Is The Ordinary a Chinese company?
With The Ordinary’s global popularity and widespread availability, questions about the brand’s origins frequently arise. One common misconception: Is The Ordinary a Chinese company? The short answer is no—The Ordinary is not Chinese. Let’s explore where the brand actually comes from and why this confusion exists.
The Ordinary’s True Origins
Canadian Roots
The Ordinary is a Canadian brand. It was created by Deciem, a Toronto-based beauty company founded in 2013 by the late Brandon Truaxe, who was of Iranian descent but Canadian-based.
Key Facts:
- Founded: 2013 (The Ordinary line launched in 2016)
- Headquarters: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Founder: Brandon Truaxe (Iranian-Canadian entrepreneur)
- Parent Company: Deciem (originally Canadian, now owned by Estée Lauder Companies)
Deciem positioned itself as « The Abnormal Beauty Company, » focusing on transparency, scientific formulations, and accessible pricing—principles that became the foundation of The Ordinary.
Current Ownership: Estée Lauder Companies
In 2017, Estée Lauder Companies (an American multinational) acquired a minority stake in Deciem. Following Brandon Truaxe’s passing in 2019 and subsequent developments, Estée Lauder increased its ownership and eventually took full control of Deciem in 2021.
Current Structure:
- Brand: The Ordinary
- Immediate Parent: Deciem (Canadian company)
- Ultimate Owner: Estée Lauder Companies (American corporation, founded in New York)
So while The Ordinary started as a fully Canadian brand, it’s now owned by an American beauty conglomerate—but it maintains its Canadian heritage and operations.
Why People Think It’s Chinese
Several factors contribute to the misconception that The Ordinary is Chinese:
Manufacturing Locations
Like most global beauty brands, The Ordinary manufactures products in various countries based on expertise, cost-efficiency, and ingredient sourcing. This includes:
- Canada (some formulations)
- United States
- Europe (particularly for certain chemical formulations)
- Asia (including China, South Korea, and Japan for some products)
The « Made in China » label on some products leads people to assume the brand itself is Chinese. However, manufacturing location doesn’t determine a company’s nationality—many Western brands manufacture in Asia while maintaining their original corporate identity.
Global Distribution and Availability
The Ordinary has massive popularity in Asian markets, particularly in:
- China (via official retailers and e-commerce platforms like Tmall)
- South Korea
- Japan
- Southeast Asian countries
Strong presence in these markets can create the impression that the brand originates from the region.
Affordable Pricing
The Ordinary’s exceptionally low prices sometimes lead to assumptions about Chinese manufacturing or ownership, as many affordable beauty brands do originate from or manufacture in China. However, The Ordinary’s pricing strategy is about cutting marketing costs and fancy packaging—not necessarily about where products are made.
E-commerce and Third-Party Sellers
Many online sellers, including those based in China, sell The Ordinary products internationally. When customers order through these channels, they might associate the brand with its seller’s location rather than its actual origin.
Packaging and Aesthetic
The minimalist, clinical packaging style is sometimes associated with Asian beauty aesthetics, though The Ordinary’s design philosophy is actually about transparency and cost reduction rather than following K-beauty or C-beauty trends.
Where Are The Ordinary Products Actually Made?
The Ordinary doesn’t manufacture all products in one location. Production sites vary based on:
Ingredient Expertise: Some chemicals and actives are best sourced from specific regions with specialized manufacturing capabilities.
Regulatory Compliance: Different countries have varying cosmetic regulations, affecting where certain products can be made.
Cost and Efficiency: Manufacturing is distributed to optimize quality and cost-effectiveness.
Quality Standards: Deciem maintains strict quality control regardless of manufacturing location.
How to Check: Look at the product packaging or bottle—the manufacturing country is usually printed near the batch code, often as « Made in [Country] » or a country code.
Common manufacturing locations include:
- Canada: Original formulations and some ongoing production
- USA: Various products
- UK and EU: Certain specialized formulations
- South Korea: Some products (Korean facilities are known for cosmetic manufacturing excellence)
- China: Select products
Does Manufacturing Location Matter?
For most consumers, the manufacturing location is less important than:
Ingredient Quality: The Ordinary uses high-quality actives regardless of where products are made. The brand is transparent about ingredients and concentrations.
Safety Standards: All facilities must meet Deciem’s quality and safety standards, which align with Canadian and international regulations.
Efficacy: Clinical concentrations of proven ingredients deliver results regardless of the production facility.
Authenticity: Buying from authorized retailers ensures you’re getting genuine products, regardless of where they were manufactured.
How to Verify Authenticity
If you’re concerned about getting authentic Canadian-brand The Ordinary products:
Buy from Authorized Retailers:
- Official Deciem/The Ordinary website
- Sephora, Ulta, and other major authorized retailers
- Authorized regional sellers (like Ordinary-Maroc.com for Morocco)
- Official brand stores and counters
Check Batch Codes: You can verify batch codes on websites like CheckCosmetic.net by selecting « Deciem » as the brand.
Look for Official Packaging: Authentic products have consistent, high-quality packaging with clear ingredient lists and proper labeling.
Avoid Suspiciously Cheap Offers: If the price is significantly lower than retail from unauthorized sellers, it’s likely counterfeit—regardless of claimed origin.
The Ordinary’s Global Philosophy
Part of The Ordinary’s success comes from its truly international approach:
Global Ingredient Sourcing: Using the best ingredients from wherever they’re available
International Manufacturing: Leveraging expertise from different regions
Worldwide Distribution: Making products accessible in numerous countries
Universal Pricing Strategy: Keeping costs low globally, not just in specific markets
This international strategy doesn’t change the brand’s Canadian-American corporate identity—it just makes The Ordinary a truly global brand.
Other Deciem Brands
Since Deciem owns The Ordinary, it’s worth noting that all Deciem brands share the same Canadian-American heritage:
- NIOD (Non Invasive Options in Dermal Science)
- Hylamide
- The Chemistry Brand
- Fountain (discontinued)
- Abnomaly
All maintain the same transparency-focused, science-driven approach pioneered in Toronto.
Why Brand Origin Matters (Or Doesn’t)
For most skincare users, what matters is:
✓ Product efficacy: Does it work? ✓ Ingredient quality: Are actives pure and at the right concentrations? ✓ Safety: Is it tested and regulated properly? ✓ Value: Does it offer good results for the price? ✓ Authenticity: Are you getting genuine products?
The Ordinary delivers on all these fronts regardless of where individual products are manufactured.
However, if you specifically want to support Canadian or North American businesses, The Ordinary qualifies as a Canadian-founded brand now owned by an American corporation—making it a North American brand through and through.
The Bottom Line
The Ordinary is NOT a Chinese company. It’s a Canadian brand created in Toronto, now owned by American beauty giant Estée Lauder Companies. While some products may be manufactured in China (along with other countries), the brand’s identity, formulation philosophy, and corporate headquarters remain firmly rooted in North America.
The confusion is understandable given global manufacturing and distribution, but The Ordinary’s origins and ownership are clearly Canadian-American. Whether you care about brand origin or just want effective, affordable skincare, The Ordinary delivers quality products backed by a transparent, science-focused approach that started in Canada and continues under North American ownership.
So next time someone asks if The Ordinary is Chinese, you can confidently share the real story: it’s a Canadian success story that went global, backed by American investment, with truly international manufacturing and distribution.
