These two moisturisers take different paths to a similar destination. Both formulas include solid hydrating ingredients, and the overall scores reflect that — the gap here is genuinely slim.
Hydration Efficacy is another area of separation. The Ordinary Rice Lipids + Ectoin Microemulsion Moisturizer for Soothing Hydration & Reduced Redness scores 9.8 here versus 5.5 for The Ordinary The Resurface & Hydrate Set with Hyaluronic Acid Serum + AHA. That difference comes down to how each formula is built — the ingredient list tells the story.
The Ordinary Rice Lipids + Ectoin Microemulsion Moisturizer for Soothing Hydration & Reduced Redness brings Ectoin, Allantoin, and Lysine Hcl as actives, while the Ordinary The Resurface & Hydrate Set with Hyaluronic Acid Serum + AHA relies on Glycolic Acid, Salicylic Acid, and Lactic Acid. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.
Both sit in the budget bracket, so value comes down to formulation quality. The Ordinary Rice Lipids + Ectoin Microemulsion Moisturizer for Soothing Hydration & Reduced Redness gets the nod here with its 8.5 overall score — you're getting more for a similar outlay.
