The Ordinary vs Revolution 2024 (The Definitive Guide)

Welcome to the long-awaited comprehensive guide to The Ordinary vs Revolution Skincare! It has to be said, both lines of products appear to be incredibly similar on first glance, so you may well be wondering which brand is actually best.

Though both brands do offer other types of skincare products, let's be honest, we're all here for the serums. It's how DECIEM's The Ordinary made such a name for themselves over the years, and subsequently how Revolution has nabbed some of the spotlight. So let's dive straight in!

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The Ordinary vs Revolution Niacinamide

Niacinamide is a form of Vitamin B3, and is an absolute powerhouse of an ingredient. It can (and should!) be added to your skincare routine if you are looking to improve hydration, reduce the appearance of blemishes, or even out the skin's complexion. Furthermore, preliminary research has shown that Niacinamide can aid in the production of collagen, thus also helping to treat fine lines and wrinkles.

The Ordinary and Revolution both make extremely popular niacinamide serums, namely: The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% and Revolution Skincare Blemish and Pore Refining Serum, but which one is better?

Both feature their iconic, simple, frosted-glass bottles, and both clock in at more or less the same price per fluid ounce (with the Revolution niacinamide serum being around a dollar or two more). Furthermore, both are fragrance-, oil-, alcohol-, silicone-, and cruelty-free, and both utilise the same concentrations of niacinamide and Zinc PCA - 10% and 1% respectively.

Truth be told, both formulas are very basic (that's how they keep their costs down). They more or less boil down to just the active ingredients (niacinamide and zinc PCA in this instance), plus an aqueous suspension for comfortable and easy delivery to the skin.

If you really fancy comparing minutia, then it is worth noting that The Ordinary's Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% serum does contain a small bonus in the form of Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum, a moisturizing agent which also improves the skin's elasticity and leaves an extremely pleasant velvety feeling on the skin.

And well, that's more or less all there is to this particular comparison. One point we would like to underline regarding both serums, though, is that Zinc PCA regulates oil production. So if you have oily/combination skin, then great! However, normal-to-dry skin types may find these serums too drying.

All in all, we're leaning a little more towards The Ordinary's Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% serum, purely on the basis of price (the margin is small, but margin is margin) and sheer volume of rave reviews that simply cannot be ignored.

The Ordinary vs Revolution Matrixyl

There’s a buzzy new ingredient making its way around the skincare sphere. Say hello to matrixyl: the latest potent peptide that promises big anti-ageing benefits. Matrixyl cleverly mimics the behaviour of our body’s own naturally occurring cell-signalers and regulators (called matrikines), thus stimulating the growth of new collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid.

Both The Ordinary's Matrixyl 10% + HA and Revolution's 10% Matrixyl serums have fast become everybody's go-to for their dose of anti-aging goodness, but which one is better?

There's a couple of key differences between the two, and they primarily come in the form of differing ingredients. First and foremost is the inclusion of Hyaluronic Acid in The Ordinary's, which is a biggie. Another biggie in Revolution's favor, though, is that The Ordinary's Matrixyl Serum is not oil-free. Other than that, both serums are alcohol-, silicone-, fragrance-, and paraben-free.

The serums both seem to have a similar texture upon application, and of course, both are packaged in their usual iconic glass bottles.

If you're looking to get in on the matrixyl trend, honestly either serum will do the trick, especially considering they are practically the same price. If you have dry skin then there's an argument to be made that The Ordinary's Matrixyl 10% + HA Serum would be better suited, but ultimately both serums contain the same concentration of Matrixyl (10%) which is a good strength and a safe bet for results.

The Ordinary vs Revolution Vitamin C

This wouldn’t be a comprehensive The Ordinary vs Revolution guide without talking about their top vitamin C serums! Vitamin C is by far the most popular vitamin in skincare, and rightfully so. Regular use of vitamin C helps your skin produce collagen, heal wounds, reverse sun damage, brighten your complexion, prevent aging, and improve overall skin tone. Skin care experts recommend that even the simplest of skincare routines should include vitamin C because it also makes your SPF more effective. We told you, it really lives up to the hype!

For this product match up, we’ll be comparing The Ordinary’s Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12% to Revolution's 12.5% Vitamin C Radiance Serum.

As you search for the right vitamin C serum for you, it’s really important to stick to products that are transparent about the type of vitamin C they use and the concentration. Both Revolution 12.5% Vitamin C Radiance Serum and The Ordinary Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12% check those boxes.

Revolution's 12.5% Vitamin C Radiance Serum contains the most effective form of Vitamin C: L-Ascorbic Acid. Furthermore, it also contains an optimal concentration for aiding skin regeneration and helping to improve skin radiance. For the more seasoned Vitamin C veterans, this serum ticks all of the boxes and more. If you've never tried a Vitamin C serum before, though, we would highly recommend starting with a lower concentration such as Revolution's 3% Vitamin C Serum first.

As the name of The Ordinary Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12% suggests, this solution is formulated with the weaker vitamin C derivative, ascorbyl glucoside, at a dosage of 12%. Although it’s not as effective as l-ascorbic acid, it does have its benefits. It’s much more stable than l-ascorbic acid which means you don’t have to worry as much about it going rancid. It’s also more easily tolerated because your skin must convert it to l-ascorbic acid before it can use it. That means that if you have sensitive skin or haven’t been able to tolerate l-ascorbic acids in the past, this could be the solution for you! You’ll take additional reassurance knowing that just like the other The Ordinary products we’ve discussed, this solution is alcohol-, oil-, and fragrance-free, as well as vegan and cruelty-free.

As far as best overall, if your skin can tolerate l-ascorbic acid, we echo the celebs and skin experts who rave about Revolution's 12.5% Vitamin C Radiance Serum because it really will provide some of the best results on the market. However, if your skin is sensitive and cannot tolerate l-ascorbic acid, The Ordinary Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12% is the best choice for you!

Work in progress

You have been reading a post that we are constantly updating. Be sure to bookmark this page, subscribe, and come back later to see additions to the definitive The Ordinary vs Revolution Skincare guide!

This article was originally published on April 26th 2022, but it has been reviewed and updated with the latest available information on February 5th 2024 by Sara Mckay, MA.