Brandwave

CeraVe vs The Ordinary:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, CeraVe and The Ordinary were level in searches among skincare brands in the United States, with an estimated 201K branded searches each, at 8.9% of the total each. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about skincare brands, The Ordinary appeared in four of the five answers and CeraVe in three. CeraVe was mentioned before The Ordinary in every answer.

Among skincare brands in the United States in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

CeraVe and The Ordinary are searched for about as often as each other.

CeraVe 201K searchesThe Ordinary 201K searches

Who does AI mention more?

The Ordinary, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, CeraVe in 3

The Ordinary in 4 of 5CeraVe in 3 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

CeraVe, named ahead of The Ordinary in every answer

CeraVe first in 3The Ordinary never first

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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 four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. CeraVe was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. CeraVe was listed before The Ordinary in every answer.

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. Cetaphil4th
  5. Paula's Choice5th
  6. Clinique6th
  7. SkinCeuticals7th
  8. Tatcha8th
  9. Aesop–
  10. Kiehl's–
  11. +5 more

Mentioned by AI

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

  • The Ordinary4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • La Roche-Posay3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • CeraVe3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Cetaphil2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Paula's Choice2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Clinique1 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
  • Tatcha1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Aesop0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Kiehl's0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

+5 more

See every answer about skincare brands

5 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United States on October 26, 2026.

Is CeraVe or The Ordinary more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for CeraVe and The Ordinary by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 15 skincare brands we track, month by month, from searches in United States.

CeraVe and The Ordinary among skincare brands in the United States, by month

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

View monthly share of searches table
MonthLa Roche-PosayAesopCeraVeCliniqueThe OrdinaryKiehl'sSummer FridaysSkinCeuticalsCetaphilPaula's ChoiceLaneigeNeutrogenaByomaGlow RecipeTatcha
Oct 202512.2%12.2%8.2%8.2%6.7%5.5%12.2%5.5%4.5%4.5%5.5%4.5%3%3.7%3.7%
Nov 20259.2%11.2%6.1%9.2%7.5%9.2%16.8%4.1%2.7%4.1%6.1%2.7%2.7%4.1%4.1%
Dec 202512.4%10.1%6.8%8.3%6.8%6.8%18.5%4.5%3%3.7%6.8%3%2.5%3.7%3%
Jan 202615.4%10.3%8.4%6.9%6.9%5.6%10.3%5.6%3.8%4.6%6.9%3.8%3.1%3.8%4.6%
Feb 202614.9%10%8.1%8.1%8.1%5.5%12.2%5.5%4.4%4.4%5.5%3.7%3.7%3%3%
Mar 202613.7%9.2%9.2%9.2%7.5%7.5%11.2%6.2%4.1%5%4.1%4.1%3.4%2.8%2.8%
Apr 202615.4%10.3%8.4%8.4%10.3%5.7%8.4%6.9%4.6%4.6%3.8%3.8%3.1%3.1%3.1%
May 202616%10.7%8.8%8.8%8.8%5.9%8.8%5.9%3.9%4.8%3.9%3.9%3.2%2.6%3.9%
Jun 202617.2%7.7%11.5%7.7%9.4%7.7%6.3%6.3%5.2%5.2%3.5%4.2%2.8%2.3%2.8%
Jul 202617.9%6.6%9.8%8%9.8%6.6%6.6%6.6%4.4%5.4%4.4%4.4%3.6%2.9%2.9%
Aug 202616%8.7%8.7%8.7%8.7%5.9%5.9%5.9%4.8%4.8%3.2%10.7%3.2%2.2%2.6%
Sep 202616.3%10.9%8.9%8.9%8.9%7.3%7.3%6%4.9%4.9%4%4%2.7%2.7%2.7%

How has the CeraVe and The Ordinary comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • The lead changed hands 4 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: The Ordinary took it in November 2025, CeraVe took it in January 2026, The Ordinary took it in April 2026, CeraVe took it in June 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, CeraVe’s share of searches among skincare brands in the United States moved from 8.2% to 8.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 201K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, The Ordinary’s share of searches among skincare brands in the United States moved from 6.7% to 8.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 165K to 201K.

How did search popularity change for United States skincare brands in September 2026?

2 changes
  1. In September 2026, CeraVe rose from 4th to 3rd among skincare brands in the United States.

  2. In September 2026, The Ordinary rose from 6th to 5th among skincare brands in the United States.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using CeraVe’s and The Ordinary’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.

CeraVe

1 branded search term

  • cerave

The Ordinary

1 branded search term

  • the ordinary

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

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