The Ordinary vs Pixi
The Ordinary and Pixi are accessible skincare brands offering diverse formulas for everyday routines. The Ordinary centers its serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and toners around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane, while the British brand is beloved for its thoughtful range of toners, serums, eye products, and moisturizers crafted with gentle and effective formulas. The Canadian brand suits dry skin and oily acne-prone skin best, whereas its counterpart suits oily skin and sensitive skin best, offering balanced care without heaviness or irritation. They differ primarily in their exact ingredient focus and formulation approach, helping users tailor their daily offerings to achieve a calm, radiant complexion.
The Ordinary is a Canadian skincare brand founded in 2016 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 2021.
Pixi is a British skincare brand founded in 1999.
pixibeauty.comtracxn.compitchbook.com
This page compares some of the most popular The Ordinary and Pixi products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.
Popular The Ordinary vs Pixi products
People Say
Hydration and plumping Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
- “Instant surge of hydration — Pixi Hydrating Milky Mist”
- “deeply hydrates and balances — Pixi Antioxidant Tonic”
- “leaves under-eyes super soft — Pixi DetoxifEYE Depuffing Eye Patches”
- “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
Improves skin texture and smoothness Often MentionedOften Mentioned
- “glass skin effect — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
- “skin feels baby butt smooth — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
- “Skin feels incredible, so smooth — Pixi Glow Peel Pads”
- “forehead bumps gone — Pixi Glow Tonic”
Great value and pricing Mostly MentionedNot 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%”
Instant glow and radiance Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
- “gives instant glow — Pixi Glow Tonic”
- “Skin is noticeably brighter — Pixi Glow Peel Pads”
- “healthy radiance — Pixi Glow Mist”
- “tight, bright and shiny — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
Lightweight absorption Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
- “Absorbs fairly quickly into the skin. — Pixi Vitamin-C Serum”
- “unique gel-like texture — Pixi Antioxidant Tonic”
- “absorbs really fast — Pixi Rose Oil Blend”
- “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
Redness reduction and soothing Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
- “calms down the redness immediately — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
- “deflates morning bags — The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG”
- “instantly cooling upon application — Pixi DetoxifEYE Depuffing Eye Patches”
- “calms my redness instantly — Pixi Rose Tonic”
Sticky or tacky finish and residue Often MentionedOften Mentioned
- “feels very sticky — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
- “feels very sticky — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
- “too greasy — Pixi Glow Mist”
- “slightly tacky to touch — Pixi Antioxidant Tonic”
Unpleasant or strong scent Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
- “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”
- “smell is overpowering — Pixi Glow Tonic”
Skin stinging, burning, and irritation Often MentionedSometimes Noted
- “Massive burning sensation — Pixi Glow Peel Pads”
- “burned my face — Pixi Glow Tonic”
- “Not for those with super-sensitive skin — Pixi Glow Peel Pads”
- “stings a little but worth it — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
Makeup pilling and compatibility issues Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
- “separates foundation — Pixi Glow Mist”
- “It doesn't work with my makeup at all. — Pixi Vitamin-C Serum”
- “crumbles and piles under moisturizer — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
The Ordinary vs Pixi routines for dry skin
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Cleanser
CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
S$25.06
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Hydrating Toner
Rose Tonic
Morning
S$32.20
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Moisturizer
d'Alba First Spray Serum
Morning · Evening · Once a week
S$25.94
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SPF
thinkbaby Safe Sunscreen SPF 50+
Morning
S$21.09
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Pre-Cleanser
MISSHA Ultra Hyalon Cleansing Cream
Evening · Once a week
S$39.68
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Serum or Treatment
Vitamin-C Serum
Evening · Once a week
S$40.18
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Nourishing Mask
MEDIHEAL Collagen Essential Mask
Once a week
S$62.94
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Cleanser
Squalane Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
S$27.46
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Hydrating Toner
COSRX Propolis Synergy Toner
Morning
S$41.07
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Moisturizer
Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5
Morning · Evening · Once a week
S$44.26
-
SPF
thinkbaby Safe Sunscreen SPF 50+
Morning
S$21.09
-
Pre-Cleanser
MISSHA Ultra Hyalon Cleansing Cream
Evening · Once a week
S$39.68
-
Serum or Treatment
Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
Evening · Once a week
S$14.79
-
Nourishing Mask
MEDIHEAL Collagen Essential Mask
Once a week
S$62.94
Buy Pixi routine · S$247.09 · 93% fit
Buy The Ordinary routine · S$164.78 · 92% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit
The Ordinary vs Pixi routines for oily skin
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Cleanser
CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
S$30.40
-
Hydrating Toner
Retinol Tonic
Morning · Once a week
S$34.28
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Moisturizer
SKIN1004 Centella Cream
Morning · Evening · Once a week
S$33.87
-
SPF
CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30
Morning
S$28.72
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Pre-Cleanser
Shu Uemura Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
S$70.21
-
Cleansing Toner
Medicube Zero Pore Pad 2.0
Evening · Once a week
S$36.48
-
Serum or Treatment
Vitamin-C Serum
Evening · Once a week
S$40.18
-
Cleansing Mask
HERBIVORE Botanicals Blue Tansy BHA and Enzyme Pore Refining Mask
Once a week
S$89.14
-
Cleanser
Squalane Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
S$27.46
-
Hydrating Toner
TROIAREUKE H+Cocktail Purifying Ampoule Toner
Morning · Once a week
S$168.51
-
Moisturizer
Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5
Morning · Evening · Once a week
S$44.26
-
SPF
CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30
Morning
S$28.72
-
Pre-Cleanser
Shu Uemura Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
S$70.21
-
Cleansing Toner
Medicube Zero Pore Pad 2.0
Evening · Once a week
S$36.48
-
Serum or Treatment
Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
Evening · Once a week
S$14.79
-
Cleansing Mask
HERBIVORE Botanicals Blue Tansy BHA and Enzyme Pore Refining Mask
Once a week
S$89.14
Buy Pixi routine · S$363.28 · 94% fit
Buy The Ordinary routine · S$393.06 · 89% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit
The Ordinary vs Pixi routines for combination skin
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Cleanser
Fresh Soy Face Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
S$30.00
-
Hydrating Toner
Retinol Tonic
Morning · Once a week
S$34.28
-
SPF
CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30
Morning
S$28.72
-
Pre-Cleanser
Shu Uemura Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
S$70.21
-
Cleansing Toner
Medicube Zero Pore Pad 2.0
Evening · Once a week
S$36.48
-
Serum or Treatment
Vitamin-C Serum
Evening · Once a week
S$40.18
-
Cleansing Mask
HERBIVORE Botanicals Blue Tansy BHA and Enzyme Pore Refining Mask
Once a week
S$89.14
-
Cleanser
Squalane Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
S$27.46
-
Hydrating Toner
Whamisa Organic Flowers Toner Deep Rich
Morning · Once a week
S$64.81
-
Moisturizer
Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5
Morning · Evening · Once a week
S$44.26
-
SPF
CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30
Morning
S$28.72
-
Pre-Cleanser
Shu Uemura Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
S$70.21
-
Cleansing Toner
Medicube Zero Pore Pad 2.0
Evening · Once a week
S$36.48
-
Serum or Treatment
Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
Evening · Once a week
S$14.79
-
Cleansing Mask
HERBIVORE Botanicals Blue Tansy BHA and Enzyme Pore Refining Mask
Once a week
S$89.14
Buy Pixi routine · S$329.01 · 93% fit
Buy The Ordinary routine · S$289.36 · 88% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit
Questions and answers
The Ordinary or Pixi: which is better?
Both The Ordinary and Pixi perform well across different skin needs, but Pixi is the superior choice for oily, combination, sensitive, and acne-prone skin types. The Ordinary offers better pricing and value, whereas Pixi provides a stronger focus on instant glow and deep hydration.
What is the difference between The Ordinary and Pixi?
The Ordinary delivers better value and pricing, whereas Pixi stands out for instant glow, lightweight absorption, and deep hydration. Both brands feature fragrance-free options across the products on this page, though Pixi also includes scented formulas.
The Ordinary or Pixi for dry skin?
Both The Ordinary and Pixi offer a Superior routine fit for dry skin. The Ordinary features fragrance-free formulas across all products on this page, while Pixi includes some products with fragrance.
The Ordinary or Pixi: which moisturizer is better?
The Ordinary offers better value with its moisturizers, while Pixi provides deep hydration and radiance. Both brands feature options with hyaluronic acid, which helps with skin moisture and wound healing.
Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Pixi?
The Ordinary is more affordable than Pixi, with shoppers frequently noting its great value and pricing.
Between The Ordinary and Pixi, which brand offers better hydration and plumping according to reviews?
According to reviews, Pixi offers better hydration and plumping compared to The Ordinary.
How do the fragrance profiles differ between The Ordinary and Pixi products?
The products on this page from The Ordinary list no fragrance across their entire lineup, whereas Pixi includes fragrance in 3 of its 10 products.
Which brand performs better for providing an instant glow and radiance?
Pixi performs better for providing an instant glow and radiance. Reviewers often mention its ability to deliver instant glow and radiance.
The Ordinary or Pixi for oily skin?
For oily skin, Pixi has a Superior routine fit while The Ordinary has a High fit on this page. Pixi stands out for its instant glow and lightweight absorption, though 3 of its 10 products on this page contain fragrance.
The Ordinary or Pixi for sensitive skin?
Both The Ordinary and Pixi fit sensitive skin well, as Lovi rates both brands at a High level for this skin type. The Ordinary is fragrance-free across the products on this page, whereas Pixi includes fragrance in some items.
The Ordinary or Pixi for acne-prone skin?
Both The Ordinary and Pixi offer high Lovi fit levels for acne-prone skin. The Ordinary features affordable acne-clearing serums, while Pixi provides lightweight and pleasant toners.
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
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
A Rose Extract Protects the Skin against Stress Mediators: A Potential Role of Olfactory Receptors
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
Design and in vivo evaluation of emulgel formulations including green tea extract and rose oil
Topical lycopene emulgel significantly improves biophysical parameters of human skin
Topical Almond Oil for Prevention of Pressure Injuries: A Single-Blinded Comparison Study
The anti wrinkle efficacy of synthetic hexapeptide (Argireline) in Chinese Subjects
Safety of a preservative system containing 1,2-hexanediol and caprylyl glycol
Clinical study of a spray containing birch juice for repairing sensitive skin
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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