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The Ordinary comparison
The Ordinary vs PetalGlow — Which Should You Actually Buy?
The Ordinary changed skincare forever — they made $7 retinol and $6 niacinamide possible. The trade-off? The formulations are stripped down. No buffering, no hydrating support, just the active. For experienced users this is great. For most people, it leads to irritation and abandoned products.
About The Ordinary
The cheapest way to access clinical-grade single ingredients
The Ordinary democratized skincare by selling single active ingredients at cost. A $6 niacinamide serum was genuinely revolutionary. The trade-off is that their formulas are deliberately stripped — no buffering agents, no hydrating bases, minimal supporting ingredients. This works for experienced skincare users who know how to layer correctly. For everyone else, it leads to pilling, irritation, or products that sit unused. PetalGlow takes the same clinical actives and builds them into complete, buffered formulations that work without a chemistry degree.
The Ordinary vs PetalGlow — at a glance
| Attribute | The Ordinary | PetalGlow |
|---|---|---|
| Cruelty-free | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Vegan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Beginner-friendly | ✗ Learning curve | ✓ Yes |
| Retinol avg. price | $10 | $49.99 |
| Buffered / complete formula | ✗ Minimal buffers | ✓ Full formulation |
| Pilling risk | High (silicone-free bases) | Low |
| Fragrance-free | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
Product by product
The Ordinary
Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
$6
PetalGlow
Niacinamide + Zinc Pore Refining Serum
$27.99
$6
Same actives, but in a hyaluronic acid base with skin-soothing centella. No "tackiness" complaint that plagues The Ordinary version.
Shop the alternative →The Ordinary
AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution
$8
PetalGlow
AHA + BHA Exfoliating Glow Toner
$27.99
$8
The Ordinary peel is for experienced users only — too aggressive for daily use. Our daily-use toner gets you the same long-term result safely.
Shop the alternative →The Ordinary
Retinol 0.5% in Squalane
$10
PetalGlow
Retinol Renewal Night Serum
$49.99
$10
The Ordinary uses straight retinol (more irritating). Ours uses encapsulated retinol with peptides + niacinamide buffering — same results, no peeling phase.
Shop the alternative →The Ordinary
Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2%
$7
PetalGlow
Vitamin C Radiance Serum
$44.99
$7
The Ordinary uses unstable L-ascorbic acid that oxidizes fast. Ours uses stabilized 15% sodium ascorbyl phosphate — works longer, doesn't go orange.
Shop the alternative →Who should buy which?
Buy The Ordinary if…
The Ordinary is right for you if you're an experienced skincare user who understands how to layer actives, you enjoy building custom routines from individual ingredients, and minimizing spend is the priority.
Choose PetalGlow if…
PetalGlow is right for you if you've tried The Ordinary and found it irritating or confusing, you want actives in a complete formulation that does the buffering for you, or you're newer to active skincare.
The honest take
The Ordinary is the right choice if you're an experienced skincare user comfortable assembling routines from individual actives. If you've tried The Ordinary and bounced off because something stung or pilled — PetalGlow is engineered for the gap. Same active ingredients, properly formulated for real-life routines, with cruelty-free certification The Ordinary doesn't offer.
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20% off your first order — launch week only. Free shipping over $50.
Shop everythingFrequently asked questions
Is The Ordinary actually good skincare?
Yes — The Ordinary uses real, clinical-grade active ingredients at effective concentrations. Their niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and retinol products are genuinely well-formulated for what they are. The limitation is that their formulas are minimalist by design: stripped-down bases, no buffering, no supporting ingredients. This makes them excellent value for experienced users and difficult for beginners.
Why is The Ordinary so cheap?
The Ordinary is owned by DECIEM and sells direct-to-consumer, cutting out retail margin. Their packaging is industrial-minimal (low cost), their marketing is nearly zero, and they price products at a small markup over ingredient cost. It's a deliberate strategy to make clinical actives accessible. The trade-off is you get the ingredient, not a complete formulation.
Why does The Ordinary pill or ball up on my skin?
Pilling is common with The Ordinary because their bases are designed to be lightweight and silicone-free. When layered with certain moisturizers or SPFs, the different viscosities don't bond well and roll off. The fix is applying thinner textures first, waiting 60 seconds between layers, and using a moisturizer with a compatible base. Alternatively, a buffered formulation like PetalGlow's serums is designed to layer without pilling.
Is The Ordinary cruelty-free?
Yes — The Ordinary and DECIEM state they are cruelty-free and do not sell in mainland China (which historically required animal testing for imported cosmetics). PetalGlow is also cruelty-free.
Can beginners use The Ordinary?
With caution. Their AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution is frequently cited by dermatologists as too strong for inexperienced users. Their straight retinol formulas can cause a prolonged purging/peeling phase. Their vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) oxidizes quickly and can cause irritation. Beginners typically do better with buffered, complete formulations before working up to The Ordinary's raw-active approach.