The Ordinary vs Medicube
We track 12 The Ordinary products alongside 5 head-to-head comparisons with Medicube. We have read the published ingredient list for 9 of them.
This is a Medicube site. We sample The Ordinary where it competes directly with a Medicube product rather than reviewing its full range, so treat this as a comparison shortlist, not a The Ordinary guide.
Bare-bones actives · Cheap single actives, no hand-holding
How the formulas compare
We hold 9 different published The Ordinary ingredient lists, and 13 different Medicube lists in the same categories (Brightening (Vita C & Kojic), Serums & Toners). Sizes of the same product share a list and count once.
The clearest difference on the lists: niacinamide in the top ten, on 2 of 9 The Ordinary lists against 11 of 13 Medicube lists.
| On the published list | The Ordinary | Medicube |
|---|---|---|
| A fragrance entry | 0 of 9 | 7 of 13 |
| A named fragrance allergen (EU list) | 2 of 9 | 5 of 13 |
| A ceramide | 0 of 9 | 5 of 13 |
| Niacinamide in the top ten | 2 of 9 | 11 of 13 |
| An exfoliating acid | 6 of 9 | 4 of 13 |
| A retinoid | 1 of 9 | 2 of 13 |
| Drying alcohol in the top ten | 0 of 9 | 1 of 13 |
| Median list length | 23 entries | 43 entries |
A list shows what is named on it, not how much of it there is. Below about 1% the order is free, and "fragrance" is a single entry that can stand for many ingredients. The lists are taken from each brand's own product pages or, where a brand publishes none, from the Amazon listing.
Serums & Toners
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (with Ceramides), Multi-Depth 4.6(42,380) £8.80 Check price → 
The Ordinary Retinol 1% in Squalane, High-Strength Retinol Serum 4.5(19,938) £9.00 Check price → 
The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution, Blemish-Fighting Serum for Blemish-Prone 4.6(14,856) £6.10 Check price → 
The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane, Intermediate Retinol Serum 4.5(11,688) £8.40 Check price → 
The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum, Depuffing 4.4(4,030) £8.40 Check price → 
The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion, High-Strength Retinoid Serum for Advanced 4.5(3,862) £15.20 Check price → 
The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Eye Serum, Anti-Aging Peptide Serum for Crow’s 4.5(1,921) £19.90 Check price → 
The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% in Squalane, Gentle Retinol Serum 4.5(618) £7.40 Check price → Brightening (Vita C & Kojic)
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%, Brightening & Smoothing 4.6(68,033) £5.00 Check price → 
The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toner, Brightening and Smoothing 4.6(66,851) £11.50£11.90-3% Check price → 
The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA, Brightens Skin 4.4(8,580) £10.50 Check price → 
The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%, Brightening Formula for Uneven 4.4(3,653) £10.99 Check price → Head to head with Medicube
Amazon.co.uk figures, not ours: prices read on 2026-10-29; star ratings and review counts read on 2026-10-28. Prices and ratings change; these are dated snapshots.
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