🇦🇺Australia

Simple vs Olay

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

Simple and Olay are established skincare lines offering gentle essentials designed for distinct complexions. The British brand founded in 1960 provides moisturizers, makeup removers, cleansers, and toners featuring niacinamide and glycerin to support acne-prone and oily acne-prone skin. Meanwhile, the second option focuses on targeted moisturizers, eye products, serums, and cleansers using the same key ingredients to suit acne-prone and mature skin. These offerings primarily differ through Simple focusing on delicate barrier respect while both brands utilize niacinamide and glycerin to address hydration, hyperpigmentation, and aging.

Simple is a British skincare brand founded in 1960 and owned by Unilever PLC since 2011.

en.wikipedia.orgsec.govprnewswire.comsimple.co.uk

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

Popular Simple vs Olay products

People Say

SimpleOlay
  • Gentle on sensitive skin Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Does not cause any form of irritation on the skin which I love. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “The only cleanser that doesn't turn my face red. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “no artificial perfume — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “fragrance-free — Olay Eye Lifting Serum”
  • Hydration and moisture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “banished dryness within days — Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturiser”
    • “Instantly boosts skin's hydration... face doesn't feel dry and tight. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “Instantly smoother, softer, and more hydrated — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
    • “light and smooth — Olay Ultimate Eye Cream”
  • Lightweight and non-greasy feel Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “sinks in instantly — Simple Water Boost Hydrating Gel Cream”
    • “absorbs very quickly — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “absorbs quickly — Olay Vitamin C Serum”
    • “absorbs instantly — Olay Super Serum Night Repair”
  • Fragrance-free formula Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Love that it has absolutely no scent. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “love that it's alcohol-free — Simple Kind to Skin Soothing Facial Toner”
    • “No strong smell — Simple Refreshing Facial Wash”
    • “no scent — Olay Super Serum Night Repair”
  • Improves skin texture Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin feels baby soft — Olay Retinol24”
    • “Skin feels like silk — Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Moisturizer”
    • “velvety soft skin — Olay Super Serum Night Repair”
  • Affordable price point and value Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “great value for money — Simple Kind to Skin Soothing Facial Toner”
    • “super affordable — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “Can't beat the price for the quality. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “Better than high-end moisturizers — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
  • Caused breakouts and skin reactions Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Gave me tiny bumps on my forehead. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “caused major breakouts — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “caused cystic acne — Olay Retinol24”
    • “Caused breakouts — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
  • Packaging and leaking issues Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Worried about the snap top bottle leaking when travelling. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “The cap broke off immediately. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “hard to get last bit out — Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturiser”
    • “hard to dispense — Olay Super Serum”
  • Residue and film left on skin Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Feels slimy on skin — Simple Refreshing Facial Wash”
    • “Still feeling a little bit of a film on my skin. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “Wake up feeling a bit greasy — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
    • “cakes up all over — Olay Advanced Eye Cream”

Simple vs Olay routines for dry skin

Buy Simple routine · A$208.81 · 84% fitBuy Olay routine · A$153.30 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Simple vs Olay routines for oily skin

Buy Simple routine · A$388.80 · 86% fitBuy Olay routine · A$412.86 · 86% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Simple vs Olay routines for combination skin

Buy Olay routine · A$324.71 · 86% fitBuy Simple routine · A$322.10 · 84% fitSee multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Simple or Olay: which is better?

Simple is better for being gentle on sensitive skin and offering more fragrance-free options at an affordable price point, while Olay does better at improving skin texture and gives superior results for mature and acne-prone skin.

What is the difference between Simple and Olay?

Simple offers more affordable options and is better suited for sensitive skin with entirely fragrance-free products on this page, whereas Olay provides superior routine fits for mature and acne-prone skin alongside advanced anti-aging ingredients like retinol and peptides.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2005

Simple or Olay for dry skin?

Both Simple and Olay offer a High routine fit for dry skin on the products on this page. Reviewers note that both brands provide intense hydration and lightweight feel.

Simple or Olay: which cleanser is better?

Simple does better with sensitive skin, offering gentle cleansers like the Refreshing Facial Wash, while Olay provides a wide selection with options such as the Regenerating Cream Cleanser. Reviewers mention that the products on this page for Simple tend to be more affordable, whereas Olay features various cleansers tailored for different skin types.

Which is more affordable, Simple or Olay?

Simple is more affordable, offering value-friendly moisturizers on the products on this page.

Which brand is better for fragrance-free products, Simple or Olay?

Simple is better for fragrance-free products because every product on the products on this page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, whereas Olay includes fragrance in at least one product.

Simple or Olay for improving skin texture?

Olay does better for improving skin texture than Simple. Key ingredients across Olay's products on this page include niacinamide and peptides, which help improve texture and smoothness.

International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2005

Simple or Olay for oily skin?

For oily skin, both Simple and Olay show a high routine fit on the products on this page. Reviewers note that both brands offer a lightweight and non-greasy feel.

Simple or Olay: which moisturizer is better?

Both Simple and Olay offer great moisturizers, with Olay providing an overall Superior fit level for mature and acne-prone skin while Simple focuses on gentle, value-friendly care. The products on this page for both brands feature key ingredients like niacinamide and glycerin to help hydrate the skin.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Simple or Olay for sensitive skin?

Simple is better for sensitive skin because reviews highlight it as more gentle on sensitive skin than Olay.

Simple or Olay for acne-prone skin?

Olay is superior for acne-prone skin, while Simple has an average fit. Both brands feature niacinamide and glycerin across their products on this page.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Simple or Olay for mature skin?

Olay does better for mature skin on this page, offering superior routine fit compared to Simple. Olay features key anti-aging ingredients like Niacinamide and retinol which help improve skin texture and reduce signs of aging.

Antioxidants, 2021Archives of Dermatology, 2007

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?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play