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The Ordinary vs Medik8

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

The Ordinary and Medik8 are respected skincare brands that offer serums, moisturizers, cleansers, toners, and more. The Canadian brand centers its formulations around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane, whereas the British brand builds its collection around hyaluronic acid. Both labels suit dry skin and dry sensitive skin best, while differing in their targeted selections for acne-prone skin, dark spots, and mature skin. The Ordinary relies on key ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane to support hydration, barrier function, and collagen production.

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

glossy.coen.wikipedia.org

Medik8 is a British skincare brand founded in 2009 and owned by L'Oréal Groupe since 2025.

loreal.commedik8.comtracxn.com

This page compares some of the most popular The Ordinary and Medik8 products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular The Ordinary vs Medik8 products

People Say

The OrdinaryMedik8
  • Texture and Pores Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “glass skin effect — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “pores look significantly smaller — The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
    • “smoother skin — Medik8 Surface Radiance Cleanse”
    • “My skin was smoother, my skin texture felt more resurfaced. — Medik8 Sleep Glycolic”
  • Gentle and Non-Irritating Formula Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “zero irritation or peeling — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “only Vitamin C my sensitive skin can tolerate — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “Best retinol replacement — Medik8 Bakuchiol Peptides”
    • “never had any reaction to it with my sensitive skin — The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA”
  • Texture and Absorption (Lightweight/Elegant) Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA”
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
    • “absorbed effortlessly — Medik8 Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream”
    • “Absorbs fast — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
  • Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Restores moisture — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
    • “Instantly quenched the skin — Medik8 Hydr8 B5 Intense”
    • “Plumps skin with moisture — Medik8 Bakuchiol Peptides”
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Value and Pricing 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%”
    • “better value than Skinceuticals — Medik8 Super C Ferulic”
  • Brightening and Dark Spots Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “I wake up glowing. It adds back that youthful bloom that I've lost. — Medik8 Sleep Glycolic”
    • “unlocked a serious glow — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “pigmentation lightened slightly — Medik8 Oxy-R Peptides”
    • “Dark spots have faded noticeably — The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA”
  • Other Minor Complaints and Performance Issues Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “too oily for my combination skin — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “Not as effective as retinol — Medik8 Bakuchiol Peptides”
    • “no difference — Medik8 Oxy-R Peptides”
    • “foams up like soap — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
  • Pilling and Makeup Compatibility Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “Didn't mix well with my foundation — Medik8 Hydr8 B5 Intense”
    • “crumbles and piles under moisturizer — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
  • Skin Irritation and Burning Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “stinging sensation — Medik8 Super C Ferulic”
    • “caused slight redness — Medik8 Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye 3”
    • “Caused stinging and redness — Medik8 Press & Glow”
    • “irritated AF the next day — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”

The Ordinary vs Medik8 routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

The Ordinary vs Medik8 routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

The Ordinary vs Medik8 routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 94% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Medik8: which is better?

Both The Ordinary and Medik8 offer great options, with The Ordinary standing out for its affordable value and Medik8 shining for hydration and brightening. The Ordinary products on this page help deliver strong overall results, particularly for dry and oily skin types.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Medik8?

The Ordinary excels in value and pricing, while Medik8 does better in hydration, brightening, and gentle formulas among the products on this page. Both brands offer solid routines for dry, combination, sensitive, acne-prone, and mature skin types.

The Ordinary or Medik8 for dry skin?

Both brands are a Superior fit for dry skin on the products on this page. The Ordinary features a high concentration of hydrating key ingredients like hyaluronic acid across its affordable range, while Medik8 offers deep hydration and plumping with products like Hydr8 B5 Intense.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Medik8: which cleanser is better?

The products on this page from The Ordinary and Medik8 include cleansers like the Glycolipid Cream Cleanser and Surface Radiance Cleanse, though neither brand has an explicit review comparison solely for cleansers. Both brands offer solid options for daily cleansing, with The Ordinary focusing on budget-friendly value and Medik8 emphasizing gentle performance.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Medik8?

The Ordinary provides products on this page that are more affordable, whereas Medik8 comes with a high price point.

Which brand has more products containing fragrance, The Ordinary or Medik8?

Medik8 has more products containing fragrance on the products page, with one fragranced product, whereas The Ordinary has none.

When was Medik8 founded and who currently owns it?

Medik8 was founded in 2009 in the United Kingdom and is currently owned by L'Oréal Groupe.

The Ordinary or Medik8 for oily skin?

For oily skin, both The Ordinary and Medik8 are great choices, with The Ordinary rated as having a Superior routine fit and Medik8 rated as High. The Ordinary features key ingredients like niacinamide, which helps reduce pigmentation, and hyaluronic acid, which provides hydration.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Medik8: which moisturizer is better?

When comparing moisturizers, Medik8 is often favored for deep hydration and plumping, while The Ordinary offers affordable and great value options for the products on this page. Both brands provide gentle formulas with key ingredients like hyaluronic acid to help support skin moisture.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Medik8 for sensitive skin?

Both The Ordinary and Medik8 offer a Superior routine fit for sensitive skin. The Ordinary features fragrance-free products on the products on this page.

The Ordinary or Medik8 for acne-prone skin?

Both The Ordinary and Medik8 offer products that are well-suited for acne-prone skin, achieving an equal High routine fit level on the products on this page. Shoppers looking for budget-friendly acne-clearing serums often prefer The Ordinary, while those seeking a more gentle, non-irritating formula may lean toward Medik8.

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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