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Olay vs Aēsop

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

Olay and Aēsop are two thoughtfully formulated skincare brands known for moisturizers, cleansers, and serums that feature nourishing ingredients like niacinamide, glycerin, and botanical extracts. Olay suits sensitive and acne-prone skin best with niacinamide and glycerin to improve wrinkles, pigmentation, hydration, and barrier function, while Aēsop suits balanced, combination, and sensitive skin best through gentle yet effective compositions that support overall skin health and resilience. The two differ primarily in their ingredient focus and sensory experience, offering distinct paths to targeted concerns such as dark spots, mature skin, and breakouts.

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

Popular Olay vs Aēsop products

People Say

OlayAēsop
  • Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “woke up with baby-soft skin — Aēsop Damascan Rose Facial Treatment”
    • “Savior of my winter-fueled dry skin. — Aēsop B Triple C Facial Balancing Gel”
    • “delivers deep hydration that really fills your skin — Aēsop Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Intense Serum”
    • “Instantly smoother, softer, and more hydrated — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
  • Absorption and Lightweight Feel Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “sinks in quickly — Olay Super Serum”
    • “light and smooth — Olay Ultimate Eye Cream”
    • “absorbs quickly — Olay Vitamin C Serum”
    • “absorbs incredibly fast — Aēsop Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Intense Serum”
  • Skin Texture and Smoothing Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “skin feels baby soft — Olay Retinol24”
    • “Skin feels like silk — Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Moisturizer”
    • “hydrates the skin — Olay Advanced Eye Cream”
  • Citrus and Pleasant Scent Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “smells divine — Aēsop Damascan Rose Facial Treatment”
    • “Soft herbal scent that feels fresh and floral. — Aēsop Parsley Seed Facial Cleanser”
    • “smells amazing — Olay Vitamin C Serum”
  • Brightening and Even Skin Tone Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “hides dark shadows — Olay Ultimate Eye Cream”
    • “skin looks brighter — Olay Vitamin C Serum”
    • “skin looks brighter — Olay Retinol24”
    • “Skin appears to be brighter, more radiant. — Aēsop B Triple C Facial Balancing Gel”
  • Skin Rescue and Soothing Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “saved my skin — Aēsop Damascan Rose Facial Treatment”
    • “Reduces inflammation overnight. — Aēsop B Triple C Facial Balancing Gel”
    • “my small blemishes noticeably diminished — Aēsop Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Intense Serum”
  • Price Point and Value Concerns Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “expensive for drugstore — Olay Super Serum”
    • “expensive — Olay Super Serum Night Repair”
    • “small quantity (0.5 oz) — Olay Eye Lifting Serum”
    • “quantity is too small — Aēsop Damascan Rose Facial Treatment”
  • Packaging and Bottle Design Flaws Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “hard to dispense — Olay Super Serum”
    • “dropper is frustrating — Olay Super Serum Night Repair”
    • “The downside is the pump. — Aēsop Parsley Seed Facial Cleanser”
    • “pipette means potential contamination — Aēsop Damascan Rose Facial Treatment”
  • Sticky and Difficult Texture Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “Thick, almost honey-like, and needs a moment to melt in. — Aēsop B Triple C Facial Balancing Gel”
  • Fragrance and Scent Issues Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Fragrance can be an irritant — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
    • “floral scent — Olay Super Serum”
    • “smells like carrots — Aēsop Damascan Rose Facial Treatment”
    • “Nasty smell... would not buy again. — Aēsop Parsley Seed Facial Cleanser”

Questions and answers

Olay or Aēsop: which is better?

Olay is better for skin texture and smoothing as well as brightening and even skin tone, while Aēsop is better for hydration and moisture. The products on this page help improve texture and provide deep hydration, and niacinamide helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

What is the difference between Olay and Aēsop?

Olay stands out on this page for offering more affordable options with strong brightening and smoothing benefits, while Aēsop focuses on luxurious, balancing hydration with refreshing scents. Reviewers note that Olay products on this page excel at absorption and lightweight feel, whereas Aēsop delivers deeper moisture and non-greasy textures.

Olay or Aēsop: which cleanser is better?

Olay is better for cleansers on this page, offering options like the Regenerating Cream Cleanser that helps clean while fitting a range of skin types well, whereas Aēsop has a more limited cleanser selection with lower fit levels for dry skin.

Which is more affordable, Olay or Aēsop?

Olay is more affordable, as Aēsop is associated with high price concerns among reviewers of the products on this page.

Which causes fewer breakouts, Olay or Aēsop?

Olay fits acne-prone skin best and helps improve skin texture across the products on this page, whereas Aēsop has limited options for blemishes.

Between Olay and Aēsop, which brand offers more options specifically formulated with no fragrance?

Olay offers more fragrance-free options than Aēsop among the products on this page, as 26 of its 27 products list no fragrance compared to all 4 Aēsop products.

How do the founding years and corporate ownership of Olay and Aēsop compare?

Olay was founded in 1952 and has been owned by The Procter & Gamble Company since 1985, whereas Aēsop was founded in 1987 and is owned by L'Oréal Groupe.

Which brand performs better for hydration and moisture according to review themes?

Aesop performs better for hydration and moisture according to the review themes on this page.

Olay or Aēsop: which moisturizer is better?

Olay is better for intense hydration and a lightweight feel, featuring popular options like Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream, while Aēsop excels with non-greasy, balancing moisturizers such as B Triple C Facial Balancing Gel.

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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