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The Ordinary vs Neutrogena

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

The Ordinary and Neutrogena are trusted skincare brands that offer a thoughtful array of serums, moisturizers, cleansers, toners, and more. The Canadian brand centers its formulas on hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane to best suit dry and oily acne-prone skin, while the American brand relies on glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and dimethicone to gently nourish sensitive and mature skin. Both lines differ in their targeted compositions, as the former utilizes specific acids and niacinamide for targeted concerns, whereas the latter features daily moisturizers, sunscreens, and cleansers backed by science.

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

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Neutrogena is an American skincare brand founded in 1930 and owned by Kimberly-Clark Corporation since 2026.

investor.kimberly-clark.comen.wikipedia.orginvestors.kenvue.com

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

Popular The Ordinary vs Neutrogena products

People Say

The OrdinaryNeutrogena
  • Improves Skin Texture and Pores Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “glass skin effect — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “pores look significantly smaller — The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
    • “never had any reaction to it with my sensitive skin — The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA”
    • “Skin is looking smoother — Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream”
  • Hydration and Moisture Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Skin looked plumper and radiant — Neutrogena HYDRO BOOST WATER CREAM”
    • “It also hydrates my skin. This cream has been so easy to add to my routine. — Neutrogena Retinol Regenerating Cream”
    • “Quenches dry skin instantly — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Hydrogel Mask”
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Value for Money 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%”
    • “great price point — Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover”
  • Lightweight and Non-Greasy Texture Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Absorbs instantly without sticky residue — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel”
    • “absorbs instantly — Neutrogena COLLAGEN BANK Moisturizer”
    • “Absorbs into skin without residue. — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Serum”
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
  • Gentle and Sensitive Skin Friendly Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “leaves skin soft and balanced — Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser”
    • “love that it has no scent — Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser”
    • “calms my acne prone skin — Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser”
    • “Leaves my face feeling soft and not tight at all. — The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser”
  • Clears Acne and Blemishes 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”
  • Skin Irritation and Stinging Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Made my face very red — Neutrogena HYDRO BOOST WATER CREAM”
    • “Burning sensation — Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream”
    • “stings my eyes badly — Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser”
    • “irritated AF the next day — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
  • Packaging and Quantity Concerns Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “The 50ml tube runs out way too fast. — The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser”
    • “Wish it came in a pump — The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA”
    • “Eye holes are too small — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Hydrogel Mask”
  • Pilling and Makeup Application Issues Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “balls up under foundation — Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen”
    • “doesn't remove mascara — Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser”
    • “crumbles and piles under moisturizer — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
  • Sticky or Tacky Finish Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “Left a tacky feeling on my skin. — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Serum”
    • “feels very sticky — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”

The Ordinary vs Neutrogena routines for dry skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · S$164.78 · 92% fitBuy Neutrogena routine · S$265.00 · 82% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

The Ordinary vs Neutrogena routines for oily skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · S$393.06 · 89% fitBuy Neutrogena routine · S$345.78 · 77% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

The Ordinary vs Neutrogena routines for combination skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · S$289.36 · 88% fitBuy Neutrogena routine · S$363.20 · 82% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Neutrogena: which is better?

For dry skin, Lovi fit is Superior for The Ordinary and High for Neutrogena. For mature skin, Lovi fit is Superior for The Ordinary and High for Neutrogena.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Neutrogena?

The Ordinary is a more affordable brand that helps improve skin texture, fades dark spots, and clears acne, while Neutrogena offers deeply hydrating and lightweight moisturizers. Lovi rates the routine fit for dry and mature skin as Superior for The Ordinary and High for Neutrogena. The products on this page for The Ordinary list no fragrance, whereas some Neutrogena products contain fragrance.

The Ordinary or Neutrogena for dry skin?

For dry skin, both brands work well, but Lovi rates The Ordinary Superior and Neutrogena High. The products on this page from The Ordinary feature key ingredients like hyaluronic acid and squalane to help lock in moisture.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Neutrogena: which cleanser is better?

Both The Ordinary and Neutrogena feature cleansers on this page with High Lovi fit levels for dry and sensitive skin. Neutrogena also achieves a Superior Lovi fit level for mature and acne-prone skin with its Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Neutrogena?

The Ordinary is more affordable on this page, as its reviewers frequently praise its affordable and great value serums. In contrast, Neutrogena reviewers often mention packaging and value concerns.

Which brand has more fragrance issues, The Ordinary or Neutrogena?

Neutrogena has more fragrance issues than The Ordinary. Every product on The Ordinary page lists no fragrance, whereas four products on the Neutrogena page contain fragrance and reviewers sometimes note strong scents.

The Ordinary or Neutrogena for dark spots?

For dark spots, The Ordinary fits dry skin at a High level and mature skin at a High level, while Neutrogena fits dry skin at a High level and mature skin at a High level.

The Ordinary or Neutrogena for oily skin?

For oily skin, Lovi rates both The Ordinary and Neutrogena as having a High routine fit. The Ordinary products on this page help improve skin texture and clear acne and blemishes, while Neutrogena offers lightweight and non-greasy moisturizers.

The Ordinary or Neutrogena: which moisturizer is better?

For moisturizers, the products on this page show that Neutrogena is known for deeply hydrating formulas, while The Ordinary offers options with a Superior fit for dry skin such as Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA. Hyaluronic acid helps bind moisture in the skin for both brands, and vitamin A helps stimulate collagen accumulation in aging skin.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Neutrogena for sensitive skin?

Both The Ordinary and Neutrogena have a High fit for sensitive skin on Lovi. The Ordinary provides fragrance-free products on this page, while Neutrogena is frequently noted by reviewers for gentle and sensitive skin-friendly hydration.

The Ordinary or Neutrogena for mature skin?

For mature skin, Lovi rates The Ordinary as Superior and Neutrogena as High. The Ordinary features texture-smoothing serums and anti-aging ingredients like retinol that help improve skin appearance over time.

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

How does it fit your skin?

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