Dime Beauty and The Ordinary have both made waves in the skincare world by offering potent formulas at radically low prices. These two brands prove you don’t need to overspend to get serious skin solutions.
But which affordable skincare company comes out on top? This comprehensive guide compares Dime Beauty and The Ordinary to determine the best budget skincare brand for achieving your skin goals.
A Brief Comparison Table
| Feature | Dime Beauty | The Ordinary |
| Formula Approach | Multi-actives | Single hero ingredients |
| Price Range | $10 – $20 | $3 – $15 |
| Product Range | Serums, moisturizers, treatments | Acids, oils, retinoids, supplements |
| Brand Image | Inclusive, trendy | Clinical, no-frills |
| Reviews | Rave reviews on value and results | Cult following, transformative results |
| Ordering | Website only, faster shipping | Website only, supply chain issues |
| Location | United States | Canada |
Overview Of Dime Beauty
Launched in 2021 by social media influencer Hannah Bronfman, Dime Beauty aims to provide medical-grade skincare accessible to all budgets.
Their focus is creating science-backed products simplified down to the key active ingredients. Formulas use high percentages of ingredients like retinol, vitamins, and antioxidants proven to target concerns like acne, aging, dullness, and irritation.
Some quick facts about Dime Beauty:
- Based in the United States
- Vegan and cruelty-free
- 18 skincare products priced $10-$20
- Direct-to-consumer sales model
- Millennial and Gen Z target audience
Overview Of The Ordinary
The Ordinary shook up the beauty world when it launched in 2016 with a radically simple “clinical formulas with integrity” approach.
This brand offers straightforward skincare focused on key active ingredients like retinol, vitamin C, peptides, and hyaluronic acid. Packaging is no-frills and pricing is a fraction of standard prestige skincare.
The Ordinary basics:
- Based in Canada, owned by parent company DECIEM
- 30+ products priced $3-$15
- Vegan and cruelty-free formulas
- Minimalist clinical packaging
- Strong millennial and Gen Z following
Also Read: Comparison Between Milan Laser And Ideal Image
Dime Beauty And The Ordinary: Compared In Detail
Formula Philosophy and Ingredients
A key consideration when comparing skincare brands is their approach to ingredients and developing formulas.
Dime Beauty emphasizes high-potency actives backed by science and dermatological research. Their serums feature ingredients like niacinamide, peptides, antioxidants, and polyhydroxy acids at 10-20% concentrations.
For those wanting straight-to-the-point skincare, both brands deliver potent no-frills formulas centered on key actives. The Ordinary offers singular ingredients while Dime combines multiple proven ingredients.
Product Range and Focus
The types of products a brand formulates can indicate if they meet your skincare wants and needs.
Dime Beauty currently offers an 18 product line focused on serums, moisturizers, masks, eye creams, and supplements. Products aim to address acne, aging, dryness, dullness, and irritation. Most are oil-free and non-comedogenic.
The Ordinary provides over 30 treatments largely focused on specific skin concerns like aging, acne, pigmentation, and dryness. Offerings include acids, peptides, oils, retinoids, and supplements. The range covers skin solutions but lacks fundamentals like cleansers.
Dime edges out The Ordinary with a more well-rounded routine focused on moisturizers, SPF, and supplements alongside targeted treatments.
Pricing and Value
For those on a budget, pricing and value-for-money are make-or-break factors when choosing skincare.
Dime Beauty prices all products between $10-$20, with most serums priced around $14. Their inexpensive formulas don’t cut corners on quality ingredients or percentages.
The Ordinary offers absurdly affordable pricing from just $3 for squalane oil up to $15 for peptides. Most items cost $5-$10. Despite basement level pricing, potency doesn’t suffer.
When it comes to amazing value, The Ordinary reigns supreme. But Dime Beauty also impresses offering medical-grade quality at drugstore prices.
Both deliver serious skincare for less than your Friday night takeout.
Also Read: Comparison Between Primally Pure And Beautycounter.
Brand Image and Values
The reputation and ethics of a company can sway consumers on aligning with their brand.
Dime Beauty promotes inclusivity and accessibility in skincare. Their minimalist fun branding aims to engage younger audiences. Values focus on clean, vegan formulas free of toxic ingredients.
The Ordinary attracts skincare enthusiasts interested in straightforward clinical formulas free of marketing hype. Packaging is no-frills. The brand avoids inflated pricing while donating to charity initiatives.
The Ordinary has a slight edge for their laser focus on pure ingredients rather than branding. But those wanting a more relatable,Instagrammable vibe may prefer Dime.
Reviews and Results
Unbiased customer reviews provide helpful real-world insight into how a brand’s products perform.
Dime Beauty earns overwhelmingly positive feedback for offering fast-acting results at an amazing price point. Some reviewers mention minimal adverse effects from the high potency formulas.
The Ordinary garners rave reviews for quickly improving skin at an unbeatable value. Criticism is mostly around delayed shipping times rather than products themselves.
For feedback, it’s a draw. Both brands receive outstanding reviews and before/after photos proving their affordable formulas deliver dramatic transformation.
Watch the video to know more about The Ordinary!
Ordering Experience
The convenience and ease of purchasing and receiving products can make or break the customer experience.
Dime Beauty sells directly through their website with standard shipping taking 5-7 days. Shipping is free for orders over $25. They offer an easy subscription option for regular delivery.
The Ordinary also sells exclusively online with standard shipping taking 2 weeks from the Canada warehouse. Shipping fees apply under $25. The brand has battled supply chain issues resulting in customer frustrations around long wait times and stockouts. Their parent company DECIEM handles ordering.
For a smoother, quicker ordering experience, Dime Beauty wins out. The Ordinary’s perpetual inventory issues create headaches for eager customers.
Also Read: The Brands Comparison Between Tula Skincare And Dime Skincare .
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The Ordinary’s Buffet serum is widely regarded as a must-have multipurpose treatment. This peptide-rich serum tackles a variety of concerns from wrinkles and dehydration to uneven texture. For $14.80, it provides amazing anti-aging results.
Dime Beauty has quickly become known for offering professional-level skincare actives at drugstore prices. Their formulations feature gold-standard ingredients like retinol, antioxidants, AHAs, peptides, niacinamide, and vitamins. Dime allows access to serious skincare for just $10-$20 per product.
Dime Beauty’s Need It All multitasking serum contains 2% hyaluronic acid along with 10% niacinamide and peptide complex. The formulations use research-backed levels of key ingredients for optimal absorption and results.
Yes, Dime Beauty has several products formulated specifically to reduce wrinkles and smooth fine lines. Their Down Time Retinol alternative contains bakuchiol to improve texture and tone.
The Need It All Serum combines peptides, antioxidants, and niacinamide to target aging concerns. Reviews confirm Dime products effectively minimize wrinkles.
Also Read: Differences Between Clarins And Kiehl’s.
The Verdict
Determining an overall winner between these two skincare overachievers comes down to your priorities.
For the absolute lowest prices, The Ordinary dominates. If you want an expanded routine beyond just targeted treatments, Dime offers a more well-rounded lineup.
But both provide prescription-strength results without the medical bill. The Ordinary gets a slight advantage for their unbeatable value and staggeringly-low price points.
Ultimately you can’t go wrong with either brand if you want real skincare results for pennies on the dollar. Both Dime and The Ordinary prove price and potency can go hand-in-hand.