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The Ordinary vs Dermalogica

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

The Ordinary and Dermalogica are skincare brands known for diverse product types and key ingredients tailored to different complexions. The Ordinary offers serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and toners built around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane that suit sensitive and dry sensitive skin best. Conversely, Dermalogica features targeted serums, nourishing moisturizers, gentle cleansers, and purifying masks formulated with hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and salicylic acid that suit oily and combination skin best. While both utilize hydrating staples like hyaluronic acid and glycerin, they differ through specialized actives and distinct origins.

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

glossy.coen.wikipedia.org

Dermalogica is an American skincare brand founded in 1986 and owned by Unilever since 2015.

en.wikipedia.orgcosmeticsbusiness.com

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

Popular The Ordinary vs Dermalogica products

People Say

The OrdinaryDermalogica
  • 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%”
    • “little goes a long way — Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel”
  • Hydration and plumping Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Saved my dry skin — Dermalogica Super Rich Repair”
    • “super hydrating — Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Recovery Masque”
    • “skin feels hydrated — Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Balance”
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Skin texture smoothing 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 smooth as silk — Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant”
  • Gentle and non-irritating Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “gentle enough for daily use — Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant”
    • “doesn't strip skin — Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel”
    • “helps calm and nourish my skin — Dermalogica Stabilizing Repair Cream”
    • “Leaves my face feeling soft and not tight at all. — The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser”
  • Lightweight absorption Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “blends seamlessly — Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF 50”
    • “Absorbs quickly... not greasy — Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream”
    • “Sinks in beautifully — Dermalogica Super Rich Repair”
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
  • Acne clearing and blemish control Often MentionedRarely 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”
    • “doesn't clog pores — Dermalogica Active Moist”
  • High price point Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Expensive for Ordinary — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
    • “hefty price tag — Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant”
  • Unpleasant scent 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”
    • “smells like puke — Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant”
  • Stinging and irritation Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “burns immediately — Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Recovery Masque”
    • “caused severe peeling — Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant”
    • “Prickle sensation — Dermalogica Blackhead Clearing Fizz Mask”
    • “stings a little but worth it — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
  • Breakouts and skin reactions 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”
    • “Cystic acne flare-ups — Dermalogica Precleanse”

The Ordinary vs Dermalogica routines for dry skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · SAR 814.57 · 90% fitBuy Dermalogica routine · SAR 2,726.33 · 85% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

The Ordinary vs Dermalogica routines for oily skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · SAR 867.55 · 92% fitBuy Dermalogica routine · SAR 2,796.23 · 91% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

The Ordinary vs Dermalogica routines for combination skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · SAR 981.41 · 92% fitBuy Dermalogica routine · SAR 2,550.53 · 91% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Dermalogica: which is better?

The Ordinary offers better value, skin texture smoothing, and acne-clearing benefits across the products on this page, while Dermalogica provides better intense hydration and soothing moisturizers.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Dermalogica?

The Ordinary offers better value and pricing for the products on this page, whereas Dermalogica provides more intense hydration. Reviewers note that The Ordinary excels at acne clearing and skin texture smoothing, while Dermalogica is praised for soothing moisturizers and lightweight absorption.

The Ordinary or Dermalogica for dry skin?

For dry skin, The Ordinary has a Superior routine fit on this page, while Dermalogica has a High fit. The Ordinary products on this page help provide great value and effective hydration.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Drug Delivery, 2017

The Ordinary or Dermalogica: which cleanser is better?

Both brands offer highly rated cleansers, but The Ordinary has a superior routine fit for dry and sensitive skin on the products on this page, while Dermalogica excels for oily acne-prone skin.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Dermalogica?

The Ordinary offers better affordability, as reviewers frequently praise the brand for its affordable and great value serums. In contrast, reviewers note that Dermalogica has a high price point.

Which brand performs better for dry sensitive skin, The Ordinary or Dermalogica?

The Ordinary performs better for dry sensitive skin, achieving a superior routine fit compared to Dermalogica's high fit on the products on this page. Topical hyaluronic acid helps improve skin quality and signs of skin aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

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

The Ordinary was founded in Canada in 2016 and is owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. Dermalogica was founded in the United States in 1986 and is owned by Unilever.

Which brand is better suited for mature skin, The Ordinary or Dermalogica?

The Ordinary is better suited for mature skin on this page, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to Dermalogica's High fit. Reviewers highlight The Ordinary for texture smoothing and value, while studies indicate that its retinol ingredients help stimulate collagen accumulation in naturally aged skin.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000

The Ordinary or Dermalogica for oily skin?

Both The Ordinary and Dermalogica are great for oily skin, as Lovi rates the routine fit for oily skin as Superior for both brands. Reviewers note that The Ordinary offers better acne-clearing and value, while Dermalogica provides better lightweight absorption and hydration.

The Ordinary or Dermalogica: which moisturizer is better?

Both brands offer effective moisturizers, but they cater to different needs and budgets. The Ordinary provides budget-friendly options like Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA, which is rated as a Superior fit for dry skin on the products on this page. Meanwhile, Dermalogica focuses on intensive hydration and soothing benefits with products like Stabilizing Repair Cream, which is also rated as a Superior fit for dry skin.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Dermalogica for sensitive skin?

The Ordinary is a better fit for sensitive skin on this page, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to Dermalogica's High level. Reviewers also indicate that The Ordinary does better for gentle and non-irritating use.

The Ordinary or Dermalogica for acne-prone skin?

The Ordinary is a better fit for acne-prone skin on this page, achieving a superior routine fit level compared to Dermalogica's high fit level. The products on this page help with blemish control and acne clearing.

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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