Compare Face Serums
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 scores higher on safety - here's why.
The most important dimensions, side by side.
Feature-by-feature breakdown across 2 products
CeraVe
The Ordinary
Strengths
Strengths
Safety Score
8.1
Safety Score
8.4
BetterWhy it matters: Safety carries 50% of the overall score in our V4.2 rubric. We evaluate materials, certifications, and compliance across multiple criteria. CeraVe scored 8.1/10 vs The Ordinary's 8.4/10.
Safety Profile
EWG 2, SkinSAFE 100/100, Teen SAFE
Safety Profile
EWG 2, zero hormone disruptors, cruelty-free, vegan
CeraVe
The Ordinary
Strengths
Strengths
Efficacy Score
7.1
Efficacy Score
7.8
BetterWhy it matters: Our efficacy pillar (20% weight) measures real-world performance - how well the product delivers on its core function. CeraVe scored 7.1/10 vs The Ordinary's 7.8/10.
Overall Score
7.5
Overall Score
8.4
BetterWhy it matters: Weighted average of all scoring dimensions.
CeraVe
The Ordinary
Strengths
Strengths
Usability Score
7.8
BetterUsability Score
7.2
Why it matters: Usability (20% weight) covers daily convenience - ease of use, maintenance, and practical considerations. CeraVe scored 7.8/10 vs The Ordinary's 7.2/10.
CeraVe
The Ordinary
Strengths
Weaknesses
Strengths
Price
$16
Price
$10
BetterWhy it matters: Lower price is better when quality is comparable.
Value Score
7.2
Value Score
9.6
BetterWhy it matters: Value (10% weight) calculates quality per dollar. CeraVe: $2/point vs The Ordinary: $1/point. Lower cost-per-point means better value.
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Everything you need to make the call — who each one is for, and who should skip it.
Go for it if you...
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You want the best value for money in this category.
You want the lowest price option at $10.
Neither of these quite what you're looking for?
I've reviewed all Face Serums options at every price pointEvery Face Serums in our database is scored using R3's V4.2 deterministic rubric — the same inputs always produce the same score. For this comparison, we evaluated CeraVe and The Ordinary across 0 independent criteria: . No sponsored rankings. No paid placements.
Straight answers — no sponsored content, no filler.
I'd start with The Ordinary The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 - it scored 8.4/10 overall in our V4.2 rubric. Safety carries 50% of our scoring weight, followed by performance (20%), usability (20%), and value (10%). Check which pillar matters most to your family and compare those specific scores.
We use our V4.2 deterministic rubric with four weighted pillars: Safety (50%), Efficacy (20%), Usability (20%), and Value (10%). Every score is reproducible - the same product data produces the same score. Each product is evaluated across multiple criteria within each pillar.
Not necessarily. The overall score reflects our weighted rubric, but your priorities may differ. If you care most about safety, compare the safety scores directly. If budget drives your decision, the value scores and prices tell a clearer story. The "right" pick is the one that matches what matters most to your family.
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