Brandwave

The Ordinary vs Vanicream:Which is more popular?

In October 2026, The Ordinary had more branded searches than Vanicream among skincare brands worldwide. The Ordinary had about 1.4 million branded searches, while Vanicream had 301,000. The Ordinary made up 9.2% of all skincare brand searches we track, and Vanicream accounted for 1.9%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about skincare brands, The Ordinary and Vanicream each appeared in three of the five answers. The Ordinary was mentioned before Vanicream in three out of four answers that named either.

Among skincare brands worldwide in October 2026

Who do people search for more?

The Ordinary, about 5 searches for every 1 for Vanicream

The Ordinary 1.4M searchesVanicream 301K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both were mentioned in 3 of 5 answers.

The Ordinary in 3 of 5Vanicream in 3 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

The Ordinary, named ahead of Vanicream in 3 of 4 answers

The Ordinary first in 3Vanicream first in 1

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Top skincare brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, The Ordinary was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Vanicream was mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. The Ordinary was listed before Vanicream in three out of four answers that named either.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. CeraVe1st
  2. La Roche-Posay2nd
  3. The Ordinary3rd
  4. Vanicream4th
  5. Paula's Choice5th
  6. Avène6th
  7. Cetaphil7th
  8. SkinCeuticals8th
  9. COSRX9th
  10. Neutrogena–
  11. +6 more

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • La Roche-Posay5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • CeraVe5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • The Ordinary3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Vanicream3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Paula's Choice2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Avène2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Cetaphil1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • SkinCeuticals1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • COSRX1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Neutrogena0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

+6 more

See every answer about skincare brands

5 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 19, 2026.

Is The Ordinary or Vanicream more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for The Ordinary and Vanicream by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 22 skincare brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

The Ordinary and Vanicream among skincare brands worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for The Ordinary, Vanicream. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthCetaphilLa Roche-PosayCeraVeThe OrdinaryNeutrogenaBeauty of JoseonCliniqueBiodermaKiehl'sLaneigeSkinCeuticalsPaula's ChoiceMedik8AvèneCOSRXVanicream
Nov 202512.7%11.9%12.6%11.2%5.4%4.4%6.5%3.6%6.5%4.4%2.9%3.1%2.4%2%2%1.1%
Dec 202513.2%13.6%14.5%9%6.6%4.1%6.1%3.3%5%5%2.7%2.9%1.8%1.8%2.2%1.2%
Jan 202614.3%13.4%14.2%8.8%6.6%4.9%4.9%4%4%4%2.7%2.8%2.2%2.2%2.2%1.2%
Feb 202613.9%15%15.5%8.2%6.9%4.5%4.5%3.7%3.7%3.7%3%3.2%2%2%2%1.3%
Mar 202612.8%16.1%13.9%8.8%6.9%4.8%4.8%3.9%3.9%3.2%3.2%2.9%2.2%2.2%2.2%1.2%
Apr 202612.9%16.2%13.9%10.5%6.8%4.9%4.9%4%3.3%2.7%2.7%3%2.2%2.2%2.2%1.2%
May 202611.7%17%14.5%9%7.2%5.1%5.1%4.2%3.4%2.8%2.8%3.1%1.9%2.3%2.3%1%
Jun 202612.8%15.2%15.4%9.7%6.7%5.6%4.6%3.7%3.7%2.5%3.1%2.8%2%2%2%1.4%
Jul 202613.8%15.3%15.3%9.7%6.6%4.6%4.6%3.8%3.1%3.1%3.1%2.8%2.5%2.1%2.1%1.4%
Aug 202613.7%14.7%15.1%9.3%7.7%4.4%4.4%3.6%3.6%3%3%3.2%2.4%2%2%1.3%
Sep 202614.1%13.2%14%10.2%6.7%4.8%4.8%4%4%3.2%3.2%2.9%2.6%1.8%2.2%1.4%
Oct 202617.7%14.4%13%9.2%6.3%4.3%4.3%3.5%3.5%3.5%2.9%2.6%2.4%1.9%1.9%1.9%

How has branded search for The Ordinary and Vanicream changed worldwide over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • The Ordinary was ahead of Vanicream in every measured month of the 12 months ending October 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending October 2026, The Ordinary’s share of searches among skincare brands worldwide moved from 11.2% to 9.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 2.1M to 1.4M.
  • Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Vanicream’s share of searches among skincare brands worldwide moved from 1.1% to 1.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 201K to 301K.

How did search popularity change for skincare brands worldwide in October 2026?

2 changes
  1. In October 2026, The Ordinary lost share of searches among skincare brands worldwide, from 10.2% to 9.2%.

  2. In October 2026, Vanicream rose from 18th to 17th among skincare brands worldwide.

How are The Ordinary’s and Vanicream’s branded searches counted?

6 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using The Ordinary’s and Vanicream’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

The Ordinary

5 branded search terms

  • serum the ordinary
  • skincare the ordinary
  • the ordinary
  • the ordinary niacinamide
  • the ordinary retinol

Vanicream

1 branded search term

  • vanicream

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

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