Beauty Pie vs The Ordinary (The Definitive Guide)

Famed for their transformative skincare products packed with efficacious actives, both Beauty Pie and The Ordinary are more than worthy of occupying some shelf space in your bathroom.

Come with us as we compare their best-selling retinol serums side-by-side to help you decide which is best for you and your skincare routine. Enjoy!

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Beauty Pie vs The Ordinary Retinol

If anti-aging is a priority of yours, you’ve likely added retinol to your skincare routine already. This potent solution increases cell and collagen production, which means reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while also plumping the dermis.

In the past decade or so, since retinol becoming part of the royal family of skincare, countless brands have created their own interpretation of the *ultimate* retinol serum. So, that begs the question: which one should you buy for the best results?

If you ask us, two that have gained major hype in the beauty community—Beauty Pie Super Retinol Ceramide-Boost Anti-Aging Face Serum and The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion—are certainly worth your consideration.

Now, let’s find out which one is best for you.

According to their respective websites, both serums are suitable for all skin types. Not to mention, both are vegan and cruelty-free! Unsurprisingly, though, their ingredients differ a bit.

In addition to their encapsulated slow-release retinol complex (3%), Beauty Pie’s formula is infused with lactic acid for exfoliation, hyaluronic acid to lock in moisture, and ceramides that increase elasticity and maintain a healthy skin barrier. Beyond its anti-aging effects, Beauty Pie also highlights that this solution aids in diminishing pigmentation.

The Ordinary’s emulsion calls out hydroxypinacolone retinoate and Tasmannia Lanceolata fruit/leaf extract as the supporting roles to its retinol solution. The first ingredient in question works similarly to tretinoin (AKA prescription-strength Retin-A) but with little to no skin irritation. And if sensitivity is a concern for you, Tasmannia Lancelota is an anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and antimicrobial agent that serves to relieve itching and burning should it arise.

So, this is where things get dicey. Pricewise, Beauty Pie’s retinol is going to run you $80 for a 50ml bottle. On the other hand, The Ordinary is best-known for their affordability, so it’s no surprise that their retinol formula is only $10.50 for a 30ml bottle. While the Super Retinol has 4.6 stars and over 2,000 reviews, Granactive Retinoid has a 4.5-star rating and ~300 reviews.

Both retinols seem to have nearly the same effectiveness, but at vastly different costs. Thus, the choice between the two may seem obvious, but we like to take business ethics into account before committing one way or another.

We already know that Beauty Pie and The Ordinary’s retinols are vegan and cruelty-free. But how about their pledge to sustainability, or their prioritization of philanthropy?

As of three years ago, Beauty Pie shared on their site that all the inks they use are vegetable-based, while all their cardboards are FSC-approved boards, and any foil print on cartons is used below the acceptable percentage of the surface area, meaning paper materials can still remain recyclable. Further, they use post-consumer recycled resin for various makeup compacts, tubes, and bottles where feasible. Also, they try to use glass containers for skincare, when possible, as recycling of glass is much easier all around than other materials.

The Ordinary claims to be working towards 85-100% of their packaging being recyclable, refillable, reusable, or recycled by 2025. Currently, their shopping bags are made from 100% recyclable, recycled paper and printed with eco-friendly ink.

The differences between the two are clear. If you’re looking to save money, The Ordinary is for you. But if you’re looking to spend a little more and ensure you’re doing the Earth a favor in doing so, Beauty Pie has your name on it.