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The Ordinary vs Elemis

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

The Ordinary and Elemis are skincare brands offering serums, moisturizers, cleansers, toners, and more. The Canadian brand centers its products on hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane, suiting dry sensitive skin and dry skin best, while the British brand utilizes nourishing ingredients like glycerin and shea to suit mature skin and dry sensitive skin. Both brands differ in their formulations and origins, yet their key ingredients actively support skin health.

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

glossy.coen.wikipedia.org

Elemis is a British skincare brand founded in 1989 and owned by L'Occitane Group since 2019.

elemis.comau.elemis.comen.wikipedia.org

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

Popular The Ordinary vs Elemis products

People Say

The OrdinaryElemis
  • Texture and Absorption Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Absorbs almost immediately, and my skin feels well hydrated all day. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
    • “whipped silk feel — Elemis Superfood Midnight Facial”
    • “cloud-light gel formula — Elemis Pro-Collagen Eye Revive Mask”
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA”
  • Smooths and Refines Skin Texture 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%”
    • “baby soft — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads”
  • Hydration and Moisture Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “The cream really hydrates and my face looks amazing. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Night Cream”
    • “Quenches thirsty skin... immediate improvement. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
    • “skin feels baby soft — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Value and Price 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%”
  • Other Benefits and Features Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “eliminated armpit odor — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “pores look significantly smaller — The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
    • “Nature's botox — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
    • “My neck doesn't sag... plumps my skin to look more youthful. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Night Cream”
  • Gentle and Sensitive Skin Friendly Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “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”
    • “no stinging or redness — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
    • “Feels incredibly gentle and instantly rebalances my skin's pH. — Elemis Balancing Lavender Toner”
  • High Price Point Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “Complete waste of money for me. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
  • Heavy, Thick, or Sticky Texture Issues Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “Great product, a bit heavy. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Night Cream”
    • “slightly tacky to touch — Elemis Pro-Collagen Eye Revive Mask”
    • “leaves white flakes — Elemis Pro-Collagen Advanced Eye Treatment”
    • “feels very sticky — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Other Complaints and Issues Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “blurry vision — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
    • “tends to flake off — Elemis Pro-Collagen Eye Revive Mask”
    • “slight tingling sensation — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash”
    • “foams up like soap — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
  • Scent and Fragrance Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “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”
    • “The smell is very strong... could not handle for long. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”

The Ordinary vs Elemis routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

The Ordinary vs Elemis routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

The Ordinary vs Elemis routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 94% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Elemis: which is better?

The Ordinary is generally better for budget-friendly routines and sensitive skin, as all products on this page list no fragrance, whereas Elemis focuses on luxurious textures and hydrating moisturizers at a higher price point. Both brands offer high routine fits for mature skin and acne-prone skin.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Elemis?

The Ordinary generally offers a better budget-friendly value with fragrance-free formulas, while Elemis focuses on luxurious textures and often includes added scents. Reviewers note that The Ordinary does better with smoothing skin texture and pricing, whereas Elemis stands out for hydration and absorption.

The Ordinary or Elemis for dry skin?

The Ordinary is a better fit for dry skin, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to Elemis at High. Additionally, the products on this page from The Ordinary list no fragrance across their entire range.

The Ordinary or Elemis: which cleanser is better?

The Ordinary offers a better cleanser for value, while Elemis excels in texture and hydration. The Glycolipid Cream Cleanser from The Ordinary achieves a Superior fit level for dry skin, whereas the Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm from Elemis is noted for its luxurious feel.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Elemis?

The Ordinary is more affordable, offering budget-friendly serums and products on this page known for great value. Reviewers frequently note that Elemis has a high price point.

Which brand has more products without fragrance, The Ordinary or Elemis?

The Ordinary has more products without fragrance, as every product on its page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, whereas only 4 of the 22 products on the Elemis page are fragrance-free.

How do the founding years and current parent companies of The Ordinary and Elemis compare?

The Ordinary was founded in Canada in 2016 and is owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. In contrast, Elemis was founded in the United Kingdom in 1989 and is owned by the L'Occitane Group.

Which brand performs better when it comes to hydration and moisture according to reviewers?

Elemis performs better when it comes to hydration and moisture according to reviewers, thanks to its well-liked hydrating moisturizers.

The Ordinary or Elemis for oily skin?

The Ordinary is a better fit for oily skin because the products on this page achieve a superior routine fit compared to the high fit of Elemis. The Ordinary also offers many fragrance-free serums that help control oil without adding heavy scents.

The Ordinary or Elemis: which moisturizer is better?

Both brands offer moisturizers with great benefits, but The Ordinary may suit shoppers seeking high value and fragrance-free formulas, while Elemis often provides luxurious textures. For dry skin, the products on this page show that The Ordinary achieves a Superior routine fit compared to Elemis, which reaches a High fit.

The Ordinary or Elemis for sensitive skin?

The Ordinary is a better fit for sensitive skin, offering a Superior routine fit compared to Elemis at High. Reviewers also note that The Ordinary has fewer issues with scent and fragrance, whereas most Elemis products on this page contain 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

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