🇸🇬Singapore

The Ordinary vs Avène

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

The Ordinary and Avène are distinct skincare lines created to address diverse dermatological needs through targeted formulations. The Canadian brand centers its offerings on serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and toners powered by hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane, whereas the French brand is celebrated for gentle moisturizers, protective sunscreens, targeted serums, and soothing cleansers formulated with glycerin. While both options suit oily acne-prone skin, the first choice also accommodates dry skin with ingredients like niacinamide, mandelic acid, and lactic acid, while the second choice adapts best to combination skin using specialized recovery balms and plumping serums. Ultimately, the brands differ in their geographical origins, founding years, ownership structures, and specific ingredient combinations tailored for dry, mature, and hyperpigmented complexions.

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

glossy.coen.wikipedia.org

Avène is a French skincare brand founded in 1990 and owned by Fondation Pierre Fabre.

pierre-fabre.comavene.co.ukaveneusa.com

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

Popular The Ordinary vs Avène products

People Say

The OrdinaryAvène
  • Gentle and non-irritating Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “leaves face clean but not dry — Avène Cleanance”
    • “Perfect cleanser for sensitive skin. — Avène Milk Cleanser”
    • “no irritation at all — Avène Hydrance+”
    • “Leaves my face feeling soft and not tight at all. — The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser”
  • Texture smoothing Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “glass skin effect — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “pores look significantly smaller — The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
    • “skin feels baby butt smooth — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
    • “I've noticed a definite improvement in the fine lines around my eyes — Avène RetrinAL EYES”
  • Great value and price 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%”
    • “Bottle lasts for months — Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel”
  • Acne clearing 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”
    • “Cleared my cystic acne — Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel”
  • Hydration and plumping Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Restores moisture barrier — Avène Cold Cream”
    • “Leaves my skin feeling soft and hydrated. — Avène Milk Cleanser”
    • “intensely hydrated — Avène Hyaluron Activ B3 Concentrated Plumping Serum”
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Lightweight absorption Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “absorbs very quickly — Avène Vitamin Activ Cg Radiance Concentrated Serum”
    • “Absorbs into skin without residue. — Avène Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm”
    • “It absorbs quickly and leaves the delicate eye area feeling hydrated — Avène RetrinAL EYES”
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
  • Sticky finish Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “sticky kinda feeling — Avène Hyaluron Activ B3 Concentrated Plumping Serum”
    • “Left unpleasant greasy film — Avène Soothing Radiance Mask”
    • “feels very sticky — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Unpleasant scent Rarely NotedSometimes Noted
    • “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 fragrance is very present. — Avène Milk Cleanser”
  • Stinging and irritation Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “burned my skin — Avène Cleanance”
    • “caused burning sensation — Avène Vitamin Activ Cg Radiance Concentrated Serum”
    • “caused rash — Avène Antirougeurs Fort Relief Concentrate”
    • “stings a little but worth it — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”

The Ordinary vs Avène routines for dry skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · S$164.78 · 92% fitBuy Avène routine · S$285.32 · 79% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

The Ordinary vs Avène routines for oily skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · S$393.06 · 89% fitBuy Avène routine · S$455.29 · 86% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

The Ordinary vs Avène routines for combination skin

Buy Avène routine · S$410.57 · 90% fitBuy The Ordinary routine · S$289.36 · 88% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Avène: which is better?

Both brands are great, but The Ordinary is a Superior fit for dry and mature skin while Avène is a Superior fit for combination and acne-prone skin. The Ordinary offers better value and texture-smoothing benefits, whereas Avène helps soothe irritation and provides deep hydration.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Avène?

The Ordinary offers great value and texture-smoothing serums, fitting dry and mature skin at a Superior level, while Avène provides soothing options and sunscreens that fit combination and acne-prone skin at a Superior level. Hyaluronic acid helps hydrate the skin across the products on this page.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Avène for dry skin?

The Ordinary is a Superior fit for dry skin, whereas Avène has a High fit level. The Ordinary features fragrance-free formulas with key ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin that help hydrate the skin.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Avène: which cleanser is better?

The Ordinary offers a better cleanser option for dry and dry sensitive skin, where the Glycolipid Cream Cleanser has a Superior fit level. Both brands provide good cleansers, but Avène features cleansers with added fragrance while every product on The Ordinary page lists no fragrance.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Avène?

The Ordinary is more affordable, offering popular serums and treatments at a great value. Reviewers often mention its budget-friendly pricing compared to Avène.

Which brand has better options for mature skin, The Ordinary or Avène?

The Ordinary has a Superior fit for mature skin, making it a better option than Avène, which has a High fit for mature skin. Retinol helps stimulate collagen accumulation and improves naturally aged skin.

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

Do products from The Ordinary contain fragrance?

Every product from The Ordinary on this page lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

Which brand offers better dark spot fading serums?

The Ordinary offers better dark spot fading serums, as the products on this page achieve superior ratings for dark spot care and are frequently praised by reviewers for fading dark spots. Niacinamide helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation and suppresses melanosome transfer.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

The Ordinary or Avène for sensitive skin?

Both The Ordinary and Avène have a High Lovi fit level for sensitive skin, making them equally suitable choices. The Ordinary offers fragrance-free products across the products on this page, while Avène is frequently praised by reviewers for soothing irritation.

The Ordinary or Avène: which moisturizer is better?

For moisturizers, The Ordinary offers high to superior fit levels for dry and sensitive skin with fragrance-free formulas, while Avène also provides great options like the Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm for dry and sensitive skin. Hyaluronic acid helps maintain deep skin hydration, and topical panthenol may support skin recovery.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002

The Ordinary or Avène for acne-prone skin?

The Ordinary is a strong choice for acne-prone skin because the products on this page have a High fit for this skin type and help clear acne effectively. Avène also offers great options, with a Superior fit for acne-prone skin.

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?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play