensitive skin best, while the American brand relies on glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and dimethicone to serve dry and mature skin. Both brands address specific concerns through targeted daily solutions, yet they differ in their foundational ingredients and overall formulation philosophies.

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

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Neutrogena is an American skincare brand founded in 1930 and owned by Kimberly-Clark Corporation since 2026.

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

Popular The Ordinary vs Neutrogena products

People Say

The OrdinaryNeutrogena
  • Improves Skin Texture and Pores Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “glass skin effect — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “pores look significantly smaller — The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
    • “never had any reaction to it with my sensitive skin — The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA”
    • “Skin is looking smoother — Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream”
  • Hydration and Moisture Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Skin looked plumper and radiant — Neutrogena HYDRO BOOST WATER CREAM”
    • “It also hydrates my skin. This cream has been so easy to add to my routine. — Neutrogena Retinol Regenerating Cream”
    • “Quenches dry skin instantly — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Hydrogel Mask”
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Value for Money and Pricing Mostly MentionedRarely 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%”
    • “great price point — Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover”
  • Lightweight and Non-Greasy Texture Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Absorbs instantly without sticky residue — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel”
    • “absorbs instantly — Neutrogena COLLAGEN BANK Moisturizer”
    • “Absorbs into skin without residue. — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Serum”
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
  • Gentle and Sensitive Skin Friendly Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “leaves skin soft and balanced — Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser”
    • “love that it has no scent — Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser”
    • “calms my acne prone skin — Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser”
    • “Leaves my face feeling soft and not tight at all. — The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser”
  • Clears Acne and Blemishes 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”
  • Skin Irritation and Stinging Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Made my face very red — Neutrogena HYDRO BOOST WATER CREAM”
    • “Burning sensation — Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream”
    • “stings my eyes badly — Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser”
    • “irritated AF the next day — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
  • Packaging and Quantity Concerns Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “The 50ml tube runs out way too fast. — The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser”
    • “Wish it came in a pump — The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA”
    • “Eye holes are too small — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Hydrogel Mask”
  • Pilling and Makeup Application Issues Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “balls up under foundation — Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen”
    • “doesn't remove mascara — Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser”
    • “crumbles and piles under moisturizer — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
  • Sticky or Tacky Finish Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “Left a tacky feeling on my skin. — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Serum”
    • “feels very sticky — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”

The Ordinary vs Neutrogena routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

The Ordinary vs Neutrogena routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

The Ordinary vs Neutrogena routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Neutrogena: which is better?

The products on this page show that The Ordinary offers superior routine fit across almost all skin types compared to Neutrogena. Reviewers highlight The Ordinary for better value and acne clearing, while Neutrogena is frequently noted for hydration and lightweight textures.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Neutrogena?

The Ordinary is often preferred for its affordability and targeted treatments that help improve skin texture and clear acne, whereas Neutrogena is frequently chosen for its deeply hydrating, lightweight moisturizers.

The Ordinary or Neutrogena for dry skin?

For dry skin, The Ordinary has a Superior Lovi fit level, whereas Neutrogena has a High fit level. The Ordinary offers fragrance-free options like Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA that may help nourish dry skin.

The Ordinary or Neutrogena: which cleanser is better?

Both The Ordinary and Neutrogena offer strong cleanser options, but the products on this page show that Neutrogena delivers higher fit levels for specific needs like the Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser rated Superior for mature and acne-prone skin, while The Ordinary features gentle cleansers such as the Glucoside Foaming Cleanser.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Neutrogena?

The products on this page show that The Ordinary offers better value for money and pricing compared to Neutrogena.

Between The Ordinary and Neutrogena, which brand has a better routine fit for dry sensitive skin?

The Ordinary provides a better routine fit for dry sensitive skin, achieving a Superior level compared to Neutrogena's Average level.

Which brand has more fragrance-free products listed on the page?

The Ordinary has more fragrance-free products listed on the products on this page, as every single product from the brand contains no fragrance. In contrast, Neutrogena has thirty-five out of thirty-nine products on the page that list no fragrance.

Which brand performs better when it comes to improving skin texture and pores?

The Ordinary performs better when it comes to improving skin texture and pores compared to Neutrogena.

The Ordinary or Neutrogena for oily skin?

For oily skin, Lovi finds The Ordinary to have a superior routine fit compared to Neutrogena's high fit. The products on this page from The Ordinary provide acne-clearing serums and texture-smoothing serums that help manage oily skin effectively.

The Ordinary or Neutrogena: which moisturizer is better?

Both The Ordinary and Neutrogena offer strong moisturizer options, but Lovi rates The Ordinary superior for dry skin overall. The Ordinary products on this page help deliver deep hydration with key ingredients like hyaluronic acid without added fragrance.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Neutrogena for sensitive skin?

For sensitive skin, The Ordinary has a Superior Lovi fit level compared to Neutrogena which has a High fit level on this page. The products on this page for The Ordinary are fragrance-free, whereas Neutrogena features a few products that contain fragrance.

The Ordinary or Neutrogena for acne-prone skin?

The Ordinary is a superior fit for acne-prone skin on the products on this page compared to Neutrogena. Reviewers note that The Ordinary offers acne-clearing serums that help manage blemishes effectively, while every product on this page lists no 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

How does it fit your skin?

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