Good Molecules vs. The Ordinary vs. NIOD: Full Comparison and Reviews 2024

• About The Ordinary

The Ordinary falls under the umbrella of brands from Deciem, which operates more than ten beauty brands including The Chemistry Brand and NIOD. The Ordinary benefit from the research and developments already made by DECIEM which is part of the reason they're able to keep prices so low.

The Ordinary is an evolving collection of treatments offering familiar, effective clinical technologies positioned to raise pricing and communication integrity in skincare. The brand was created to celebrate integrity in its most humble and true form. Its offering is pioneering, not in the familiar technologies it uses, but in its honesty and integrity. The Ordinary is born to disallow commodity to be disguised as ingenuity. The Ordinary is "Clinical formulations with integrity".

The Shops:

Sephora (up to 4% cashback from Extrabux)

SkinStore (up to 8% cashback from Extrabux)

LOOKFANTASTIC US (up to 7% cashback from Extrabux)

Boots (up to 2% cashback from Extrabux)

• About NIOD

NIOD is brought to you by the beauty industry powerhouse, Deciem. NIOD (which stands for Non Invasive Options in Dermal Science) uses leading-edge ingredients and ground-breaking technology to bring your skin the best the industry has to offer. The ultra-sophisticated serums, hydrators and skin solutions are specifically formulated to improve the overall health and integrity of your complexion; results driven, the products are designed to noticeably – and swiftly – enhance your skin.

Every product in the NIOD range uses cutting-edge ingredients to create potent skin solutions with delivery systems that take those goodies right where they need to be in the skin. From next-generation cleansers to super smart serums, the NIOD range caters to all skin types with resolutions to all of your skin concerns, from dryness to aging to acne.

The Shops:

Selfridges (up to 6% cashback from Extrabux)

Adore Beauty (up to 6% cashback from Extrabux)

Cult Beauty (up to 5% cashback from Extrabux)

• About Good Molecules

The idea behind Good Molecules is simple: skincare that works at a fair price. Founded by a team of beauty industry veterans, Good Molecules creates skincare solutions with best-in-class ingredients, backed by research and formulated for effectiveness. The brand uses ingredients that have been widely studied, such as niacinamide (Vitamin B3), glycolic acid, hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and more. This ensures that customers get the most out of their products without spending too much money.

By working directly with top labs, Good Molecules offers products that target skin issues—like acne, redness, and hyperpigmentation—without the traditional retail markup. See a difference in your skin, starting at just $6.

The Shops:

Amazon

Ulta

Money Saving Tip: If you like online shopping, don't forget to sign up at Extrabux！(What is Extrabux) , then you can enjoy up to 8% cashback on your purchase from Extrabux! Sign-Up Bonus: Free to join it & get $20 welcome bonus! Student Benefits: As long as you are a student at school, you can get a free whole year long VIP Card worth $199.

• Packaging

Both brands make use of simplistic packaging as part of their branding. It keeps things simple and focussed on the ingredients within.

The Ordinary is super focused on glass dropper bottles. It fits with their clinical look and feel. However, there are some downsides to the bottles. By opting for a product that you have to unscrew the lid, the product is exposed to the air each time you use it. 

The INKEY List is focused on black and white bottles. It makes it easy to see what each product is and keeps things focussed on the ingredient. The bottles are thick, opaque plastic, so the product won't be affected by light either.

By and large, both brands have functional packaging, with one or two missteps. The INKEY List's branding with the black and white and the amount of information on their unit cartons, however they're a touch more expensive than The Ordinary. The glass with a dropper used by The Ordinary feels more premium and can be recycled, whereas the plastic used by The INKEY List can sometimes feel a bit cheap and isn't always the best in terms of getting product out!

• Affordability

The Ordinary and Good Molecules are both known as affordable skincare brands, but how budget-friendly are they really?

The Ordinary products range from $4 to $29.

Good Molecules products range from $6 to $25.

In terms of affordability, The Ordinary tends to be a bit cheaper, however, some of Good Molecules products are better quality, so the price is justifiable. However, for many products, they work just as well as each other and issues are mostly personal preferences about texture and consistency. 

You'll notice straight away that there's a clear price difference among The Ordinary& Good Molecules with NIOD.

Skincare technology can be really complex, and a lot of brands spend a lot of money on scientific research to advance the effectiveness of their formulas, including enhancing how well products penetrate the skin. NIOD are one of these brands, and as a result, they boast some very effective products in their range. And for the sake of a clear comparison, their packaging is also a little more bougie.

• Products and Positioning

The Ordinary is known for its no-frills approach to packaging, while Good Molecules’ aesthetically pleasing packaging makes it a hit with consumers who look for simple yet luxurious packaging.

In terms of product offerings, The Ordinary has a wider variety of options including acids, retinols, vitamins, oils, serums and moisturizers while Good molecules focuses mainly on concentrated single-active treatments.

NIOD comes from the same company as The Ordinary - Deciem. Fun fact: NIOD stands for Non-Invasive Options in Dermal Science.

If you're using The Ordinary, and you're no longer seeing those results you saw 12 months ago, you may be able to further enhance your skincare routine with a couple of products from the NIOD range. It means a couple of targeted, technology-driven products can make big a difference to your skin overall.

• Star Products Comparison & Reviews

| Good Molecules Hyaluronic Acid Serum

($6.00/30ml at Ulta)

Replenish your skin's moisture content with Hyaluronic Acid Serum from Good Molecules. This serum is formulated with two hyaluronic acids of different molecular weights, allowing it to penetrate multiple layers of the skin for deep hydration. Suitable for dehydrated skins / skins that want plumping up. Also sensitive skins as this doesn't contain EO or Fragrance.

Review: The lightweight, water-based formula layers seamlessly under skincare and makeup, making it ideal for daily use. It's thicker than water, but very close to it. Dries down quick too. 

| The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5

($6.80/30ml, up to 4% cashback at Sephora)

This formulation combines low-, medium- and high-molecular weight HA, as well as a next-generation HA crosspolymer at a combined concentration of 2% for multi-depth hydration. This system is supported with the addition of Vitamin B5 which also enhances surface hydration. Infusing the follicle with moisture, this formula plumps the skin, smoothing out any fine lines, imperfections or wrinkles to provide long-lasting hydration.

Review: It is a product with a fairly dense texture, and perhaps one of the main disadvantages. The sensation remains on the skin after applying it, which is sticky and can be uncomfortable in the first uses.

| NIOD Multi Molecular Hyaluronic Complex (MMHC2)

($41.40/15ml, up to 5% cashback at Cult Beauty)

NIOD's Multi-Molecular Hyaluronic Complex features twelve forms of hyaluronic compounds at different molecular weights to offer unrivalled hydration and a whole host of other skin benefits. High-molecular weight compounds – such as hyaluronic acid derived by fermentation – prevent moisture loss and increase short-term elasticity, while those with a mid-molecular weight offer short-term hydration to the middle layers of the skin. Hyaluronic compounds at the lowest molecular weight penetrate deeper into layers of the skin, stimulating the body's own production of hyaluronic acid to maintain its beneficial effects. 

Alongside heavenly hydration levels, this acid stimulates the production of collagen to plump skin, works as an antioxidant to shield it from free radical damage, prevents loss of elasticity and supplies antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties to repair and replenish. 

Review: The serum has a very thin consistency, slightly thicker than water. It absorbs into the skin like water with zero stickiness or tackiness. It almost disappears into the skin and leaves the skin feeling soft, smooth, and hydrated.

I'm sure you have found the one that you want after seeing these reviews! Sign up at Extrabux, then you can enjoy up to 9% cashback on your order! 

Extrabux is an international cashback shopping site, offering up to 30% cashback from 10,000+ Stores!

LOOKFANTASTIC, SkinStore, SkinCareRx, Feelunique, Cult Beauty, Sephora, Belk, Estee Lauder, Lancome, La Mer, Kiehl's, Clinique, Elizabeth Arden, Adore Beauty, Sol de Janeiro, Hourglass, Lancer, Shiseido, FOREO, Macy's, etc.

Join to get $20 welcome bonus now! (How does Welcome Bonus work?)