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The Ordinary vs Olay

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

The Ordinary is a Canadian skincare brand founded in 2016 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 2021.

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

Popular The Ordinary vs Olay products

People Say

The OrdinaryOlay
  • 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”
    • “skin feels baby butt smooth — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
  • Hydration and Moisture Sometimes NotedMostly 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”
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Value and Price Mostly MentionedRarely Noted
    • “lasts forever — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “can't beat the price — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
    • “extremely affordable — The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
    • “Better than high-end moisturizers — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
  • Brightening and Dark Spots Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “iridescent glow — Olay Super Serum”
    • “hides dark shadows — Olay Ultimate Eye Cream”
    • “skin looks brighter — Olay Vitamin C Serum”
    • “scars lightened up quite a bit — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
  • Acne and Blemish Clearing Often MentionedNot noted
    • “pimples disappear within a day — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
    • “scars and hormonal acne faded — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “faded dark spots — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
  • Pilling and Sticky Finish Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “cakes up all over — Olay Advanced Eye Cream”
    • “pills under makeup — Olay Ultimate Eye Cream”
    • “feels sticky — Olay Vitamin C Serum”
    • “crumbles and piles under moisturizer — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
  • Skin Irritation and Sensitivity Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “breakouts — Olay Super Serum”
    • “burned my skin — Olay Retinol24”
    • “burning sensation — Olay Ultimate Eye Cream”
    • “irritated AF the next day — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”

The Ordinary vs Olay routines for dry skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · $109.78 · 97% fitBuy Olay routine · $154.40 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

The Ordinary vs Olay routines for oily skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · $207.87 · 93% fitBuy Olay routine · $296.19 · 84% fitSee multi-brand routine · 98% fit

The Ordinary vs Olay routines for combination skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · $219.97 · 93% fitBuy Olay routine · $286.61 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Olay: which is better?

The Ordinary is generally better for value and acne-clearing serums, while Olay performs better for texture, absorption, hydration, and brightening.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Olay?

The Ordinary provides better value and acne-clearing serums, whereas Olay does better with texture, hydration, and brightening. The products on this page for The Ordinary list no fragrance at all, while Olay includes fragrance in the Oil Minimizing Clean Toner. Lovi routine fit is Superior for The Ordinary across most skin types, compared to High for Olay.

The Ordinary or Olay for dry skin?

For dry skin, The Ordinary has a Superior routine fit, while Olay has a High fit. Hyaluronic acid helps improve hydration and signs of aging in dry skin.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Olay: which cleanser is better?

The Ordinary offers a wider range of cleansers with high fits for dry and sensitive skin compared to Olay, whose cleansers are more frequently noted with cautious or low fit levels across multiple skin types.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Olay?

The Ordinary is more affordable, as reviewers often mention its serums for providing great value at accessible prices.

Which brand performs better for brightening and fading dark spots?

Olay performs better for brightening and dark spots according to the reviewer themes on the page. Both brands feature ingredients like niacinamide and vitamin C that help reduce pigmentation and improve skin radiance.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Do products from The Ordinary contain fragrance?

Every product from The Ordinary on this page lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

How do the routines for mature skin compare between The Ordinary and Olay?

When it comes to routines for mature skin, Lovi rates both The Ordinary and Olay as Superior.

The Ordinary or Olay for oily skin?

Lovi rates The Ordinary as Superior and Olay as High for oily skin. The Ordinary offers affordable and great value acne-clearing serums that reviewers often praise.

The Ordinary or Olay: which moisturizer is better?

When it comes to moisturizers, Olay tends to offer more intense hydration and better overall texture, while The Ordinary is generally more affordable and great for value. For dry skin, the routine fit for the products on this page is Superior for The Ordinary and High for Olay.

The Ordinary or Olay for sensitive skin?

The Ordinary fits sensitive skin with a Superior routine level, while Olay fits it with a High routine level. Hyaluronic acid helps improve skin quality and signs of aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Olay for acne-prone skin?

Both brands are great for acne-prone skin, but The Ordinary does better for acne and blemish clearing. The Ordinary achieves a Superior routine fit for acne-prone 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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