🇬🇧United Kingdom

The Ordinary vs Pixi

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

The Ordinary and Pixi are popular skincare brands that offer serums, moisturizers, and toners built around carefully balanced formulas. The Canadian brand features key ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane, while the British brand relies on thoughtful formulations for its beloved products. Both brands suit sensitive skin and mature skin best, though the former also fits dry skin and dry sensitive skin. They differ mainly in their founding years, origins, and specific ingredient profiles.

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

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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

The OrdinaryPixi
  • 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

Buy The Ordinary routine · £90.51 · 97% fitBuy Pixi routine · £91.61 · 94% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

The Ordinary vs Pixi routines for oily skin

Buy Pixi routine · £146.42 · 94% fitBuy The Ordinary routine · £120.07 · 93% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

The Ordinary vs Pixi routines for combination skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · £134.25 · 92% fitBuy Pixi routine · £105.76 · 92% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Pixi: which is better?

Both The Ordinary and Pixi offer great options, with routine fits that are equal across all skin types. The Ordinary stands out for offering great value and pricing, while Pixi is noted for delivering deep hydration and an instant glow. However, Pixi products on this page sometimes have a strong fragrance, whereas every product on this page from The Ordinary lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Pixi?

The Ordinary offers budget-friendly, fragrance-free formulas that focus on straightforward ingredients, while Pixi provides lightweight, hydrating products known for delivering an instant glow, though some of its toners contain added fragrance. Both brands achieve equal routine fit levels across all major skin types, meaning Lovi rates them similarly for overall compatibility.

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 with key ingredients like hyaluronic acid, whereas Pixi delivers deep hydration and instant glow.

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

The Ordinary or Pixi: which moisturizer is better?

Both The Ordinary and Pixi offer moisturizers with great hydration benefits. The Ordinary features options like Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA which helps achieve superior fit levels for dry skin.

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

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Pixi?

The Ordinary is more affordable, offering great value and pricing across its serums compared to Pixi.

Between The Ordinary and Pixi, which brand offers better hydration and plumping benefits?

Pixi offers better hydration and plumping benefits compared to The Ordinary. Hyaluronic acid is a key ingredient across the products on this page and helps improve skin moisture and hydration.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Do The Ordinary and Pixi products contain added fragrance?

Every product on The Ordinary page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, while Pixi has fragrance in some of its products on this page.

Which brand performs better for providing an instant glow and radiance?

Pixi performs better for providing an instant glow and radiance. Reviewers mostly mention radiance and glow as a standout benefit for Pixi.

The Ordinary or Pixi for sensitive skin?

Both The Ordinary and Pixi offer a Superior routine fit for sensitive skin. The Ordinary features fragrance-free formulas across all products on this page, while Pixi includes fragrance in some items and reviewers sometimes note skin irritation.

The Ordinary or Pixi for acne-prone skin?

Both The Ordinary and Pixi offer an equal routine fit of Superior for acne-prone skin. The Ordinary features affordable and great value acne-clearing serums, whereas Pixi provides lightweight toners that help deliver hydration and an instant glow.

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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