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The Ordinary vs Allies of Skin

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

The Ordinary and Allies of Skin are skincare brands that offer serums, moisturizers, and treatments built around key ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, squalane, and niacinamide. The Canadian brand centers its formulations on hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane to suit dry sensitive skin and dry skin best, whereas the other is loved for luxurious moisturizers, potent serums, and targeted eye products formulated with niacinamide that suit dry skin and acne-prone skin best. Both differ primarily in their product types and specific formulations, with the former providing targeted solutions such as niacinamide, mandelic acid, and lactic acid, and the latter offering nourishing treatments like probiotics, peptides, antioxidants, and omegas to restore a clear, balanced complexion.

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 Allies of Skin products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular The Ordinary vs Allies of Skin products

People Say

The OrdinaryAllies of Skin
  • Skin Texture Improvement 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 smoother and brighter — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “Woke up looking well-rested — Allies of Skin Retinal & Peptides Repair Night Cream”
  • Hydration and Plumping Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “nourished and hydrated — Allies of Skin Peptides & Omegas Firming Eye Cream”
    • “more like a spray serum — Allies of Skin Molecular Saviour Probiotics Treatment Mist”
    • “Skin feels hydrated — Allies of Skin Copper Tripeptide & Ectoin Advanced Repair Serum”
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Great Value 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%”
  • Gentle and Non-Irritating Formulation Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “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”
    • “Best retinol for sensitive skin — Allies of Skin Retinal & Peptides Repair Night Cream”
    • “feels super soothing, doesn't trigger redness — Allies of Skin Tranexamic & Arbutin Advanced Brightening Serum”
  • 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”
    • “Dramatic impact on acne — Allies of Skin Retinal & Peptides Repair Night Cream”
  • Lightweight Absorption and Texture Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “sinks easily into damp skin — Allies of Skin Tranexamic & Arbutin Advanced Brightening Serum”
    • “Absorbs instantly without sticky feeling — Allies of Skin Peptides & Antioxidants Firming Daily Treatment”
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
  • High Price Point Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Expensive for Ordinary — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
    • “Pricey — Allies of Skin Copper Tripeptide & Ectoin Advanced Repair Serum”
  • Sticky and Tacky Finish Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “didn't like how sticky face feels — Allies of Skin Molecular Saviour Probiotics Treatment Mist”
    • “feels very sticky — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Stinging and Skin Irritation Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Slightly irritating... when I first started — Allies of Skin Copper Tripeptide & Ectoin Advanced Repair Serum”
    • “rashes popped up on my neck — Allies of Skin Tranexamic & Arbutin Advanced Brightening Serum”
    • “stings my eyes — Allies of Skin Peptides & Omegas Firming Eye Cream”
    • “stings a little but worth it — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
  • Slow or Ineffective Results Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “no change in pigment — The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG”
    • “not a miracle worker overnight — The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA”
    • “Didn't do anything special — The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA”
    • “still not impressed with the results — Allies of Skin Tranexamic & Arbutin Advanced Brightening Serum”

The Ordinary vs Allies of Skin routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

The Ordinary vs Allies of Skin routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

The Ordinary vs Allies of Skin routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 94% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Allies of Skin: which is better?

Both brands offer great options, with The Ordinary delivering higher value and superior results for texture and acne, while Allies of Skin provides superior hydration and anti-aging care for mature and acne-prone skin. Lovi rates the routine fit for dry, oily, combination, sensitive, and dry sensitive skin as Superior for both brands.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Allies of Skin?

The Ordinary offers budget-friendly products with standout performance in smoothing skin texture and clearing acne, while Allies of Skin provides pricier formulations that excel in hydration and plumping. Both brands achieve equal routine fit levels for dry, oily, combination, sensitive, and dry sensitive skin, as well as for skin with dark spots.

The Ordinary or Allies of Skin for dry skin?

Both The Ordinary and Allies of Skin are a Superior fit for dry skin. The Ordinary offers affordable and great value serums with key ingredients like hyaluronic acid and squalane, while Allies of Skin provides hydrating and plumping serums.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Allies of Skin: which moisturizer is better?

Both The Ordinary and Allies of Skin offer moisturizers with a Superior routine fit for dry skin. The Ordinary features options like Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA backed by key ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, while Allies of Skin provides treatments like the Molecular Saviour Probiotics Treatment Mist.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Allies of Skin?

The products on this page from The Ordinary provide much better value, as affordable and great value serums are often mentioned by reviewers. In contrast, Allies of Skin faces frequent complaints regarding its high price point.

Which brand has better skin texture improvement, The Ordinary or Allies of Skin?

The Ordinary does better for skin texture improvement and smoothing among the products on this page.

The Ordinary or Allies of Skin for oily skin?

Both The Ordinary and Allies of Skin achieve a Superior routine fit for oily skin. The Ordinary offers products on this page that help with acne-clearing and texture-smoothing at a great value, while Allies of Skin provides hydrating and plumping serums that absorb with a lightweight texture.

The Ordinary or Allies of Skin for sensitive skin?

Both The Ordinary and Allies of Skin are great options, as Lovi rates their routine fit for sensitive skin as Superior. Reviewers note that The Ordinary offers great value, while Allies of Skin provides effective hydrating serums.

The Ordinary or Allies of Skin for acne-prone skin?

Both brands are great choices for acne-prone skin, with Allies of Skin reaching a Superior fit level and The Ordinary reaching High. The products on this page help clear blemishes, while niacinamide may help soothe inflammation and reduce redness.

The Ordinary or Allies of Skin for mature skin?

Allies of Skin is a better fit for mature skin, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to The Ordinary's High level. Allies of Skin offers effective anti-aging and brightening serums as well as firming eye and daily treatments tailored for this skin type.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000

The Ordinary or Allies of Skin for dry sensitive skin?

Both The Ordinary and Allies of Skin are a great match for dry sensitive skin, offering a superior routine fit on the products on this page. Topical hyaluronic acid helps improve skin quality and signs of aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

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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