🇳🇱Netherlands

The Ordinary vs Aēsop

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

The Ordinary and Aēsop are two distinctive skincare brands designed to address diverse complexions. The Ordinary offers serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and toners built around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane, suiting dry sensitive and dry skin best. In contrast, Aēsop is widely loved for its thoughtfully formulated moisturizers, cleansers, and serums driven by botanical and scientifically validated ingredients, which suit balanced, combination, and sensitive skin best. While both brands feature targeted solutions for acne-prone skin, dark spots, and mature skin, they differ fundamentally in their ingredient philosophies and sensory experiences.

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

glossy.coen.wikipedia.org

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

Popular The Ordinary vs Aēsop products

People Say

The OrdinaryAēsop
  • Hydration and moisture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “woke up with baby-soft skin — Aēsop Damascan Rose Facial Treatment”
    • “Savior of my winter-fueled dry skin. — Aēsop B Triple C Facial Balancing Gel”
    • “delivers deep hydration that really fills your skin — Aēsop Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Intense Serum”
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Value for money and pricing 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%”
  • Acne clearing and blemish reduction Often MentionedSometimes 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”
    • “my small blemishes noticeably diminished — Aēsop Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Intense Serum”
  • Gentle cleansing and skin balancing Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Intensely hydrating yet mattifying effect. — Aēsop B Triple C Facial Balancing Gel”
    • “Leaves my face feeling soft after cleansing. — Aēsop Parsley Seed Facial Cleanser”
    • “Will not remove makeup—which is exactly what you want for a gentle morning wash. — Aēsop Parsley Seed Facial Cleanser”
    • “never had any reaction to it with my sensitive skin — The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA”
  • Lightweight texture and absorption Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “absorbs well into the skin — Aēsop Damascan Rose Facial Treatment”
    • “absorbs incredibly fast — Aēsop Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Intense Serum”
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
  • Texture smoothing and glow 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%”
  • High price Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Expensive for Ordinary — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
    • “quantity is too small — Aēsop Damascan Rose Facial Treatment”
  • Sticky or tacky finish Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “feels very sticky — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
    • “feels very sticky — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
    • “Can feel tacky on the skin — The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA”
    • “Thick, almost honey-like, and needs a moment to melt in. — Aēsop B Triple C Facial Balancing Gel”
  • Pilling under makeup Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “crumbles and piles under moisturizer — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “Struggles to get my waterproof mascara off completely. — The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser”
    • “When applied directly to the face, it feels slippery and pills up. — Aēsop B Triple C Facial Balancing Gel”
    • “causes my sunscreen and cushion foundation to pill — Aēsop Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Intense Serum”
  • Packaging and application issues Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “looks like blood mask — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
    • “The 50ml tube runs out way too fast. — The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser”
    • “Annoying that you have to rub it in hands for 10-20 seconds first. — The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser”
    • “The downside is the pump. — Aēsop Parsley Seed Facial Cleanser”
  • Unpleasant scent Rarely NotedSometimes Noted
    • “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”
    • “smells like carrots — Aēsop Damascan Rose Facial Treatment”

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Aēsop: which is better?

The Ordinary is generally better for budget-friendly pricing, acne clearing, and texture smoothing, while Aēsop is preferred for deep hydration, gentle skin balancing, and luxurious scents. The products on this page help improve skin quality and may reduce signs of aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Aēsop?

The Ordinary offers affordable, value-driven products that are particularly praised for acne clearing and texture smoothing, whereas Aēsop provides deeply hydrating, luxurious options known for non-greasy balancing moisturizers and refreshing scents.

The Ordinary or Aēsop: which cleanser is better?

The products on this page show that The Ordinary offers superior to high Lovi fit levels for cleansers like the Glycolipid Cream Cleanser across dry, oily, and sensitive skin types, whereas Aēsop has average to low fit levels for its Parsley Seed Facial Cleanser.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Aēsop?

The Ordinary is more affordable, offering affordable and great value serums compared to Aēsop, which reviewers frequently note for its high price.

Which causes fewer breakouts, The Ordinary or Aēsop?

The Ordinary causes fewer breakouts, as the products on this page do better with acne clearing and blemish reduction.

Which brand offers better options for acne-prone skin, The Ordinary or Aēsop?

The Ordinary offers better options for acne-prone skin, providing superior fit levels and dedicated acne-clearing serums that reviewers frequently praise.

How do the prices of The Ordinary and Aēsop compare based on reviewer feedback?

The Ordinary offers great value for money and is considered affordable by reviewers, whereas high price is a commonly mentioned complaint for Aēsop.

Which brand's products are more prone to sticky finishes or pilling issues?

The products on this page from The Ordinary are more prone to sticky finishes and pilling issues compared to Aēsop.

The Ordinary or Aēsop: which moisturizer is better?

The products on this page show that The Ordinary offers moisturizers with superior fit levels for dry skin, such as Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA. Aēsop provides deeply hydrating and non-greasy balancing moisturizers, though they tend to have a high price.

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.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play