🇺🇸United States

Cetaphil vs Olay

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

Cetaphil and Olay are American skincare brands known for their thoughtfully formulated cleansers, moisturizers, serums, and sunscreens enriched with nourishing glycerin and niacinamide. Cetaphil suits combination skin best, while Olay suits sensitive skin best, and both suit acne-prone skin. They differ primarily in their ownership history and specific targeted formulations, though each brand relies on barrier-restoring ingredients to care for the skin.

Cetaphil is an American skincare brand founded in 1947 and owned by Galderma Group AG.

en.wikipedia.orgcetaphil.co.uk

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

Popular Cetaphil vs Olay products

People Say

CetaphilOlay
  • Hydration and moisture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “cleared up flaky skin — Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream”
    • “healed my dry patches — Cetaphil Moisturising Cream”
    • “Instantly smoother, softer, and more hydrated — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
    • “light and smooth — Olay Ultimate Eye Cream”
  • Texture and weight Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “sinks in quickly — Olay Super Serum”
    • “absorbs quickly — Olay Vitamin C Serum”
    • “Absorbs so quickly! — Olay Regenerist Regenerating Serum”
    • “absorbs instantly — Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion”
  • Gentle for sensitive skin Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “The only thing my reactive skin tolerates. — Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser”
    • “No breakouts since switching to this. — Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser”
    • “Lifesaver for my very sensitive skin — Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar”
    • “fragrance-free — Olay Eye Lifting Serum”
  • Brightening and complexion Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “iridescent glow — Olay Super Serum”
    • “hides dark shadows — Olay Ultimate Eye Cream”
    • “skin looks brighter — Olay Vitamin C Serum”
    • “skin looks more radiant — Cetaphil Vitamin C Serum”
  • Smoother and softer skin Rarely NotedOften 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”
    • “Skin felt softer after one use — Cetaphil Gentle Exfoliating SA Cleanser”
  • Fragrance-free options Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “no scent — Olay Super Serum Night Repair”
    • “love that it's fragrance-free — Olay Retinol24”
    • “great for sensitive eyes — Olay Ultimate Eye Cream”
    • “truly no smell — Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion”
  • Scents and smells Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Fragrance can be an irritant — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
    • “floral scent — Olay Super Serum”
    • “smells like plastic — Olay Retinol24”
    • “Overpowering masking fragrance — Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar”
  • Packaging concerns Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “hate dipping fingers in — Cetaphil Moisturising Cream”
    • “wish it had a pump — Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream”
    • “Pump stops working — Cetaphil Daily Hydrating Lotion”
    • “hard to dispense — Olay Super Serum”

Cetaphil vs Olay routines for dry skin

Buy Cetaphil routine · $134.48 · 83% fitBuy Olay routine · $154.40 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Cetaphil vs Olay routines for oily skin

Buy Cetaphil routine · $331.64 · 85% fitBuy Olay routine · $296.19 · 84% fitSee multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Cetaphil vs Olay routines for combination skin

Buy Cetaphil routine · $285.23 · 89% fitBuy Olay routine · $286.61 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

Cetaphil or Olay: which is better?

Both brands are equally matched, as the products on this page achieve a High routine fit across all skin types. Olay tends to do better for texture, brightening, and smoother skin, while Cetaphil is generally gentler for sensitive skin.

What is the difference between Cetaphil and Olay?

Cetaphil is generally better for sensitive skin, while Olay tends to do better with texture, weight, brightening, and smoother skin. Both brands offer equal routine fit levels across all skin types.

Cetaphil or Olay for dry skin?

Both Cetaphil and Olay reach a High routine fit level for dry skin on the products on this page. Cetaphil is often noted as gentle and non-stripping, while Olay is frequently praised for intense hydration.

Cetaphil or Olay: which cleanser is better?

Cetaphil and Olay both offer cleansers with high fit levels, but reviewers find Cetaphil better for gentle, non-stripping cleansing on sensitive skin. Cetaphil features products like Gentle Skin Cleanser and Daily Facial Cleanser, while Olay includes options like Regenerating Cream Cleanser.

Which is more affordable, Cetaphil or Olay?

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

Cetaphil or Olay: which brand is better for sensitive skin?

Both Cetaphil and Olay offer a high routine fit for sensitive skin, but reviewers note that Cetaphil does better for being gentle on sensitive skin. The products on this page for both brands feature mostly fragrance-free options, as 26 of 27 products list no fragrance.

Which brand has more fragrance-free options, Cetaphil or Olay?

Olay does better for fragrance-free options compared to Cetaphil, according to reviewer feedback on this page. Both brands offer 26 out of 27 products without fragrance.

Cetaphil or Olay for oily skin?

Both brands offer a High routine fit for oily skin. Reviewers note that Cetaphil provides gentle, non-stripping cleansers while Olay is often praised for its lightweight feel.

Cetaphil or Olay: which moisturizer is better?

Both Cetaphil and Olay offer moisturizers with a High routine fit for dry, oily, and sensitive skin types. Reviewers note that Cetaphil provides hydrating, non-greasy moisturizers, while Olay is often praised for intense hydration, lightweight feel, and improved texture.

Cetaphil or Olay for sensitive skin?

Both brands are a High fit for sensitive skin, but Cetaphil is often preferred for being gentler. Reviewers frequently mention Cetaphil for gentle, non-stripping cleansers.

Cetaphil or Olay: which sunscreen is better?

Both Cetaphil and Olay offer sunscreens on this page, and their fit levels vary by skin type. For instance, Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 achieves a Superior fit for dry skin, dry sensitive skin, combination skin, and sensitive skin.

Cetaphil or Olay for acne-prone skin?

Both brands fit acne-prone skin well with an equal High routine fit level. Reviewers report that Cetaphil provides gentle, non-stripping cleansers while Olay offers improved texture and smoothness.

Cetaphil or Olay for mature skin?

Both brands offer High routine fit for mature skin. Reviewers find that Cetaphil does better for gentle care on sensitive skin, while Olay does better for texture and weight, brightening and complexion, and smoother and softer skin.

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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