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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 two distinct skincare lines known for thoughtfully formulated serums, moisturizers, cleansers, toners, and more. The Canadian brand centers its offerings around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane to suit sensitive skin and dry sensitive skin best, while the British brand harnesses nourishing ingredients like glycerin and shea to care for mature skin and dry sensitive skin. Both houses differ primarily in their heritage and targeted concentrations, with the former emphasizing targeted acid and vitamin blends and the latter focusing on luxury pro-collagen treatments.

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

Buy The Ordinary routine · SAR 814.57 · 90% fitBuy Elemis routine · SAR 3,641.86 · 82% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

The Ordinary vs Elemis routines for oily skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · SAR 867.55 · 92% fitBuy Elemis routine · SAR 2,382.67 · 77% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

The Ordinary vs Elemis routines for combination skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · SAR 981.41 · 92% fitBuy Elemis routine · SAR 2,337.01 · 79% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Elemis: which is better?

The Ordinary is generally better for budget-friendly routines and fragrance-sensitive skin, while Elemis is preferred for luxurious textures and hydration. The Ordinary offers superior routine fit across most skin types on the products on this page.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Elemis?

The Ordinary offers budget-friendly skincare with fragrance-free formulas that focus on targeted active ingredients, while Elemis provides a more luxurious experience with higher price points and many scented products.

The Ordinary or Elemis for dry skin?

The Ordinary is a Superior fit for dry skin, while Elemis is a High fit. The products on this page for The Ordinary offer superior hydration and value, whereas Elemis focuses heavily on rich moisturizers that may sometimes feel heavy.

The Ordinary or Elemis: which cleanser is better?

Both The Ordinary and Elemis offer effective cleansers, with The Ordinary rated as having a Superior routine fit for most skin types and Elemis achieving a High fit. Reviewers often mention Elemis for its hydrating moisturizers, while The Ordinary is frequently noted for providing great value and being gentle.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Elemis?

The Ordinary is more affordable, as reviewers frequently mention its products as having great value and a low price point, whereas a high price point is a common complaint for Elemis.

How do The Ordinary and Elemis compare regarding fragrance and skin sensitivity?

The Ordinary is a better choice for fragrance and skin sensitivity because every product on this page lists no fragrance, whereas most Elemis products contain added scent. Reviewers also rank The Ordinary better for scent and fragrance, while both brands are rated equally gentle for sensitive skin.

Which brand performs better for smoothing and refining skin texture?

The Ordinary performs better for smoothing and refining skin texture. The products on this page help improve skin smoothness, with review themes showing The Ordinary does better in this category compared to Elemis.

What are the main founding years and parent companies of The Ordinary and Elemis?

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

The Ordinary or Elemis for oily skin?

The Ordinary is a better fit for oily skin, offering a Superior routine compared to Elemis, which provides a High fit level. The Ordinary products on this page list no fragrance, whereas most Elemis products contain fragrance.

The Ordinary or Elemis for sensitive skin?

The Ordinary is a better fit for sensitive skin, offering Superior routine fit compared to Elemis having High fit. The products on this page for The Ordinary list no fragrance across the board, whereas Elemis includes fragrance in the majority of its products.

The Ordinary or Elemis for acne-prone skin?

The Ordinary is a better fit for acne-prone skin, offering superior routine fit compared to Elemis. The products on this page help with acne-clearing serums and are fragrance-free.

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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