Avène vs Olay
Avène and Olay are skincare brands offering targeted moisturizers, serums, and cleansers that suit acne-prone and mature skin. The French brand founded in 1990 uses glycerin to restore barrier function, with standout products like the Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm, the Cleanance, and the Hyaluron Activ B3 Concentrated Plumping Serum. Meanwhile, Olay pairs niacinamide and glycerin to improve wrinkles and hydration, featuring favorites such as the Super Eyes Daily Eye Serum, the Regenerist Luminous Tone Perfecting Cream, and the Brightening Eye Cream. While both brands rely on science-backed formulations for a calm and balanced complexion, the former suits oily skin best through gentle care, and the latter addresses complex needs with niacinamide.
Avène is a French skincare brand founded in 1990 and owned by Fondation Pierre Fabre.
pierre-fabre.comavene.co.ukaveneusa.com
This page compares some of the most popular Avène and Olay products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.
Popular Avène vs Olay products
People Say
Gentleness and Soothing Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
- “Calmed my angry red skin overnight — Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream”
- “Nothing has ever worked to soothe or heal my skin like these before. — Avène Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm”
- “Perfect cleanser for sensitive skin. — Avène Milk Cleanser”
- “doesn't strip my skin — Olay Regenerating Cream Cleanser”
Texture and Absorption Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
- “sinks in quickly — Olay Super Serum”
- “absorbs quickly — Olay Vitamin C Serum”
- “absorbs instantly — Olay Super Serum Night Repair”
- “Thick but absorbs well eventually — Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream”
Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
- “Instantly smoother, softer, and more hydrated — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
- “light and smooth — Olay Ultimate Eye Cream”
- “hydrates the skin — Olay Advanced Eye Cream”
- “Saves my skin in winter — Avène Cold Cream”
Skin Smoothing and Anti-Aging Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
- “skin feels baby soft — Olay Retinol24”
- “Skin feels like silk — Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Moisturizer”
- “hydrates the skin — Olay Advanced Eye Cream”
- “skin instantly felt firmer — Avène Hyaluron Activ B3 Concentrated Plumping Serum”
Brightening and Radiance Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
- “iridescent glow — Olay Super Serum”
- “hides dark shadows — Olay Ultimate Eye Cream”
- “skin looks brighter — Olay Vitamin C Serum”
- “immediate radiance boost — Avène Vitamin Activ Cg Radiance Concentrated Serum”
Makeup Compatibility and Removal Rarely NotedSometimes Noted
- “absorbs instantly — Olay Eye Lifting Serum”
- “acts as primer — Olay Super Serum”
- “concealer sits better — Olay Ultimate Eye Cream”
- “Remove a all of the makeup with ease. — Avène Milk Cleanser”
Strong Fragrance and Scents Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
- “The fragrance is very present. — Avène Milk Cleanser”
- “smell is too strong — Avène Cleanance”
- “Fragrance can be an irritant — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
- “floral scent — Olay Super Serum”
Packaging Issues Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
- “Tube cracked on the side — Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream”
- “Cap leaks in bag — Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel”
- “Good product bad packaging. — Avène RetrinAL EYES”
- “hard to dispense — Olay Super Serum”
Product Ineffectiveness Rarely NotedSometimes Noted
- “no difference — Avène Antirougeurs Fort Relief Concentrate”
- “no difference after month — Avène Vitamin Activ Cg Radiance Concentrated Serum”
- “didn't work for me — Avène Hyaluron Activ B3 Concentrated Plumping Serum”
- “no difference — Olay Vitamin C Serum”
Avène vs Olay routines for dry skin
-
Cleanser
Regenerating Cream Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
A$7.99
-
Hydrating Toner
Pyunkang Yul Calming Deep Moisture Toner
Morning
A$23.99
-
Moisturizer
Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream
Morning · Evening · Once a week
A$29.99
-
Pre-Cleanser
MISSHA Ultra Hyalon Cleansing Cream
Evening · Once a week
A$27.35
- Serum or Treatment Vitamin C Serum Evening · Once a week
-
Enzyme Powder
FANCL Facial Washing Powder
Once a week
A$35.50
-
Nourishing Mask
MEDIHEAL Vita Essential Mask
Once a week
A$28.48
-
Cleanser
Cleanance Cleansing Gel
Morning · Evening · Once a week
A$24.99
-
Hydrating Toner
Pyunkang Yul Calming Deep Moisture Toner
Morning
A$23.99
-
Moisturizer
Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm
Morning · Evening · Once a week
A$29.99
-
SPF
Ultra Fluid
Morning
A$23.39
-
Pre-Cleanser
MISSHA Ultra Hyalon Cleansing Cream
Evening · Once a week
A$27.35
-
Serum or Treatment
Vitamin Activ Cg Radiance Concentrated Serum
Evening · Once a week
A$45.39
-
Enzyme Powder
FANCL Facial Washing Powder
Once a week
A$35.50
-
Nourishing Mask
MEDIHEAL Vita Essential Mask
Once a week
A$28.48
Buy Olay routine · A$153.30 · 83% fit
Buy Avène routine · A$239.08 · 78% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit
Avène vs Olay routines for oily skin
-
Cleanser
Cleanance Cleansing Gel
Morning · Evening · Once a week
A$24.99
-
Hydrating Toner
Some By Mi Snail Truecica Miracle Repair Toner
Morning · Once a week
A$34.66
-
Moisturizer
Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream
Morning · Evening · Once a week
A$24.99
-
SPF
Cleanance
Morning · Evening · Once a week
A$24.99
-
Pre-Cleanser
Shu Uemura Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
A$80.43
-
Cleansing Toner
Caudalie Vinopure Purifying Toner
Evening
A$75.95
-
Enzyme Powder
FANCL Facial Washing Powder
Once a week
A$35.50
-
Cleansing Mask
HERBIVORE Botanicals Blue Tansy BHA and Enzyme Pore Refining Mask
Once a week
A$118.35
-
Cleanser
Regenerating Cream Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
A$7.99
-
Hydrating Toner
Some By Mi Snail Truecica Miracle Repair Toner
Morning · Once a week
A$34.66
-
Moisturizer
Super Serum
Morning · Evening · Once a week
A$29.99
-
SPF
Regenerist Whip Face Moisturizer SPF 25
Morning
A$29.99
-
Pre-Cleanser
Shu Uemura Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
A$80.43
-
Cleansing Toner
Caudalie Vinopure Purifying Toner
Evening
A$75.95
- Serum or Treatment Vitamin C Serum Evening · Once a week
-
Enzyme Powder
FANCL Facial Washing Powder
Once a week
A$35.50
-
Cleansing Mask
HERBIVORE Botanicals Blue Tansy BHA and Enzyme Pore Refining Mask
Once a week
A$118.35
Buy Avène routine · A$394.87 · 87% fit
Buy Olay routine · A$412.86 · 86% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit
Avène vs Olay routines for combination skin
-
Cleanser
Cleanance Cleansing Gel
Morning · Evening · Once a week
A$24.99
-
Hydrating Toner
Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner
Morning · Once a week
A$42.00
-
Moisturizer
Hyaluron Activ B3 Concentrated Plumping Serum
Morning · Evening · Once a week
A$53.99
-
SPF
Cleanance
Morning
A$24.99
-
Pre-Cleanser
Pyunkang Yul Deep Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
A$30.99
-
Cleansing Toner
Medicube Zero Pore Pad 2.0
Evening
A$29.90
-
Serum or Treatment
Vitamin Activ Cg Radiance Concentrated Serum
Evening · Once a week
A$45.39
-
Enzyme Powder
FANCL Facial Washing Powder
Once a week
A$35.50
-
Cleansing Mask
HERBIVORE Botanicals Blue Tansy BHA and Enzyme Pore Refining Mask
Once a week
A$118.35
-
Cleanser
Regenerating Cream Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
A$7.99
-
Hydrating Toner
Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner
Morning · Once a week
A$42.00
-
Moisturizer
Super Serum
Morning · Evening · Once a week
A$29.99
-
SPF
Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream
Morning
A$29.99
-
Pre-Cleanser
Pyunkang Yul Deep Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
A$30.99
-
Cleansing Toner
Medicube Zero Pore Pad 2.0
Evening
A$29.90
- Serum or Treatment Vitamin C Serum Evening · Once a week
-
Enzyme Powder
FANCL Facial Washing Powder
Once a week
A$35.50
-
Cleansing Mask
HERBIVORE Botanicals Blue Tansy BHA and Enzyme Pore Refining Mask
Once a week
A$118.35
Buy Avène routine · A$381.11 · 87% fit
Buy Olay routine · A$324.71 · 86% fitSee multi-brand routine · 95% fit
Questions and answers
Avène or Olay: which is better?
Olay does better for skin smoothing, anti-aging, and hydration among the products on this page, while Avène stands out for gentleness and soothing. Both brands provide an equal routine fit for dry, oily, combination, sensitive skin, and skin with dark spots, though Olay has a superior fit for acne-prone and mature skin.
What is the difference between Avène and Olay?
Olay does better for skin smoothing and anti-aging, while Avène does better for gentleness and soothing. For routine fit on this page, Avène achieves a Superior level for oily acne-prone skin, whereas Olay achieves a Superior level for acne-prone skin and mature skin.
Avène or Olay for dry skin?
Both Avène and Olay are a High fit for dry skin on the products on this page. Olay also brings intense hydration, while Avène often soothes irritation and features gentle sunscreens.
Avène or Olay: which cleanser is better?
When it comes to cleansers on this page, Avène is often noted for gentle deep cleaning, whereas Olay offers options like the Regenerating Cream Cleanser that helps fit acne-prone and mature skin well.
Which is more affordable, Avène or Olay?
The provided page facts do not mention the prices of Avène or Olay products, so this page cannot determine which brand is more affordable.
Between Avène and Olay, which brand offers better results for mature skin?
Olay offers better results for mature skin, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to Avène's High fit on the products on this page. Reviewers note that Olay does better in skin smoothing, anti-aging, and intense hydration. Retinol helps reduce signs of aging in mature skin.
How do the fragrance options compare between Avène and Olay products?
When comparing the products on this page, Avène features fragrance in nearly half of its items, whereas Olay offers mostly fragrance-free options with only one toner listing fragrance.
Which brand performs better for dry sensitive skin: Avène or Olay?
Olay performs better for dry sensitive skin, achieving a High routine fit compared to Avène's Average fit on this page.
Avène or Olay for oily skin?
Both Avène and Olay are a High fit for oily skin. The products on this page for Avène are well-liked for effective oil control and gentle deep clean cleansers, while Olay is often noted for a lightweight feel and fast absorption.
Avène or Olay: which moisturizer is better?
When it comes to moisturizers, Olay outperforms Avène for mature skin, while both brands offer products with a High Lovi fit for dry skin. Olay's moisturizers provide intense hydration and smoother textures, whereas Avène focuses on soothing sensitive skin.
Avène or Olay for sensitive skin?
Both Avène and Olay fit sensitive skin at a High level on the products on this page. Avène does better for gentleness and soothing, while Olay offers fragrance-free options across almost all of its products.
Avène or Olay: which sunscreen is better?
Avène sunscreens help provide gentle and non-stripping sun protection for the products on this page, whereas Olay offers fewer sunscreen options. Reviewers note that Avène sunscreens perform well for sensitive skin.
Avène or Olay for acne-prone skin?
Olay is a better choice for acne-prone skin, as Lovi rates its routine fit as Superior compared to High for Avène. Reviewers frequently note that Olay products offer improved texture and smoothness along with lightweight feel.
Research behind their key ingredients
Molecular basis of retinol anti-ageing properties in naturally aged human skin in vivo
Topical palmitoyl pentapeptide provides improvement in photoaged human facial skin
Reduction in the appearance of facial hyperpigmentation by topical N-acetyl glucosamine
An oil-soluble extract of Rubus idaeus cells enhances hydration and water homeostasis in skin cells
Comparative benefit of two thermal spring waters after photodynamic therapy procedure
Neuroimmunomodulatory compound for sensitive skin care: in vitro and clinical assessment
Comedogenicity in rabbit: some cosmetic ingredients/vehicles
Comparison of methods for assessing photoprotection against ultraviolet A in vivo
Dually functionalized dendrimer for stimuli-responsive release of active ingredients into the skin
Treatment with Ascorbyl Glucoside-Arginine Complex Ameliorates Solar Lentigos
Retrospective Review of Dermal Safety Studies of Organic Sunscreens
Behind this comparison
Lovi compares products by their fit scores, calculated from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
-

Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-

Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-

Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-

Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-

Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-

Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-

Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-

Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

















































