The Ordinary vs Estée Lauder
The Ordinary and Estée Lauder are two skincare brands owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. The Canadian brand offers serums, moisturizers, cleansers, toners, and more built around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane, suiting sensitive skin and dry sensitive skin best. Conversely, the American brand is beloved for its comprehensive range of moisturizers, serums, eye products, cleansers, and more formulated with hyaluronic acid and glycerin, suiting acne-prone skin and mature skin best. Ultimately, both brands utilize these key ingredients to support hydration and barrier function while differing in their foundational origins and primary skin type suitability.
The Ordinary is a Canadian skincare brand founded in 2016 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 2021.
Estée Lauder is an American skincare brand founded in 1946 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc..
en.wikipedia.orgelcompanies.com
This page compares some of the most popular The Ordinary and Estée Lauder products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.
Popular The Ordinary vs Estée Lauder products
People Say
Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
- “skin drinks it up immediately — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair”
- “The formula is incredibly hydrating and leaves my skin feeling smooth. — Estée Lauder Re-Nutriv”
- “texture is dreamy — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Supercharged Gel-Creme”
- “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
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%”
- “skin feels like a baby's bottom — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair”
- “silky smooth — Estée Lauder Micro Essence Treatment Lotion”
Value and Price Mostly MentionedNot noted
- “lasts forever — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
- “eliminated armpit odor — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
- “can't beat the price — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
Additional Benefits and Performance Often MentionedSometimes Noted
- “never had any reaction to it with my sensitive skin — The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA”
- “Nature's botox — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
- “included SPF 15 is ideal for mild sun exposure — Estée Lauder DayWear Moisturizer”
- “stronger — Estée Lauder Micro Essence Treatment Lotion”
Lightweight and Fast Absorbing Often MentionedSometimes Noted
- “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA”
- “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
- “Absorbs quickly into the skin — Estée Lauder Revitalizing Supreme+”
- “watery — Estée Lauder Micro Essence Treatment Lotion”
Acne and Blemish Control 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”
High Price Point Not notedMostly Mentioned
- “way too expensive for the size — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair”
Inconsistent Results or Formula Issues Often MentionedOften Mentioned
- “no change in pigment — The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG”
- “Skin felt tight an hour later — The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA”
- “didn't notice any difference — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair”
- “just expensive water — Estée Lauder Micro Essence Treatment Lotion”
Pilling, Sticky, or Heavy Finish Mostly MentionedRarely Noted
- “tacky film — Estée Lauder Micro Essence Treatment Lotion”
- “Leaves a greasy film behind — Estée Lauder Take It Away Makeup Remover Lotion”
- “crumbles and piles under moisturizer — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
The Ordinary vs Estée Lauder routines for dry skin
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Cleanser
Glycolipid Cream Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
SAR 99.36
-
Moisturizer
SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Probio-Cica Enrich Cream
Morning · Evening · Once a week
SAR 48.00
-
SPF
d'Alba Piedmont Waterfull Mild Sunscreen
Morning
SAR 75.00
-
Pre-Cleanser
MISSHA Ultra Hyalon Cleansing Cream
Evening · Once a week
SAR 65.11
-
Cleansing Toner
Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution
Evening
SAR 72.29
-
Serum or Treatment
Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum
Evening · Once a week
SAR 89.78
-
Enzyme Powder
FANCL Facial Washing Powder
Once a week
SAR 130.30
-
Nourishing Mask
Mediheal Watermide Essential Mask
Once a week
SAR 234.73
-
Cleanser
Advanced Night Cleansing Gelée
Morning · Evening · Once a week
SAR 232.00
-
Hydrating Toner
Micro Essence Treatment Lotion
Morning
SAR 244.35
-
Moisturizer
Revitalizing Supreme+
Morning · Evening · Once a week
SAR 770.00
- SPF DayWear Moisturizer Morning
-
Pre-Cleanser
Take It Away Makeup Remover Lotion
Evening · Once a week
SAR 439.00
-
Cleansing Toner
ROUND LAB 1025 Dokdo Cleansing Water
Evening
SAR 72.64
- Serum or Treatment Perfectionist Pro Evening · Once a week
-
Enzyme Powder
FANCL Facial Washing Powder
Once a week
SAR 130.30
-
Nourishing Mask
Nutritious Melting Soft Creme/Mask
Once a week
SAR 297.00
Buy The Ordinary routine · SAR 814.57 · 90% fit
Buy Estée Lauder routine · SAR 2,185.29 · 77% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit
The Ordinary vs Estée Lauder routines for oily skin
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Cleanser
Glycolipid Cream Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
SAR 99.36
-
Hydrating Toner
Some By Mi Snail Truecica Miracle Repair Toner
Morning · Once a week
SAR 53.04
-
Moisturizer
COSRX Oil-Free Ultra-Moisturizing Lotion (with Birch Sap)
Morning · Evening · Once a week
SAR 39.70
-
SPF
CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30
Morning
SAR 46.95
-
Pre-Cleanser
Shu Uemura Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
SAR 245.95
-
Cleansing Toner
Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution
Evening
SAR 72.29
-
Serum or Treatment
Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
Evening · Once a week
SAR 55.00
-
Enzyme Powder
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Once a week
SAR 157.51
-
Cleansing Mask
Salicylic Acid 2% Masque
Once a week
SAR 97.75
-
Cleanser
Advanced Night Cleansing Gelée
Morning · Evening · Once a week
SAR 232.00
-
Hydrating Toner
Micro Essence Treatment Lotion
Morning · Once a week
SAR 244.35
-
Moisturizer
Revitalizing Supreme+
Morning · Evening · Once a week
SAR 770.00
- SPF DayWear Moisturizer Morning
-
Pre-Cleanser
Take It Away Makeup Remover Lotion
Evening · Once a week
SAR 439.00
-
Cleansing Toner
Caudalie Vinopure Purifying Toner
Evening
SAR 187.00
- Serum or Treatment Perfectionist Pro Evening · Once a week
-
Enzyme Powder
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Once a week
SAR 157.51
-
Cleansing Mask
Goldfaden MD Facial Detox Mask
Once a week
SAR 328.29
Buy The Ordinary routine · SAR 867.55 · 92% fit
Buy Estée Lauder routine · SAR 2,358.15 · 75% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit
The Ordinary vs Estée Lauder routines for combination skin
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Cleanser
Glycolipid Cream Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
SAR 99.36
-
Hydrating Toner
Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner
Morning · Once a week
SAR 166.90
-
Moisturizer
COSRX Oil-Free Ultra-Moisturizing Lotion (with Birch Sap)
Morning · Evening · Once a week
SAR 39.70
-
SPF
CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30
Morning
SAR 46.95
-
Pre-Cleanser
Shu Uemura Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
SAR 245.95
-
Cleansing Toner
Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution
Evening
SAR 72.29
-
Serum or Treatment
Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
Evening · Once a week
SAR 55.00
-
Enzyme Powder
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Once a week
SAR 157.51
-
Cleansing Mask
Salicylic Acid 2% Masque
Once a week
SAR 97.75
-
Cleanser
Advanced Night Cleansing Gelée
Morning · Evening · Once a week
SAR 232.00
-
Hydrating Toner
Micro Essence Treatment Lotion
Morning · Once a week
SAR 244.35
-
Moisturizer
Revitalizing Supreme+
Morning · Evening · Once a week
SAR 770.00
- SPF DayWear Moisturizer Morning
-
Pre-Cleanser
Take It Away Makeup Remover Lotion
Evening · Once a week
SAR 439.00
-
Cleansing Toner
Medicube Zero Pore Pad 2.0
Evening
SAR 64.80
-
Serum or Treatment
Advanced Night Repair
Evening · Once a week
SAR 259.20
-
Enzyme Powder
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Once a week
SAR 157.51
-
Cleansing Mask
KORA Organics Turmeric Brightening & Exfoliating Mask
Once a week
SAR 168.77
Buy The Ordinary routine · SAR 981.41 · 92% fit
Buy Estée Lauder routine · SAR 2,335.63 · 77% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit
Questions and answers
The Ordinary or Estée Lauder: which is better?
The Ordinary is a better choice for value and acne care, offering superior routine fit across most skin types, whereas Estée Lauder stands out for deep hydration and luxurious formulations.
What is the difference between The Ordinary and Estée Lauder?
The Ordinary offers better value and a superior fit for most skin types, while Estée Lauder excels in deep hydration. Reviewers often mention high prices for Estée Lauder and affordable value for The Ordinary.
The Ordinary or Estée Lauder for dry skin?
The Ordinary is a better fit for dry skin, offering a Superior routine compared to Estée Lauder's High fit level. The products on this page for The Ordinary include options like Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA, which helps provide deep hydration.
The Ordinary or Estée Lauder: which cleanser is better?
The Ordinary offers better value cleansers, such as the Glucoside Foaming Cleanser, which has a High fit across most skin types on this page. Estée Lauder cleansers like the Advanced Night Cleansing Gelée also provide a High fit for acne-prone and mature skin, but reviewers frequently mention a high price point for the brand.
Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Estée Lauder?
The Ordinary is more affordable, offering budget-friendly serums that reviewers frequently praise for providing great value. In contrast, reviewers often mention Estée Lauder's high price point as a drawback.
Which brand performs better for hydration and moisture, The Ordinary or Estée Lauder?
Estée Lauder performs better for hydration and moisture. Reviewers mostly mention deep hydration for Estée Lauder, and Lovi rates Estée Lauder as High for dry skin while The Ordinary is Superior.
Do The Ordinary or Estée Lauder products contain fragrance?
Every product on The Ordinary page lists no fragrance in its ingredients. On the Estée Lauder page, 12 of the 14 products list no fragrance, while the DayWear Moisturizer and Soft Clean Moisture Rich Foaming Cleanser contain fragrance.
The Ordinary or Estée Lauder for sensitive skin?
The Ordinary is a better fit for sensitive skin, offering a Superior routine compared to Estée Lauder's High fit.
The Ordinary or Estée Lauder: which moisturizer is better?
The products on this page show that both brands offer effective moisturizers, with The Ordinary achieving a superior routine fit for dry skin compared to Estée Lauder's high fit. The Ordinary features options like Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA which are rated superior for dry skin, while Estée Lauder provides deeply hydrating choices such as Revitalizing Supreme+.
The Ordinary or Estée Lauder for acne-prone skin?
The Ordinary is a better fit for acne-prone skin, offering a Superior routine compared to Estée Lauder's High fit. The products on this page help with acne-clearing and blemish control while providing strong value.
The Ordinary or Estée Lauder for skin with dark spots?
The Ordinary is a better fit for skin with dark spots, offering a Superior routine compared to Estée Lauder's Average level. Products on this page help target pigmentation with ingredients like niacinamide and vitamin c derivatives,.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Experimental Dermatology, 2003
Research behind their key ingredients
The Effect of Aloe Vera Clinical Trials on Prevention and Healing of Skin Wound: A Systematic Review
Molecular basis of retinol anti-ageing properties in naturally aged human skin in vivo
Topical palmitoyl pentapeptide provides improvement in photoaged human facial skin
Effects of ascorbic acid on gingival melanin pigmentation in vitro and in vivo
Chrysin protects epidermal keratinocytes from UVA- and UVB-induced damage
Panax ginseng induces human Type I collagen synthesis through activation of Smad signaling
Vitamin C-squalene bioconjugate promotes epidermal thickening and collagen production in human skin
The moisturizing effects of glycolipid biosurfactants, mannosylerythritol lipids, on human skin
Reduction in the appearance of facial hyperpigmentation by topical N-acetyl glucosamine
Microneedling by dermapen and glycolic acid peel for the treatment of acne scars: Comparative study
Another Reason for Using Caffeine in Dermocosmetics: Sunscreen Adjuvant
Lycopene and Melatonin: Antioxidant Compounds in Cosmetic Formulations
The synergistic effect of retinyl propionate and hydroxypinacolone retinoate on skin aging
Nanostructured Lipid Carrier for Topical Application of N-Acetyl Glucosamine
Topical lycopene emulgel significantly improves biophysical parameters of human skin
Skin recovery by Lavandula angustifolia leaf callus extract: Redox control of Nrf2 signaling
The anti wrinkle efficacy of synthetic hexapeptide (Argireline) in Chinese Subjects
Safety of a preservative system containing 1,2-hexanediol and caprylyl glycol
Functional properties and skin care effects of sodium trehalose sulfate
A bioactive complex to protect proteins from UV-induced oxidation in human epidermis
Treatment with Ascorbyl Glucoside-Arginine Complex Ameliorates Solar Lentigos
Natural Moisturizing Factor-Enriched Formulations Compared to a Ceramide-Based Cream
Targeting Circadian Rhythm for the Regulation of Skin Collagen Metabolism
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.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-

Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-

Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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