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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 distinct skincare lines, with the British brand founded in 2009 offering hyaluronic acid-based serums, moisturizers, eye products, and toners, while the other is warmly loved for thoughtfully formulated moisturizers, eye products, serums, cleansers, and more enriched with nourishing niacinamide and glycerin. Medik8 products fit dry skin and dry sensitive skin best, whereas the latter suits sensitive skin and acne-prone skin best. They differ primarily in their core ingredient profiles and specific formulations, as both brands provide targeted solutions for concerns such as acne, dark spots, and aging.

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 · $235.67 · 96% fitBuy Olay routine · $154.40 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Medik8 vs Olay routines for oily skin

Buy Medik8 routine · $418.54 · 90% fitBuy Olay routine · $296.19 · 84% fitSee multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Medik8 vs Olay routines for combination skin

Buy Medik8 routine · $419.65 · 93% fitBuy Olay routine · $286.61 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

Medik8 or Olay: which is better?

Both brands perform well, but Medik8 offers gentler formulations and better skin improvement, while Olay delivers stronger results for texture, absorption, and price value. Olay features a wider variety of key ingredients across the products on this page like niacinamide, which helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation and melanosome transfer.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

What is the difference between Medik8 and Olay?

Medik8 delivers a gentler formulation, whereas Olay tends to be better for texture, absorption, and hydration at a lower price. Both brands provide key ingredients like hyaluronic acid to help improve skin quality and combat aging.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Medik8 or Olay for dry skin?

Medik8 is the better choice for dry skin because Lovi rates its routine as superior compared to Olay's high rating. Topical hyaluronic acid, found across the products on this page, helps improve skin hydration and signs of aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Drug Delivery, 2017

Medik8 or Olay: which cleanser is better?

Medik8 stands out as the better brand for cleansers on this page, as its Surface Radiance Cleanse achieves a Superior Lovi fit level for acne-prone skin, oily acne-prone skin, and skin with dark spots.

Which is more affordable, Medik8 or Olay?

Olay is more affordable than Medik8, since reviewers often mention Medik8's high price point and note Olay as doing better for price and value.

Between Medik8 and Olay, which brand has better fragrance-free options?

Medik8 provides better fragrance-free options because almost all the products on this page list no fragrance, whereas Olay has a wider selection but includes a fragranced toner.

How do the founding years and corporate owners of Medik8 and Olay compare?

Medik8 was founded in 2009 in the United Kingdom and has been owned by L'Oréal Groupe since 2025, whereas Olay was founded in 1952 and has been owned by The Procter & Gamble Company since 1985.

Which brand performs better for texture and absorption, Medik8 or Olay?

Olay performs better for texture and absorption compared to Medik8.

Medik8 or Olay for oily skin?

Medik8 is a superior fit for oily skin on Lovi compared to Olay. The products on this page help improve skin texture and provide a gentle formulation.

Medik8 or Olay: which moisturizer is better?

Both Medik8 and Olay offer strong options for moisturizers, with Olay standing out for intense hydration and a lower price point while Medik8 focuses on gentle formulations. For dry skin, the products on this page show that Olay has a high routine fit while Medik8 reaches a superior routine fit.

Medik8 or Olay for sensitive skin?

Medik8 is a better fit for sensitive skin, offering a Superior routine fit compared to Olay's High fit on this page.

Medik8 or Olay for acne-prone skin?

Medik8 is the better choice for acne-prone skin, as the products on this page achieve a superior routine fit compared to Olay. Reviewers also note that Medik8 delivers better skin improvement and clarity.

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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