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.
Who do people search for more?
The Ordinary, about 5 searches for every 1 for Vanicream
Who does AI mention more?
Both were mentioned in 3 of 5 answers.
Who does AI recommend more?
The Ordinary, named ahead of Vanicream in 3 of 4 answers
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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.
CeraVe1st
La Roche-Posay2nd
The Ordinary3rd
Vanicream4th
Paula's Choice5th
Avène6th
Cetaphil7th
SkinCeuticals8th
COSRX9th
Neutrogena–- +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
See every answer about skincare brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which skincare brand should I buy?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best skincare brands?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best skincare brand for sensitive skin?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“skincare brands”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“skin care for sensitive skin”
Not named in any answer:
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.
Share of searches by month for The Ordinary, Vanicream. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Cetaphil | La Roche-Posay | CeraVe | The Ordinary | Neutrogena | Beauty of Joseon | Clinique | Bioderma | Kiehl's | Laneige | SkinCeuticals | Paula's Choice | Medik8 | Avène | COSRX | Vanicream |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2025 | 12.7% | 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 2025 | 13.2% | 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 2026 | 14.3% | 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 2026 | 13.9% | 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 2026 | 12.8% | 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 2026 | 12.9% | 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 2026 | 11.7% | 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 2026 | 12.8% | 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 2026 | 13.8% | 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 2026 | 13.7% | 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 2026 | 14.1% | 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 2026 | 17.7% | 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

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

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
Other head-to-heads among skincare brands

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