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The Ordinary vs No7

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

The Ordinary and No7 are two established skincare lines defined by distinct formulation philosophies and ingredient profiles. The Canadian brand centers its serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and toners on hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane, suiting sensitive and dry sensitive skin best, while the British brand focuses its serums, eye products, moisturizers, and sunscreens around vitamin C, shea butter, and hyaluronic acid to best support mature and dry skin. Both offer targeted treatments for acne, dark spots, and aging, yet they differ fundamentally in their foundational ingredients and generational 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

No7 is a British skincare brand founded in 1935 and owned by Sycamore Partners since 2025.

cosmeticsbusiness.comen.wikipedia.org

This page compares some of the most popular The Ordinary and No7 products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular The Ordinary vs No7 products

People Say

The OrdinaryNo7
  • Hydration, plumping, and value Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
    • “lasts forever — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “Skin feels softer — No7 Future Renew Damage Reversal Serum”
    • “zero irritation — No7 Pure Retinol Eye Cream”
  • Smoothes skin texture and improves glow Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “glass skin effect — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “eliminated armpit odor — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “skin feels so soft — No7 Total Renewal Micro-Dermabrasion Exfoliator”
    • “skin feels velvety — No7 Pure Retinol”
  • Reduces redness and clears acne Often MentionedNot noted
    • “calms down the redness immediately — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “pimples disappear within a day — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
    • “scars and hormonal acne faded — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
  • Irritation, stinging, and breakouts Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Smells like vinegar — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
    • “irritated AF the next day — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
    • “Can be drying — No7 Pure Retinol 1% Night Concentrate”
    • “caused flaky skin — No7 Pure Retinol”
  • Texture and pilling issues under makeup Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “crumbles and piles under moisturizer — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”

The Ordinary vs No7 routines for dry skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · SAR 814.57 · 90% fitBuy No7 routine · SAR 1,213.27 · 89% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

The Ordinary vs No7 routines for oily skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · SAR 867.55 · 92% fitBuy No7 routine · SAR 1,421.61 · 85% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

The Ordinary vs No7 routines for combination skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · SAR 981.41 · 92% fitBuy No7 routine · SAR 1,414.68 · 88% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or No7: which is better?

The Ordinary is generally better across most skin types, offering a Superior routine fit for dry, oily, combination, sensitive, and acne-prone skin, whereas No7 is best for mature skin where both brands share a Superior fit. Reviewers also note that The Ordinary does better at reducing redness and clearing acne.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and No7?

The Ordinary products on this page have a superior routine fit for dry, combination, sensitive, acne-prone, and dark-spot skin, while No7 matches that high level only for mature and oily acne-prone skin. Both brands tie on hydration and texture improvements, but The Ordinary does better at reducing redness and clearing acne, whereas No7 has more complaints about texture and pilling under makeup.

The Ordinary or No7 for dry skin?

The Ordinary offers a Superior routine fit for dry skin, whereas No7 provides a High routine fit. Hyaluronic acid helps provide deep hydration across the products on this page.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or No7: which moisturizer is better?

Both The Ordinary and No7 offer moisturizers with a high or superior Lovi fit level for dry skin, such as The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + Beta Glucan and No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced Night Cream. Reviewers often mention deep hydration and moisture from No7 products, while The Ordinary moisturizers help provide great value.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or No7?

The products on this page by The Ordinary are noted for being affordable and offering great value serums, whereas No7 has no such advantage mentioned on the page.

Which brand has more fragrance-free products, The Ordinary or No7?

The Ordinary has more fragrance-free products, as every single product on its page lists no fragrance in its ingredients. In comparison, No7 includes fragrance in 3 of the 13 products listed on its page.

The Ordinary or No7 for fading dark spots?

The products on this page show that The Ordinary achieves a Superior Lovi fit level for fading dark spots, whereas No7 reaches a High level. Review themes also note that The Ordinary does better for reducing redness and clearing acne. Topical niacinamide helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation and suppress melanosome transfer.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

The Ordinary or No7 for oily skin?

For oily skin, The Ordinary fits better than No7, offering a Superior routine fit compared to No7's High fit level. Niacinamide helps reduce sebum production, and hyaluronic acid provides hydration without heaviness.

Drug Delivery, 2017Antioxidants, 2021

The Ordinary or No7 for sensitive skin?

The Ordinary is a better fit for sensitive skin, offering a Superior routine fit compared to No7's High fit on this page. Reviewers frequently note that The Ordinary provides gentle and non-irritating serums across the products on this page.

The Ordinary or No7 for acne-prone skin?

The Ordinary is a better fit for acne-prone skin, offering a Superior routine fit compared to No7's High fit level. The Ordinary provides more products specifically tailored to reduce redness and clear acne.

The Ordinary or No7 for mature skin?

For mature skin, both The Ordinary and No7 achieve a Superior routine fit level, offering effective options for your skincare routine. The Ordinary provides affordable anti-aging treatments and texture-smoothing serums, while No7 is recognized for its eye product hydration and firmness, as well as anti-aging and line reduction benefits.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000Archives of Dermatology, 2007

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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