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CeraVe vs Olay

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes · How the Fit score works

CeraVe and Olay are American skincare lines known for gentle, effective care. CeraVe offers moisturizers, cleansers, serums, and sunscreens with hyaluronic acid and glycerin, suiting dry and acne-prone skin best. Olay provides targeted moisturizers, eye products, serums, and cleansers pairing niacinamide and glycerin, which suit acne-prone and mature skin best. While both brands improve hydration, barrier function, and skin aging using shared and distinct active ingredients, they differ in their specific formulations and primary skin type matches.

CeraVe is an American skincare brand founded in 2005 and owned by L'Oréal since 2017.

en.wikipedia.orghappi.comloreal-finance.comcerave.com

This page compares some of the most popular CeraVe and Olay products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular CeraVe vs Olay products

People Say

CeraVeOlay
  • Lightweight and Non-Greasy Texture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Absorbs into skin without residue — CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “Sinks right into your skin — CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “absorbs quickly — Olay Vitamin C Serum”
    • “absorbs instantly — Olay Super Serum Night Repair”
  • Deep Hydration and Moisture Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Saved my dry winter skin — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “woke up with plump skin — CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream”
    • “cured my dry patches — CeraVe Eye Repair Cream”
    • “My skin feels so hydrated and plump. — Olay Regenerist Regenerating Serum”
  • Fragrance-Free Formula Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “No scent, no irritation — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “Great for sensitive skin — CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “No irritation at all — Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Moisturizer”
    • “no scent — Olay Super Serum Night Repair”
  • Gentle and Non-Stripping Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “doesn't leave face tight — CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser”
    • “no burning sensation — CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum”
    • “clean but not dry — CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser”
  • Skin Smoothing Not 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”
  • Improves Skin Texture Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “smoother complexion — CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum”
    • “less greasy — CeraVe Healing Ointment”
    • “smooths fine lines — CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream”
    • “Makeup goes on so smooth — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
  • Packaging Issues Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “no safety seal included — CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream”
    • “tube splitting at seams — CeraVe Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum”
    • “hard to dispense — Olay Super Serum”
    • “dropper is frustrating — Olay Super Serum Night Repair”

CeraVe vs Olay routines for dry skin

Buy CeraVe routine · A$226.69 · 89% fitBuy Olay routine · A$153.30 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

CeraVe vs Olay routines for oily skin

Buy Olay routine · A$412.86 · 86% fitBuy CeraVe routine · A$392.56 · 82% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

CeraVe vs Olay routines for combination skin

Buy Olay routine · A$324.71 · 86% fitBuy CeraVe routine · A$347.16 · 85% fitSee multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

CeraVe or Olay: which is better?

Both brands provide solid options, but CeraVe is better for deep hydration and gentle cleansers, while Olay is better for skin smoothing and mature skin. The products on this page from both brands feature fragrance-free options and lightweight textures.

What is the difference between CeraVe and Olay?

CeraVe focuses on barrier repair lipids like ceramides for deep hydration and gentle care, while Olay highlights peptides and vitamins for skin smoothing and anti-aging benefits.

International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2005

CeraVe or Olay for dry skin?

Both brands offer a High routine fit for dry skin, with every CeraVe product on this page being entirely fragrance-free while Olay features mostly fragrance-free options. CeraVe helps deliver deep hydration with ceramide-dominant barrier repair lipids, which may alleviate dryness.

CeraVe or Olay: which cleanser is better?

Both brands offer solid options, but CeraVe stands out for offering fragrance-free cleansers that reviewers frequently note are gentle and non-stripping. CeraVe also provides effective solutions for acne and oil, with several cleansers achieving a Superior fit level for oily skin.

Which is more affordable, CeraVe or Olay?

This page does not provide pricing information or compare the affordability of CeraVe and Olay.

Which brand has more fragrance-free products, CeraVe or Olay?

Both brands offer many fragrance-free options, as every product on the CeraVe page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, while 26 of the 27 products on the Olay page do the same.

CeraVe or Olay for oily skin?

Both CeraVe and Olay offer an equal high routine fit for oily skin. Reviewers note that CeraVe features effective cleansers for acne and oil, while Olay provides options with a lightweight feel.

CeraVe or Olay: which moisturizer is better?

Both CeraVe and Olay offer exceptional moisturizers, with CeraVe delivering deep hydration for dry skin and Olay providing superior skin smoothing and anti-aging benefits for mature skin. Glycerin and hyaluronic acid help both brands supply intense moisture, while topical peptides and retinol help Olay improve skin texture and reduce signs of aging.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

CeraVe or Olay for sensitive skin?

Both brands offer a High routine fit for sensitive skin. Every CeraVe product on this page is formulated without fragrance, whereas Olay includes fragrance in one of its products.

CeraVe or Olay: which sunscreen is better?

CeraVe has a higher Lovi fit level for dry sensitive skin across its sunscreens on this page, offering Superior hydration compared to Olay's Average rating for that skin type. Niacinamide in both brands may help improve skin appearance, while hyaluronic acid helps provide deep hydration.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

CeraVe or Olay for acne-prone skin?

Both brands are great choices for acne-prone skin, with CeraVe offering a High routine fit and Olay reaching a Superior fit. CeraVe helps with gentle, non-stripping cleansers and effective options for acne and oil, while Olay products on this page use ingredients like niacinamide to help soothe and improve skin texture.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

CeraVe or Olay for mature skin?

Olay fits mature skin better with a Superior routine fit compared to CeraVe's High level. Both brands offer fragrance-free options among the products on this page.

CeraVe or Olay for skin with dark spots?

Both CeraVe and Olay offer a High routine fit for skin with dark spots. Both brands include niacinamide across their products on this page, which helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Research behind their key ingredients

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.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

How does it fit your skin?

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