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Medik8 vs Olay

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

Medik8 and Olay are two respected skincare brands known for their focused formulations and thoughtful care. Medik8 is a British line founded in 2009 and owned by L'Oréal Groupe since 2025, offering serums, moisturizers, eye products, toners, and more built around hyaluronic acid, making both the brand and its hydrating products best suited for dry and dry sensitive skin. Meanwhile, Olay is warmly loved for its targeted moisturizers, eye products, serums, cleansers, and more which thoughtfully pair niacinamide and glycerin, suiting acne-prone and mature skin best. While both brands feature extensive selections for specific concerns, they differ in their core ingredient philosophies and primary skin compatibility.

Medik8 is a British skincare brand founded in 2009 and owned by L'Oréal Groupe since 2025.

loreal.commedik8.comtracxn.com

This page compares some of the most popular Medik8 and Olay products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Medik8 vs Olay products

People Say

Medik8Olay
  • Texture and Absorption Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “sinks in quickly — Olay Super Serum”
    • “skin feels baby soft — Olay Retinol24”
    • “Skin feels like silk — Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Moisturizer”
    • “absorbed effortlessly — Medik8 Total Moisture Daily Facial 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”
    • “Restores moisture — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
  • Gentle Formulation Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “zero irritation or peeling — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “only Vitamin C my sensitive skin can tolerate — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “Best retinol replacement — Medik8 Bakuchiol Peptides”
    • “doesn't strip my skin — Olay Regenerating Cream Cleanser”
  • Brightening and Glow Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “I wake up glowing. It adds back that youthful bloom that I've lost. — Medik8 Sleep Glycolic”
    • “unlocked a serious glow — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “iridescent glow — Olay Super Serum”
    • “hides dark shadows — Olay Ultimate Eye Cream”
  • Skin Improvement and Clarity Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “smoother skin — Medik8 Surface Radiance Cleanse”
    • “skin feels baby soft — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “skin feels firmer — Medik8 Oxy-R Peptides”
    • “tiny beads aren't harsh — Olay Regenerating Cream Cleanser”
  • Pleasant Experience and Scent Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “smells like a spa — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “smell is gorgeous — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “smells amazing — Olay Vitamin C Serum”
    • “light fresh scent — Olay Regenerating Cream Cleanser”
  • Price and Value Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “expensive for drugstore — Olay Super Serum”
    • “expensive — Olay Super Serum Night Repair”
    • “Expensive per bottle — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
  • Packaging Issues Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Glass bottle breaks easily — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
    • “hard to get last bit — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “click mechanism tricky — Medik8 Oxy-R Peptides”
    • “hard to dispense — Olay Super Serum”
  • Slow or Ineffective Results Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Not as effective as retinol — Medik8 Bakuchiol Peptides”
    • “no difference — Medik8 Oxy-R Peptides”
    • “no difference — Olay Vitamin C Serum”
    • “minimal firming effect — Olay Eye Lifting Serum”

Medik8 vs Olay routines for dry skin

Buy Medik8 routine · A$283.59 · 97% fitBuy Olay routine · A$153.30 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Medik8 vs Olay routines for oily skin

Buy Medik8 routine · A$409.86 · 94% fitBuy Olay routine · A$412.86 · 86% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Medik8 vs Olay routines for combination skin

Buy Medik8 routine · A$444.44 · 93% fitBuy Olay routine · A$324.71 · 86% fitSee multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Medik8 or Olay: which is better?

Medik8 is better for gentle formulations and clearer skin improvement, while Olay is better for texture, hydration, and value. Both brands offer effective options containing hyaluronic acid, which helps improve skin quality and signs of aging.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

What is the difference between Medik8 and Olay?

Medik8 is better for gentle formulas and skin clarity, whereas Olay excels in texture, absorption, and hydration. Both brands offer products containing hyaluronic acid to help improve skin quality and signs of aging.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Medik8 or Olay for dry skin?

Medik8 is a better fit for dry skin, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to Olay's High level. The products on this page help deliver deep hydration, and topical hyaluronic acid benefits skin quality and signs of aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Drug Delivery, 2017

Medik8 or Olay: which cleanser is better?

Medik8 is better for deep cleansing and improving clarity, as Surface Radiance Cleanse has a Superior fit for acne-prone skin and skin with dark spots on the products on this page. Olay offers gentler everyday options like Regenerating Cream Cleanser, but lacks top-tier ratings for clarity-focused cleansing.

Which is more affordable, Medik8 or Olay?

Olay is more affordable, as reviewers often mention high price points as a drawback for Medik8 while noting Olay as better for price and value.

Medik8 or Olay: which brand is more gentle on the skin?

Medik8 does better than Olay for gentle formulation, offering products on this page that reviewers often mention as gentle and non-irritating.

Medik8 or Olay: which brand has better packaging according to reviewers?

Olay has better packaging according to reviewers, whereas Medik8 frequently receives negative feedback regarding packaging issues on the products on this page.

Medik8 or Olay: which brand is better for reducing skin dark spots?

Medik8 is better than Olay for reducing skin dark spots because Medik8 has a Superior fit level for skin with dark spots, whereas Olay has a High fit level.

Medik8 or Olay for oily skin?

Both brands offer solid options for oily skin, but Medik8 achieves a superior routine fit on this page. Olay products on this page feature key ingredients like niacinamide, which helps regulate oil production.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Medik8 or Olay: which moisturizer is better?

Both Medik8 and Olay offer strong moisturizer options, with Medik8 featuring deep hydration and gentle formulations while Olay delivers intense moisture and texture improvement. Hyaluronic acid helps both brands provide effective hydration for the face.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Medik8 or Olay for sensitive skin?

Medik8 is better for sensitive skin because the products on this page achieve a gentle formulation, whereas Olay often features strong fragrances and scent issues.

Medik8 or Olay for acne-prone skin?

Both Medik8 and Olay are great choices, as Lovi rates both brands as having a Superior routine fit for acne-prone skin. Medik8 offers gentle serums and effective options like Surface Radiance Cleanse, while Olay provides affordable options and a strong lineup of targeted moisturizers.

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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