🇳🇱Netherlands

The Ordinary vs Simple

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

The Ordinary and Simple are distinct skincare lines created to address diverse dermal needs through targeted formulations. The Canadian brand centers its serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and toners on hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane, suiting dry and dry sensitive skin best, whereas the British brand relies on niacinamide and glycerin within gentle moisturizers, makeup removers, cleansers, and toners to favor acne-prone skin and skin with dark spots. Both lines employ ingredients that enhance hydration and barrier function, though the former utilizes squalane to increase epidermal thickness while the latter incorporates niacinamide to reduce hyperpigmentation.

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

glossy.coen.wikipedia.org

Simple is a British skincare brand founded in 1960 and owned by Unilever PLC since 2011.

en.wikipedia.orgsec.govprnewswire.comsimple.co.uk

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

Popular The Ordinary vs Simple products

People Say

The OrdinarySimple
  • Great value and affordability Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “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%”
    • “great value for money — Simple Kind to Skin Soothing Facial Toner”
  • Good for sensitive skin Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Does not cause any form of irritation on the skin which I love. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “The only cleanser that doesn't turn my face red. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “no artificial perfume — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “Finally a cleanser that doesn't sting my face. — The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser”
  • Lightweight absorption Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “sinks in instantly — Simple Water Boost Hydrating Gel Cream”
    • “absorbs very quickly — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “absorbs really well — Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturiser”
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
  • Hydration and plumping Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “banished dryness within days — Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturiser”
    • “cleared up my dry patches — Simple Water Boost Hydrating Gel Cream”
    • “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”
  • Smoothes skin texture 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%”
  • Breakouts and purging Sometimes 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”
    • “Gave me tiny bumps on my forehead. — Simple Micellar Water”
  • Insufficient moisture Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Skin felt tight an hour later — The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA”
    • “not moisturizing enough — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
  • Struggles with waterproof makeup Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “Did not remove my mascara very well at all. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
  • Sticky or tacky finish Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “leaves a tacky film — Simple Kind to Skin Soothing Facial Toner”
    • “feels very sticky — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”

The Ordinary vs Simple routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

The Ordinary vs Simple routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

The Ordinary vs Simple routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 94% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Simple: which is better?

The Ordinary is generally better for value, acne, and texture, while Simple is often better for sensitive skin and lightweight moisture. The products on this page from The Ordinary achieve superior routine fits for dry, oily, combination, and sensitive skin types.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Simple?

The Ordinary offers greater value and excels at clearing blemishes and smoothing texture, whereas Simple provides lighter absorption and better hydration. Lovi shows that The Ordinary has a superior routine fit for dry, oily, combination, sensitive, dark spot, and dry sensitive skin, while both brands tie for acne-prone, mature, and oily acne-prone skin.

The Ordinary or Simple for dry skin?

For dry skin, Lovi finds The Ordinary Superior while Simple is High. The Ordinary features a variety of deeply hydrating and nourishing products on this page, such as the Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA moisturizer which helps lock in moisture.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Simple: which cleanser is better?

The products on this page for The Ordinary include options like the Glucoside Foaming Cleanser and Glycolipid Cream Cleanser, which Lovi rates as High for dry and combination skin, while Simple features the Refreshing Facial Wash with an Average fit for those skin types.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Simple?

The Ordinary offers better value, standing out on the products on this page for its affordability.

The Ordinary or Simple for dark spots?

The Ordinary is the better choice for dark spots, as the products on this page achieve a Superior Lovi fit level for this concern. Niacinamide helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation and suppress melanosome transfer.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

Which brand has fragrance-free products, The Ordinary or Simple?

Both The Ordinary and Simple offer fragrance-free products, as every single product listed for the products on this page contains no fragrance in its ingredients.

The Ordinary or Simple for oily skin?

For oily skin, Lovi finds The Ordinary to be a Superior routine fit compared to Simple, which is a High fit. The Ordinary products on this page offer better oil control and blemish clearing, while Simple provides lightweight hydration.

The Ordinary or Simple: which moisturizer is better?

When comparing moisturizers, The Ordinary offers superior routine fit levels for dry and dry sensitive skin compared to Simple. Furthermore, the products on this page from The Ordinary provide key ingredients like hyaluronic acid, which helps improve skin hydration.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Simple for sensitive skin?

For sensitive skin, The Ordinary has a Superior routine fit, while Simple has a High fit. Reviewers note that Simple is good for sensitive skin, and all products on this page for both brands list no fragrance.

The Ordinary or Simple for acne-prone skin?

Both The Ordinary and Simple fit acne-prone skin well, as Lovi rates their routines as High. The Ordinary is noted for clearing acne and blemishes, while Simple provides gentle makeup removers.

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