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Neutrogena vs Olay

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

Neutrogena and Olay are two renowned skincare brands that offer nourishing moisturizers, gentle cleansers, and targeted treatments for various skincare needs. Neutrogena is thoughtfully loved for its protective sunscreens and refreshing toners formulated with glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and dimethicone, while the other is celebrated for its restorative serums and eye products enriched with niacinamide and glycerin. Both suit sensitive skin and acne-prone skin best, as their gentle formulations respect delicate cutaneous barriers. They differ primarily in their active ingredients and standout offerings, such as the former's Daily Facial Moisturizer and the latter's Regenerist Luminous Tone Perfecting Cream.

Neutrogena is an American skincare brand founded in 1930 and owned by Kimberly-Clark Corporation since 2026.

investor.kimberly-clark.comen.wikipedia.orginvestors.kenvue.com

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

Popular Neutrogena vs Olay products

People Say

NeutrogenaOlay
  • Hydration and Moisture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Skin looked plumper and radiant — Neutrogena HYDRO BOOST WATER CREAM”
    • “It also hydrates my skin. This cream has been so easy to add to my routine. — Neutrogena Retinol Regenerating Cream”
    • “Instantly smoother, softer, and more hydrated — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
    • “light and smooth — Olay Ultimate Eye Cream”
  • Lightweight and Fast-Absorbing Texture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “sinks in quickly — Olay Super Serum”
    • “absorbs quickly — Olay Vitamin C Serum”
    • “Absorbs so quickly! — Olay Regenerist Regenerating Serum”
    • “Absorbs instantly without sticky residue — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel”
  • Fragrance-Free and Gentle Formulas Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “leaves skin soft and balanced — Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser”
    • “love that it has no scent — Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser”
    • “doesn't strip my skin — Olay Regenerating Cream Cleanser”
    • “No irritation at all — Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Moisturizer”
  • Anti-Aging and Skin Texture Sometimes 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”
    • “Skin is looking smoother — Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream”
  • Radiance, Brightening, and Tone Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “iridescent glow — Olay Super Serum”
    • “hides dark shadows — Olay Ultimate Eye Cream”
    • “skin looks brighter — Olay Vitamin C Serum”
    • “Gave me a glass-skin glow — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Hydrogel Mask”
  • Makeup Compatibility and Base Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Foundation glides right over it — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel”
    • “Concealer doesn't cake or get stuck in crevices — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Eye Gel-Cream”
    • “absorbs instantly — Olay Eye Lifting Serum”
    • “acts as primer — Olay Super Serum”
  • Packaging and Value Concerns Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Jar is too small for the price — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel”
    • “Runs out quickly — Neutrogena HYDRO BOOST WATER CREAM”
    • “hard to dispense — Olay Super Serum”
    • “expensive — Olay Super Serum Night Repair”
  • Ineffective or Slow Results Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Eye holes are too small — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Hydrogel Mask”
    • “Not moisturizing enough for winter months — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel”
    • “no visible difference — Olay Ultimate Eye Cream”
    • “no difference — Olay Vitamin C Serum”
  • Texture Flaws and Pilling Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “leaves greasy film — Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover”
    • “leaves a purple/blue tint — Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen”
    • “Wake up feeling a bit greasy — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
    • “cakes up all over — Olay Advanced Eye Cream”

Neutrogena vs Olay routines for dry skin

Buy Olay routine · $154.40 · 83% fitBuy Neutrogena routine · $121.45 · 75% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Neutrogena vs Olay routines for oily skin

Buy Olay routine · $296.19 · 84% fitBuy Neutrogena routine · $263.48 · 74% fitSee multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Neutrogena vs Olay routines for combination skin

Buy Olay routine · $286.61 · 83% fitBuy Neutrogena routine · $243.38 · 77% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

Neutrogena or Olay: which is better?

Olay is better on this page for oily skin and dry sensitive skin, offering a High Lovi fit compared to Neutrogena's Average fit. For other skin types, both brands achieve equal fit levels.

What is the difference between Neutrogena and Olay?

Olay achieves a High routine fit for oily skin and dry sensitive skin, whereas Neutrogena reaches an Average fit for both types. For all other skin types, both brands offer an equal level of routine fit.

Neutrogena or Olay for dry skin?

Both Neutrogena and Olay reach a High Lovi fit level for dry skin. Reviewers state that the products on this page for both brands offer intense hydration.

Neutrogena or Olay: which cleanser is better?

Neutrogena has a cleanser, the Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser, with a Superior fit level for mature, acne-prone, sensitive, and combination skin, while Olay products on this page have a lower fit for cleansers overall.

Which is more affordable, Neutrogena or Olay?

The provided page facts do not mention the prices of Neutrogena or Olay products, so affordability cannot be compared here.

Which brand performs better for anti-aging and skin texture, Neutrogena or Olay?

Olay performs better for anti-aging and skin texture. Retinol helps stimulate collagen accumulation in naturally aged human skin.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000Archives of Dermatology, 2007

Neutrogena or Olay for oily skin?

Olay achieves a High routine fit for oily skin, whereas Neutrogena reaches an Average fit on this page.

Neutrogena or Olay: which moisturizer is better?

Olay is better for anti-aging and skin texture moisturizers among the products on this page. Lovi rates Olay High and Neutrogena High for dry and combination skin routines.

Neutrogena or Olay for sensitive skin?

Both Neutrogena and Olay achieve a High fit for sensitive skin on this page. Reviewers note that both brands offer fragrance-free and gentle formulas, while key ingredients like hyaluronic acid help hydrate the skin.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Neutrogena or Olay: which sunscreen is better?

Olay offers a High fit level for mature skin with its Regenerist Whip Face Moisturizer SPF 25, whereas Neutrogena provides a Superior fit level for combination, sensitive, and oily skin types across several sunscreen products on this page.

Neutrogena or Olay for acne-prone skin?

Neutrogena and Olay both achieve a High fit for acne-prone skin on this page, and reviewers for both brands highlight lightweight feels. Olay additionally features improved texture and smoothness, while Neutrogena is noted for acne-safe and gentle moisturizers.

Neutrogena or Olay for dry sensitive skin?

Olay has a High fit level for dry sensitive skin, whereas the products on this page for Neutrogena have an Average fit level.

Neutrogena or Olay for skin with dark spots?

Olay achieves High to Superior fit levels across more dark spot products on this page than Neutrogena, making Olay a better choice for skin with dark spots. Both brands feature niacinamide and vitamin C, which help reduce pigmentation and brighten skin tone.

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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