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The Ordinary vs Simple

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

The Ordinary and Simple are accessible skincare brands offering distinct formulations for daily routines. The Canadian brand centers its serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and toners around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane to suit dry and sensitive skin, while the British brand is beloved for gentle moisturizers, makeup removers, cleansers, and toners thoughtfully incorporating niacinamide and glycerin to support acne-prone and mature skin. Both lines differ in their primary ingredient focuses, with the former emphasizing targeted acids for specific concerns and the latter emphasizing soothing hydration. Readers can weigh these options to find the ideal match for their skin.

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

glossy.coen.wikipedia.org

Simple is a British skincare brand founded in 1960 and owned by Unilever PLC since 2011.

en.wikipedia.orgsec.govprnewswire.comsimple.co.uk

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

Popular The Ordinary vs Simple products

People Say

The OrdinarySimple
  • Great value and affordability Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “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 value for money — Simple Kind to Skin Soothing Facial Toner”
  • Good for sensitive skin Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Does not cause any form of irritation on the skin which I love. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “The only cleanser that doesn't turn my face red. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “no artificial perfume — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “Finally a cleanser that doesn't sting my face. — The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser”
  • Lightweight absorption Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “sinks in instantly — Simple Water Boost Hydrating Gel Cream”
    • “absorbs very quickly — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “absorbs really well — Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturiser”
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
  • Hydration and plumping Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “banished dryness within days — Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturiser”
    • “cleared up my dry patches — Simple Water Boost Hydrating Gel Cream”
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • 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”
  • Smoothes skin texture Often MentionedNot noted
    • “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%”
  • Breakouts and purging Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “broke me out in cysts — The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
    • “broke me out in cysts — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
    • “gave me cystic acne — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “Gave me tiny bumps on my forehead. — Simple Micellar Water”
  • Insufficient moisture Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Skin felt tight an hour later — The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA”
    • “not moisturizing enough — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
  • Struggles with waterproof makeup Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “Did not remove my mascara very well at all. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
  • Sticky or tacky finish Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “leaves a tacky film — Simple Kind to Skin Soothing Facial Toner”
    • “feels very sticky — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”

The Ordinary vs Simple routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

The Ordinary vs Simple routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

The Ordinary vs Simple routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Simple: which is better?

The Ordinary is generally better for targeted treatments like acne clearance and dark spot fading, whereas Simple excels in providing gentle, lightweight hydration for sensitive skin. Lovi rates the routine fit for The Ordinary as Superior across nearly all skin types, while Simple is rated High.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Simple?

The Ordinary provides a wide range of targeted serums and treatments with high active ingredient concentrations that help clear acne and smooth skin texture, whereas Simple offers gentle, value-friendly cleansers and moisturizers well-suited for sensitive skin. Lovi rates the routine fit of The Ordinary as Superior across nearly all skin types, while Simple is rated High.

The Ordinary or Simple for dry skin?

The Ordinary is the better fit for dry skin, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to Simple's High fit on this page. Topical hyaluronic acid helps improve skin quality and signs of skin aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Simple: which cleanser is better?

The products on this page show that The Ordinary offers cleansers with higher Lovi fit levels across skin types than Simple. For example, the Glycolipid Cream Cleanser achieves a Superior fit for dry skin, whereas Simple cleansers generally reach Average fit levels for the same skin type.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Simple?

The Ordinary is more affordable than Simple, as the products on this page offer great value and affordability.

Which brand has been on the market longer, The Ordinary or Simple?

Simple has been on the market longer, having been founded in 1960 in the United Kingdom, whereas The Ordinary was founded in 2016 in Canada.

Do products from The Ordinary or Simple contain fragrance?

Every product from The Ordinary and Simple on this page lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

Which brand does better when it comes to good for sensitive skin?

Simple does better when it comes to good for sensitive skin. Lovi rates Simple as having a High fit for sensitive skin.

The Ordinary or Simple for oily skin?

The Ordinary is a Superior fit for oily skin, whereas Simple is a High fit. Niacinamide helps reduce oil and improve skin clarity.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

The Ordinary or Simple: which moisturizer is better?

The products on this page from The Ordinary generally offer superior routine fit levels for dry skin compared to Simple. Hyaluronic acid helps improve skin quality and hydration, which is a key ingredient featured across The Ordinary's moisturizing products.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Simple for sensitive skin?

The Ordinary is a Superior fit for sensitive skin on Lovi, while Simple has a High fit level. The Ordinary offers gentle and non-irritating serums on the products on this page.

The Ordinary or Simple for acne-prone skin?

The Ordinary is a better fit for acne-prone skin, as Lovi rates its routine as Superior compared to High for Simple. The Ordinary offers a wide selection of targeted acne-clearing serums that help manage breakouts.

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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