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The Ordinary vs Estée Lauder

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

The Ordinary and Estée Lauder are two distinct skincare lines under the same parent company, offering targeted approaches tailored to different needs. The Canadian brand centers its serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and toners on hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane, suiting dry and dry sensitive skin best while also addressing acne-prone, dark-spot, and mature concerns with specific formulas. Meanwhile, the American brand provides a comprehensive range of moisturizers, serums, eye products, and cleansers expertly formulated with hydrating hyaluronic acid and glycerin to suit acne-prone and mature skin through nourishing properties and standout solutions. Ultimately, while both utilize key ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin to enhance hydration and barrier function, they differ in their foundational product range, specific targeted formulations, and overall skin type focus.

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

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Estée Lauder is an American skincare brand founded in 1946 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc..

en.wikipedia.orgelcompanies.com

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

Popular The Ordinary vs Estée Lauder products

People Say

The OrdinaryEstée Lauder
  • Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin drinks it up immediately — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair”
    • “The formula is incredibly hydrating and leaves my skin feeling smooth. — Estée Lauder Re-Nutriv”
    • “texture is dreamy — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Supercharged Gel-Creme”
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • 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%”
    • “skin feels like a baby's bottom — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair”
    • “silky smooth — Estée Lauder Micro Essence Treatment Lotion”
  • Value and Price Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “lasts forever — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “eliminated armpit odor — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “can't beat the price — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
  • Additional Benefits and Performance Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “never had any reaction to it with my sensitive skin — The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA”
    • “Nature's botox — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
    • “included SPF 15 is ideal for mild sun exposure — Estée Lauder DayWear Moisturizer”
    • “stronger — Estée Lauder Micro Essence Treatment Lotion”
  • Lightweight and Fast Absorbing Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA”
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
    • “Absorbs quickly into the skin — Estée Lauder Revitalizing Supreme+”
    • “watery — Estée Lauder Micro Essence Treatment Lotion”
  • Acne and Blemish Control 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”
  • High Price Point Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “way too expensive for the size — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair”
  • Inconsistent Results or Formula Issues Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “no change in pigment — The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG”
    • “Skin felt tight an hour later — The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA”
    • “didn't notice any difference — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair”
    • “just expensive water — Estée Lauder Micro Essence Treatment Lotion”
  • Pilling, Sticky, or Heavy Finish Mostly MentionedRarely Noted
    • “tacky film — Estée Lauder Micro Essence Treatment Lotion”
    • “Leaves a greasy film behind — Estée Lauder Take It Away Makeup Remover Lotion”
    • “crumbles and piles under moisturizer — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”

The Ordinary vs Estée Lauder routines for dry skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · £90.51 · 97% fitBuy Estée Lauder routine · £132.10 · 74% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

The Ordinary vs Estée Lauder routines for oily skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · £120.07 · 93% fitBuy Estée Lauder routine · £242.09 · 75% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

The Ordinary vs Estée Lauder routines for combination skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · £134.25 · 92% fitBuy Estée Lauder routine · £204.59 · 75% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Estée Lauder: which is better?

The Ordinary offers superior routine fit for dry skin compared to Estée Lauder, with a wider range of products providing targeted benefits at an affordable price.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Estée Lauder?

The Ordinary offers better value and superior acne control, whereas Estée Lauder excels in deep hydration for the products on this page. Hyaluronic acid helps retain moisture, and topical application may improve skin quality and signs of aging.

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

The Ordinary or Estée Lauder for dry skin?

The Ordinary is a better fit for dry skin, offering a superior routine compared to Estée Lauder's average fit. Hyaluronic acid helps bind moisture to the skin, improving hydration and overall skin quality.

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

The Ordinary or Estée Lauder: which cleanser is better?

The Ordinary offers a better cleanser experience for value, while the products on this page show that both brands feature gentle options like the Glycolipid Cream Cleanser and Advanced Night Cleansing Gelée. Hyaluronic acid helps maintain moisture during cleansing, and these formulas are unlikely to cause heavy irritation.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Estée Lauder?

The Ordinary is more affordable, offering products known for great value compared to the higher price point of Estee Lauder. Hyaluronic acid helps maintain skin moisture across both brands.

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

Which brand has better options for addressing dark spots, The Ordinary or Estée Lauder?

The Ordinary provides better options for addressing dark spots, as the products on this page achieve a superior Lovi fit level for skin with dark spots. Niacinamide, which helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation, is featured in several of its top-rated treatments.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

Do both The Ordinary and Estée Lauder offer fragrance-free products?

Both The Ordinary and Estée Lauder offer fragrance-free products, as every product on The Ordinary page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, while 12 of the 14 products on the Estée Lauder page are also fragrance-free.

Which brand performs better for texture and pore-smoothing concerns?

Both brands perform equally for texture and pore-smoothing concerns on the products on this page. Reviewers often mention texture-smoothing serums for The Ordinary and smoother texture for Estée Lauder.

The Ordinary or Estée Lauder for oily skin?

The Ordinary is a better choice for oily skin, offering a superior routine fit compared to Estée Lauder's high fit. Niacinamide helps regulate sebum production and is featured in multiple oil-friendly products on this page.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

The Ordinary or Estée Lauder: which moisturizer is better?

The products on this page show that The Ordinary offers superior routine fit for dry skin compared to Estée Lauder. Hyaluronic acid helps provide deep hydration, and topical hyaluronic acid benefits skin quality and signs of aging.

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

The Ordinary or Estée Lauder for sensitive skin?

The Ordinary is a superior fit for sensitive skin on the products on this page, whereas Estée Lauder has a high routine fit. Every product on The Ordinary page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, helping shoppers avoid potential irritation.

The Ordinary or Estée Lauder for acne-prone skin?

The Ordinary is a better choice for acne-prone skin because the products on this page achieve a Superior routine fit, whereas Estée Lauder achieves a High fit. Niacinamide helps reduce blemishes, and hyaluronic acid helps hydrate the skin without clogging pores.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

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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