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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 · 98% fit

Medik8 vs Olay routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 97% 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 better for dry skin and dry sensitive skin because the products on this page achieve a Superior routine fit for those types. Olay is better for mature skin with its Superior routine fit, while both brands offer equal fit levels for sensitive and acne-prone skin types.

What is the difference between Medik8 and Olay?

Medik8 provides superior routine fit for dry and dry sensitive skin types, whereas Olay provides superior fit for mature skin. Medik8 offers gentler formulations, while Olay delivers better hydration, moisture, texture, and absorption at a more affordable price point.

Medik8 or Olay for dry skin?

Medik8 is a better fit for dry skin, where Lovi rates its routine as Superior compared to Olay's High fit level. The products on this page help provide deep hydration and plumping while maintaining gentle, non-irritating formulations.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Medik8 or Olay: which cleanser is better?

Medik8 provides better cleansers for acne-prone skin, skin with dark spots, and oily acne-prone skin, where the products on this page achieve a Superior fit level. Olay cleansers also help improve skin texture and offer intense hydration.

Which is more affordable, Medik8 or Olay?

Olay is more affordable than Medik8, as high price points are frequently noted for Medik8 products while Olay is recognized for better price and value.

Between Medik8 and Olay, which brand is better suited for mature skin?

Olay is better suited for mature skin, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to Medik8's High fit on the products on this page. Topical palmitoyl pentapeptide helps improve photoaged human facial skin.

International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2005

How do Medik8 and Olay compare regarding fragrance in their products?

Medik8 features no fragrance in 11 of the 12 products on this page, while Olay leaves fragrance out of 26 of its 27 products. Both brands predominantly offer fragrance-free options across the products on this page.

Which brand performs better for hydration and moisture according to reviewers?

Olay performs better for hydration and moisture according to reviewers. The products on this page help deliver intense hydration and smooth texture.

Medik8 or Olay for oily skin?

Medik8 and Olay both have a High routine fit for oily skin. The products on this page help improve skin texture and hydration.

Medik8 or Olay: which moisturizer is better?

Medik8 is better for dry and dry sensitive skin with a Superior routine fit, while Olay is better for mature skin with a Superior routine fit. Both brands offer products that help provide deep hydration and improve skin texture.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Drug Delivery, 2017

Medik8 or Olay for sensitive skin?

Medik8 and Olay both achieve a Superior Lovi fit level for sensitive skin. Medik8 provides gentle and non-irritating serums on this page, while Olay offers intense hydration.

Medik8 or Olay for acne-prone skin?

Both brands are a strong choice for acne-prone skin, with Lovi rating Medik8 as Superior and Olay as Superior. Medik8 helps deliver gentle, non-irritating serums that improve skin clarity, while Olay helps provide intense hydration and improved texture.

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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