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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 and Olay are skincare brands offering serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and more. The Ordinary is built around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane, suiting dry and dry sensitive skin best, while Olay thoughtfully pairs niacinamide and glycerin to suit acne-prone and mature skin best. Both brands differ in their specific ingredient concentrations and targeted formulations to address distinct skincare needs.

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

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

The Ordinary vs Olay routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 97% fit

The Ordinary vs Olay routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Olay: which is better?

Both brands are great choices, but The Ordinary fits best for those prioritizing value and blemish clearing, while Olay excels in intense hydration and texture. Lovi rates both brands as having Superior routines for sensitive, acne-prone, and mature skin.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Olay?

The Ordinary focuses heavily on affordable, targeted serums for blemish clearing and value, whereas Olay excels in texture, absorption, and hydration with its range of creams. Lovi rates The Ordinary as having a superior routine fit for dry skin, while both brands offer superior routines for sensitive and acne-prone skin.

The Ordinary or Olay for dry skin?

The Ordinary is a better fit for dry skin, where the routine fit for the products on this page is rated Superior compared to Olay's High level. Hyaluronic acid helps provide hydration and anti-aging effects for dry skin.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Olay: which cleanser is better?

The products on this page for The Ordinary include gentle options like the Glycolipid Cream Cleanser, which has a High fit for dry sensitive skin, while Olay features options like the Regenerating Cream Cleanser that are well-suited for acne-prone skin.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Olay?

The Ordinary offers better value and price, with affordable and great value serums among its praised benefits.

Which brand performs better for brightening and fading dark spots, The Ordinary or Olay?

Olay performs better for brightening and fading dark spots based on reviewer feedback, and the products on this page help improve pigmentation through ingredients like niacinamide.

Antioxidants, 2021The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

Do The Ordinary products contain fragrance, and how does that compare to Olay?

Every product by The Ordinary on this page lists no fragrance in its ingredients. In comparison, Olay also offers largely fragrance-free options, though 1 of its 27 products on this page lists fragrance.

Which brand offers better texture and absorption according to reviewer themes?

Olay offers better texture and absorption according to the reviewer themes on this page.

The Ordinary or Olay for oily skin?

The Ordinary fits oily skin better than Olay, as Lovi rates the routine fit for The Ordinary as Superior compared to High for Olay.

The Ordinary or Olay: which moisturizer is better?

Both The Ordinary and Olay offer a range of moisturizers that provide intense hydration. Reviewers note that Olay delivers better hydration and texture results, while The Ordinary products on this page are typically more affordable and great value.

The Ordinary or Olay for sensitive skin?

Both The Ordinary and Olay offer a Superior fit for sensitive skin on the products on this page. Topical hyaluronic acid helps improve skin quality and signs of aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Olay for acne-prone skin?

Both The Ordinary and Olay fit acne-prone skin well, with Lovi rating each brand's routine as Superior. The Ordinary focuses on affordable acne-clearing serums, while Olay offers options like Regenerist Regenerating Serum that help improve skin 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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