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The Ordinary vs CeraVe

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

The Ordinary and CeraVe are accessible skincare brands offering dedicated ranges of serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and more, built around active components like hyaluronic acid and glycerin. The Canadian brand suits sensitive skin and dry sensitive skin best through formulations featuring squalane, while the American brand suits acne-prone skin and combination skin best with supportive cleansers, treatments, and night creams. Both utilize hyaluronic acid to lengthen the duration of wrinkle reduction and glycerin to increase skin hydration and barrier function. Ultimately, they differ in their specific ingredient concentrations and targeted solutions for concerns such as acne, dark spots, and aging.

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

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CeraVe is an American skincare brand founded in 2005 and owned by L'Oréal since 2017.

en.wikipedia.orghappi.comloreal-finance.comcerave.com

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

Popular The Ordinary vs CeraVe products

People Say

The OrdinaryCeraVe
  • Gentle and safe for sensitive skin Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “doesn't leave face tight — CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser”
    • “no burning sensation — CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum”
    • “no redness after washing — CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser”
    • “Leaves my face feeling soft and not tight at all. — The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser”
  • Great value and affordable price 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%”
    • “reasonably priced — CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser”
  • Improves skin texture and smoothness 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%”
    • “difference in my skin's texture is noticeable — CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser”
  • Lightweight and non-greasy finish Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Absorbs into skin without residue — CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “Sinks right into your skin — CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “Sinks in immediately — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA”
  • Clears acne and fades dark spots Mostly 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”
    • “lightened dark spots — CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum”
  • Deep hydration and moisture Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Saved my dry winter skin — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “woke up with plump skin — CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream”
    • “cured my dry patches — CeraVe Eye Repair Cream”
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Skin irritation, stinging, and burning Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Stung my raw skin — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “burns my damaged skin — CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser”
    • “Face feels like it's on fire — CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “irritated AF the next day — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
  • Sticky or heavy residue finish Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “too sticky — CeraVe Healing Ointment”
    • “hard to spread — CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream”
    • “left a sticky film — CeraVe Hydrating Toner”
    • “feels very sticky — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Pilling and makeup application struggles Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “doesn't take off mascara — CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser”
    • “pills and rolls — CeraVe Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum”
    • “doesn't remove mascara — CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser”
    • “crumbles and piles under moisturizer — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”

The Ordinary vs CeraVe routines for dry skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · SAR 814.57 · 90% fitBuy CeraVe routine · SAR 659.02 · 89% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

The Ordinary vs CeraVe routines for oily skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · SAR 867.55 · 92% fitBuy CeraVe routine · SAR 1,155.51 · 87% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

The Ordinary vs CeraVe routines for combination skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · SAR 981.41 · 92% fitBuy CeraVe routine · SAR 993.85 · 91% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or CeraVe: which is better?

The Ordinary delivers a Superior routine fit for sensitive skin, dry sensitive skin, and mature skin, whereas CeraVe offers a High fit for those same skin types. Additionally, The Ordinary is recognized for providing great value and affordable pricing, while CeraVe is praised for its lightweight, non-greasy moisturizers and gentle, non-stripping cleansers.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and CeraVe?

The Ordinary and CeraVe both offer fragrance-free skincare, but The Ordinary achieves a Superior routine fit for most skin types while CeraVe is rated Superior specifically for oily acne-prone skin. Reviewers highlight The Ordinary for great value and effective acne clearing, whereas CeraVe is praised for deep hydration and lightweight, non-greasy moisturizers.

The Ordinary or CeraVe for dry skin?

The Ordinary is a Superior fit for dry skin, while CeraVe has a High routine fit for this skin type. The products on this page from The Ordinary provide key ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin to help deliver moisture and hydration.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or CeraVe: which cleanser is better?

The products on this page for The Ordinary and CeraVe both offer effective cleansers, with CeraVe being recognized for gentle, non-stripping formulas and effective options for acne and oil. The Ordinary cleanser range also features well-rated items like the Glycolipid Cream Cleanser, which achieves a High fit level for dry skin, dry sensitive skin, and oily skin.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or CeraVe?

The Ordinary is more affordable, offering budget-friendly serums that reviewers frequently praise for great value and low prices. CeraVe also provides options on this page, but reviewers single out The Ordinary when it comes to value.

The Ordinary or CeraVe: which brand is better for improving skin texture and smoothness?

The Ordinary is better for improving skin texture and smoothness, as its products on this page outperform CeraVe in this category. The brand offers texture-smoothing serums that reviewers often mention, along with specialized active ingredients like glycolic and mandelic acids.

The Ordinary or CeraVe: which brand provides deeper hydration and moisture?

CeraVe is better for deep hydration and moisture, as reviews note its moisturizers provide superior healing, texture, and deep hydration. The products on this page help restore the skin barrier with ceramide-dominant lipids.

The Ordinary or CeraVe: which brand is better for treating dark spots and clearing acne?

The Ordinary is the better choice for targeting dark spots and clearing acne because the products on this page are noted for fading dark spots and clearing acne. Hyaluronic acid helps improve skin hydration, and niacinamide helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation and control skin aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Antioxidants, 2021

The Ordinary or CeraVe for sensitive skin?

The Ordinary is a better fit for sensitive skin, offering a Superior routine compared to CeraVe's High fit on this page.

The Ordinary or CeraVe: which moisturizer is better?

When it comes to moisturizers, The Ordinary offers superior hydration for dry skin with options like Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA, while CeraVe excels with ceramide-dominant formulas that deeply repair the skin barrier. Both brands provide fragrance-free selections, but CeraVe is generally praised for offering a lightweight, non-greasy finish.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or CeraVe for acne-prone skin?

The Ordinary is a Superior fit for acne-prone skin, while CeraVe is also a Superior fit on this page. Reviewers note that The Ordinary offers great options for clearing acne and fading dark spots, while CeraVe provides gentle, non-stripping cleansers and effective cleansers for acne and oil.

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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