🇪🇸Spain

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 accessible skincare brands built around gentle formulations of niacinamide and glycerin. Simple offers soothing moisturizers, makeup removers, cleansers, and toners that suit oily and acne-prone skin best, while Olay provides rich moisturizers, eye products, serums, and cleansers that suit sensitive and mature skin best. Both brands differ in their focus and exact product lineups, yet they share a commitment to hydrating and barrier-supporting care.

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

See multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Simple vs Olay routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Simple vs Olay routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Simple or Olay: which is better?

Simple tends to be better for sensitive skin because every product on this page lists no fragrance, while Olay offers a superior routine fit for sensitive skin and mature skin. Both brands offer equal routine fit levels for dry, oily, combination, acne-prone, dark spots, dry sensitive, and oily acne-prone skin.

What is the difference between Simple and Olay?

Simple offers budget-friendly, fragrance-free products on this page that are particularly gentle on sensitive skin, whereas Olay tends to be more effective for improving skin texture and addressing mature skin. Both brands provide good hydration, but Simple is generally more affordable.

Simple or Olay for dry skin?

Both Simple and Olay offer an equal high routine fit for dry skin among the products on this page. Topical hyaluronic acid helps provide hydration and moisture for aging and dry skin.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Simple or Olay: which cleanser is better?

Both brands offer cleansers on this page, but Simple is generally gentler on sensitive skin. Reviewers often mention Simple for its gentle, sensitive-skin-friendly makeup removers.

Which is more affordable, Simple or Olay?

Simple is more affordable, as it is known for its value-friendly moisturizers and budget pricing across the products on this page.

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

Simple has more fragrance-free products, as every product on the Simple page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, whereas Olay has one product with fragrance.

Simple or Olay for oily skin?

Both Simple and Olay offer a High routine fit for oily skin based on the products on this page. Niacinamide helps control skin aging and pigmentation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Simple or Olay: which moisturizer is better?

Olay offers moisturizers that may fit mature and sensitive skin better, as Lovi rates Olay as Superior for those skin types compared to Simple's Average fit. Both brands provide lightweight and hydrating options across the products on this page, but Olay is more frequently mentioned by reviewers for improving skin texture.

Simple or Olay for sensitive skin?

Simple is gentler on sensitive skin, whereas Olay has a Superior routine fit for sensitive skin. Niacinamide helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation and suppresses melanosome transfer.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Simple or Olay for acne-prone skin?

Both brands offer solid options for acne-prone skin, with Lovi giving Simple a High fit level and Olay a High fit level. Reviewers note that Simple provides gentle, sensitive-skin-friendly makeup removers, while Olay is recognized for improving texture and smoothness.

Simple or Olay for mature skin?

Olay is superior for mature skin, while Simple provides an average fit for the products on this page. Olay helps improve skin texture and offers targeted treatments like the Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream.

Simple or Olay for skin with dark spots?

Both Simple and Olay offer products on this page that are a High fit for skin with dark spots. Niacinamide, which is found across the products of both brands, may help reduce cutaneous pigmentation.

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?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play