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The Ordinary vs Clinique

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

The Ordinary and Clinique are distinct skincare brands under The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. that offer targeted moisturizers, serums, cleansers, and more. While the Canadian brand features hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane to suit dry sensitive skin and dry skin best, the American brand incorporates caffeine alongside these ingredients to comfort both dry sensitive skin and oily skin. The brands differ primarily in their formulation focus and ingredient pairings, offering tailored solutions for acne-prone skin, dark spots, and mature 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

Clinique is an American skincare brand founded in 1968 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc..

en.wikipedia.orgelcompanies.combusinesswire.comglossy.co

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

Popular The Ordinary vs Clinique products

People Say

The OrdinaryClinique
  • Great value and price 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%”
    • “lasts forever — Clinique all about clean”
  • Gentle and non-irritating Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “never irritated my eyes — Clinique All About Eyes”
    • “No stinging eyes — Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm”
    • “doesn't dry out — Clinique all about clean”
    • “Leaves my face feeling soft and not tight at all. — The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser”
  • Improves skin texture Often MentionedSometimes 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%”
    • “skin feels silky smooth — Clinique Smart Clinical Repair Wrinkle Correcting Serum”
  • Lightweight absorption Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “sinks in immediately — Clinique moisture surge”
    • “sinks in instantly — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel”
    • “Absorbs quickly without feeling sticky — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+”
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
  • Hydration and plumping Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Keeps my dry patches at bay all day — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+”
    • “skin feels soft and smooth — Clinique Moisture Surge Overnight Mask”
    • “glass skin look — Clinique moisture surge”
    • “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”
  • Pricey or expensive for brand Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Expensive for Ordinary — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
    • “jar is too small for the cost — Clinique moisture surge”
  • Sticky or tacky finish Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “feels sticky to the touch — Clinique moisture surge”
    • “feels a bit sticky — Clinique Moisture Surge Overnight Mask”
    • “feels very sticky — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Causes breakouts Rarely 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”
    • “Woke up with whiteheads on my chin — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+”
  • Skin irritation and stinging Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “Face stung and became red — Clinique Clarifying Lotion 2”
    • “irritated AF the next day — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”

The Ordinary vs Clinique routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

The Ordinary vs Clinique routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

The Ordinary vs Clinique routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 94% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Clinique: which is better?

The Ordinary offers better value with superior routine fit for dry, combination, sensitive skin and dark spots, while Clinique focuses more on lightweight moisturizers and gentle cleansers. Both brands provide fragrance-free products, though The Ordinary is often praised for affordable serums that help improve skin texture and clear acne.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Clinique?

The Ordinary offers superior value and targets skin texture, acne, and dark spots, while Clinique stands out for hydration, lightweight absorption, and gentle formulas. For example, Lovi rates The Ordinary as Superior for dry and combination skin, whereas Clinique is rated as Average for those skin types.

The Ordinary or Clinique for dry skin?

The Ordinary is a better fit for dry skin, offering a superior routine compared to Clinique's average rating on this page. Topical hyaluronic acid helps improve skin quality and signs of skin aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Clinique: which cleanser is better?

The Ordinary offers better-rated cleansers on this page, with the Glycolipid Cream Cleanser achieving a High fit for dry sensitive skin and a Superior fit for dry skin. Clinique's cleansers generally show lower fit levels across multiple skin types on this page.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Clinique?

The Ordinary offers better value with more affordable products compared to Clinique. Reviewers frequently note that The Ordinary provides great value, whereas Clinique carries a high price point.

Which brand is better for fading dark spots, The Ordinary or Clinique?

The Ordinary is superior for fading dark spots based on the products on this page. Niacinamide helps reduce skin pigmentation by suppressing melanosome transfer.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

How do the morning routines for dry skin compare between The Ordinary and Clinique?

The morning routine for dry skin with The Ordinary features the Glycolipid Cream Cleanser, while the Clinique routine uses all about clean. Both routines share the Supple Preparation Unscented Toner and the Daily Soft Touch Sunscreen, but they differ in their choice of moisturizer.

Which brand has a better routine fit for mature skin?

Both The Ordinary and Clinique have a High routine fit for mature skin. Lovi shows that both brands reach this same fit level for mature skin types.

The Ordinary or Clinique for oily skin?

For oily skin, Lovi finds The Ordinary has a Superior routine fit, while Clinique has a High fit. The products on this page for The Ordinary offer great value and help clear acne, whereas Clinique is known for lightweight absorption.

The Ordinary or Clinique: which moisturizer is better?

When it comes to moisturizers, The Ordinary generally offers better value and superior routine fit for dry skin, while Clinique is praised for its lightweight absorption and hydrating formulas. The products on this page from both brands list no fragrance in their ingredients.

The Ordinary or Clinique for sensitive skin?

The Ordinary is a better fit for sensitive skin, offering a Superior routine fit compared to Clinique's Average fit on this page. Hyaluronic acid helps maintain skin hydration, while niacinamide may reduce pigmentation.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

The Ordinary or Clinique for acne-prone skin?

The Ordinary is a better fit for acne-prone skin, offering a Superior routine fit compared to Clinique's Average level. The products on this page help clear acne and blemishes effectively while remaining gentle.

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

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