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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 two trusted skincare collections known for thoughtful formulations centered on niacinamide and glycerin. The British brand, founded in 1960 and owned by Unilever PLC since 2011, offers gentle moisturizers, makeup removers, cleansers, and toners that suit acne-prone and oily skin best. Meanwhile, the second line is warmly loved for its nourishing moisturizers, eye products, serums, cleansers, and more, which suit sensitive and acne-prone skin best. While both brands harness key ingredients to improve hydration, barrier function, and pigmentation, they differ in their specific product ranges and targeted skin types.

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 · $128.28 · 83% fitBuy Olay routine · $154.40 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Simple vs Olay routines for oily skin

Buy Simple routine · $280.29 · 88% fitBuy Olay routine · $296.19 · 84% fitSee multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Simple vs Olay routines for combination skin

Buy Simple routine · $259.77 · 87% fitBuy Olay routine · $286.61 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

Simple or Olay: which is better?

Simple stands out for being gentler on sensitive skin and offering more affordable, fragrance-free options, while Olay does better at improving skin texture across the products on this page. Both brands achieve equal routine fit levels across all skin types.

What is the difference between Simple and Olay?

Simple offers budget-friendly products that are entirely fragrance-free and excel at being gentle on sensitive skin, whereas Olay provides specialized options that often improve skin texture and use a broader range of key ingredients like peptides and retinol.

Simple or Olay for dry skin?

Both Simple and Olay offer a High routine fit for dry skin. Simple features lightweight, value-friendly moisturizers with no fragrance across the products on this page, while Olay provides intense hydration and helps improve skin texture.

Simple or Olay: which cleanser is better?

When comparing cleansers, Simple is often considered better for gentle care on sensitive skin, whereas Olay tends to do better with improving skin texture through its wider range of active ingredients. Both brands offer products on this page that are generally formulated without added fragrance, though reviewers note that Simple is especially reliable for avoiding irritations.

Which is more affordable, Simple or Olay?

Simple offers a more affordable price point and better value compared to Olay. Reviewers frequently mention Simple for its lightweight and value-friendly moisturizers.

Which brand has better fragrance-free formulas, Simple or Olay?

Simple has better fragrance-free formulas, as every product on this page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, whereas Olay includes fragrance in one of its products on this page.

Does Simple or Olay do a better job at improving skin texture?

Olay does a better job at improving skin texture compared to Simple. Its products on this page often feature key ingredients like retinol and peptides that help smooth photoaged skin.

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

Which brand has a better routine fit for mature skin, Simple or Olay?

Simple and Olay offer an equal routine fit level of High for mature skin on the products on this page. Reviewers note that Olay does better at improving skin texture.

Simple or Olay for oily skin?

Both Simple and Olay show a High routine fit for oily skin based on the products on this page. Reviewers note that Simple offers lightweight and value-friendly moisturizers, while Olay provides options with a lightweight feel.

Simple or Olay: which moisturizer is better?

Simple and Olay both offer effective moisturizers with equal routine fit levels across various skin types on the products on this page. Reviewers report that Simple is lightweight and value-friendly, while Olay helps improve texture and smoothness.

Simple or Olay for sensitive skin?

Simple does better for sensitive skin on this page, as every product on the page lists no fragrance and reviewers note it is gentle on sensitive skin. Lovi rates the fit levels for sensitive skin as High across the products on this page for both brands.

Simple or Olay for acne-prone skin?

Both Simple and Olay offer a High routine fit for acne-prone skin on the products on this page. Reviewers note that Simple provides gentle, sensitive-skin-friendly makeup removers, while Olay is often mentioned for improving skin texture and smoothness.

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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