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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 and owned by L'Oreal Groupe since 2025, and the other warmly loved for gentle care. Medik8 offers serums, moisturizers, eye products, toners, and more, built around hyaluronic acid, while Olay thoughtfully pairs niacinamide and glycerin in its targeted moisturizers, eye products, serums, cleansers, and more. Both suit different complex needs, as the former fits dry skin and sensitive skin best, and the latter suits acne-prone skin and mature skin best. They differ primarily in their standout formulations and key ingredients, where hyaluronic acid lengthens the toxin wrinkle effect duration, and niacinamide and glycerin improve wrinkles, pigmentation, skin aging, hydration, and barrier function.

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

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Medik8 vs Olay routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Medik8 vs Olay routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Medik8 or Olay: which is better?

Medik8 is generally better for sensitive skin due to its gentle formulation, whereas Olay tends to offer better pricing and hydration for the products on this page.

What is the difference between Medik8 and Olay?

Medik8 is a better fit for dry and sensitive skin on Lovi, while Olay is a more affordable option that helps with intense hydration and texture. Both brands use ingredients like hyaluronic acid to help improve skin quality.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Medik8 or Olay for dry skin?

Medik8 is the better choice for dry skin, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to Olay's High fit on this page. The products on this page help deliver deep hydration and plumping benefits, which is ideal for dry skin.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Drug Delivery, 2017

Medik8 or Olay: which cleanser is better?

Medik8 stands out for its cleanser on this page, achieving a Lovi fit level of Superior for acne-prone skin, oily acne-prone skin, and skin with dark spots. Reviewers also indicate that the products on this page for Medik8 offer a more gentle formulation compared to Olay.

Which is more affordable, Medik8 or Olay?

Olay is more affordable, as reviewers often mention Medik8 has a high price point while noting Olay as better for price and value.

Which brand has more fragrance-free products, Medik8 or Olay?

Medik8 has more fragrance-free products on this page than Olay. Specifically, 11 of the 12 Medik8 products on this page list no fragrance, whereas 26 of the 27 Olay products on this page do so.

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 according to reviewers?

Olay performs better for texture and absorption according to reviewers on this page.

Medik8 or Olay for oily skin?

Both Medik8 and Olay are a High fit for oily skin. The products on this page help improve skin texture and moisture without feeling heavy.

Medik8 or Olay: which moisturizer is better?

Medik8 delivers a Superior routine fit for dry skin with products like Hydr8 B5 Intense, whereas Olay provides a High fit for dry skin while typically offering better price and value. Hyaluronic acid helps provide deep hydration across the moisturizers on this page.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Medik8 or Olay for sensitive skin?

For sensitive skin, Medik8 is a Superior fit because the products on this page are mostly gentle and non-irritating serums.

Medik8 or Olay for acne-prone skin?

Both brands are a good choice for acne-prone skin, with Olay achieving a High routine fit and Medik8 achieving a High routine fit on this page.

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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