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The Ordinary vs Medik8

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

The Ordinary and Medik8 are skincare brands that offer diverse formulations for different complexions. The Canadian brand centers its serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and toners on hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane, while the British brand builds its serums, moisturizers, eye products, and toners around hyaluronic acid. Both suit sensitive skin and dry skin types, though they differ in their foundational portfolios and targeted target applications.

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

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Medik8 is a British skincare brand founded in 2009 and owned by L'Oréal Groupe since 2025.

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This page compares some of the most popular The Ordinary and Medik8 products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular The Ordinary vs Medik8 products

People Say

The OrdinaryMedik8
  • 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%”
    • “smoother skin — Medik8 Surface Radiance Cleanse”
    • “My skin was smoother, my skin texture felt more resurfaced. — Medik8 Sleep Glycolic”
  • Gentle and Non-Irritating Formula Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “zero irritation or peeling — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “only Vitamin C my sensitive skin can tolerate — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “Best retinol replacement — Medik8 Bakuchiol Peptides”
    • “never had any reaction to it with my sensitive skin — The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA”
  • Texture and Absorption (Lightweight/Elegant) Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA”
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
    • “absorbed effortlessly — Medik8 Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream”
    • “Absorbs fast — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
  • Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Restores moisture — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
    • “Instantly quenched the skin — Medik8 Hydr8 B5 Intense”
    • “Plumps skin with moisture — Medik8 Bakuchiol Peptides”
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • 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%”
    • “better value than Skinceuticals — Medik8 Super C Ferulic”
  • Brightening and Dark Spots Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “I wake up glowing. It adds back that youthful bloom that I've lost. — Medik8 Sleep Glycolic”
    • “unlocked a serious glow — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “pigmentation lightened slightly — Medik8 Oxy-R Peptides”
    • “Dark spots have faded noticeably — The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA”
  • Other Minor Complaints and Performance Issues Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “too oily for my combination skin — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “Not as effective as retinol — Medik8 Bakuchiol Peptides”
    • “no difference — Medik8 Oxy-R Peptides”
    • “foams up like soap — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
  • Pilling and Makeup Compatibility Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “Didn't mix well with my foundation — Medik8 Hydr8 B5 Intense”
    • “crumbles and piles under moisturizer — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
  • Skin Irritation and Burning Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “stinging sensation — Medik8 Super C Ferulic”
    • “caused slight redness — Medik8 Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye 3”
    • “Caused stinging and redness — Medik8 Press & Glow”
    • “irritated AF the next day — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”

The Ordinary vs Medik8 routines for dry skin

Buy Medik8 routine · SAR 1,617.50 · 95% fitBuy The Ordinary routine · SAR 814.57 · 90% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

The Ordinary vs Medik8 routines for oily skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · SAR 867.55 · 92% fitBuy Medik8 routine · SAR 1,762.13 · 89% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

The Ordinary vs Medik8 routines for combination skin

Buy Medik8 routine · SAR 1,871.14 · 93% fitBuy The Ordinary routine · SAR 981.41 · 92% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Medik8: which is better?

The Ordinary offers better value and pricing across the products on this page, while Medik8 does better for hydration and moisture. Reviewers note that both brands provide gentle and non-irritating formulas.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Medik8?

The Ordinary offers budget-friendly products with strong value, whereas Medik8 stands out for hydration, brightening, and gentle formulas. Both brands achieve equal routine fit levels for dry, combination, sensitive, acne-prone, and dry sensitive skin types.

The Ordinary or Medik8 for dry skin?

Both The Ordinary and Medik8 offer a Superior routine fit for dry skin based on the products on this page. Hyaluronic acid helps provide deep hydration.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Medik8: which cleanser is better?

Both The Ordinary and Medik8 offer great cleansers on this page, but Medik8 stands out for addressing specific concerns like surface radiance while The Ordinary provides affordable daily options. Reviewers note that Medik8 performs better for gentle formulas, though it comes at a higher price point compared to The Ordinary's great value products.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Medik8?

The Ordinary is more affordable, offering products on this page that are noted for value and pricing compared to Medik8.

Which brand has better options for brightening and dark spots according to reviewers?

Medik8 offers better options for brightening and dark spots according to reviewers. Reviewers note that Medik8 does better in this category, and the products on this page help improve skin radiance and appearance.

How do the founding years and corporate ownerships of The Ordinary and Medik8 compare?

The Ordinary was founded in Canada in 2016 and is owned by The Est3 Lauder Companies Inc. since 2021, whereas Medik8 was founded in the United Kingdom in 2009 and is owned by L'Oréal Groupe since 2025.

Do products from The Ordinary and Medik8 contain fragrance?

Every product on The Ordinary page lists no fragrance in its ingredients. For Medik8, 11 of the 12 products on the page list no fragrance, while the Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream contains fragrance.

The Ordinary or Medik8 for sensitive skin?

Both The Ordinary and Medik8 provide a Superior routine fit for sensitive skin. The products on this page for both brands feature gentle formulas, and The Ordinary additionally offers fragrance-free options across its entire range.

The Ordinary or Medik8: which moisturizer is better?

Medik8 offers better hydration and moisture for dry skin on this page, while The Ordinary products on this page provide superior value and pricing. Topical hyaluronic acid helps improve skin quality and signs of skin aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Medik8 for acne-prone skin?

Both The Ordinary and Medik8 are great for acne-prone skin, as each achieves a Superior routine fit for this skin type. Reviewers often mention that products on this page from The Ordinary provide affordable acne-clearing serums, while Medik8 offers gentle and non-irritating formulas.

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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