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Clinique vs Olay

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

Clinique and Olay are established skincare brands known for their thoughtful selections of moisturizers, serums, eye products, and more. The former incorporates hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and caffeine to best suit dry, sensitive skin and oily skin, while the latter utilizes niacinamide and glycerin to primarily address mature skin and acne-prone skin. Both brands offer targeted solutions for specific concerns, yet they differ in their foundational ingredients and primary skin type compatibilities.

Clinique is an American skincare brand founded in 1968 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc..

en.wikipedia.orgelcompanies.combusinesswire.comglossy.co

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

Popular Clinique vs Olay products

People Say

CliniqueOlay
  • Lightweight and Fast Absorbing Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “sinks in quickly — Olay Super Serum”
    • “absorbs quickly — Olay Vitamin C Serum”
    • “absorbs instantly — Olay Super Serum Night Repair”
    • “sinks in immediately — Clinique moisture surge”
  • Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Keeps my dry patches at bay all day — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+”
    • “skin feels soft and smooth — Clinique Moisture Surge Overnight Mask”
    • “Instantly smoother, softer, and more hydrated — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
    • “light and smooth — Olay Ultimate Eye Cream”
  • Smoothing and Texture Improvement Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin feels baby soft — Olay Retinol24”
    • “Skin feels like silk — Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Moisturizer”
    • “hydrates the skin — Olay Advanced Eye Cream”
    • “skin feels silky smooth — Clinique Smart Clinical Repair Wrinkle Correcting Serum”
  • Gentle and Non-Irritating Formula Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “never irritated my eyes — Clinique All About Eyes”
    • “No stinging eyes — Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm”
    • “cools the heat in my cheeks — Clinique Redness Solutions Daily Relief Cream”
    • “doesn't strip my skin — Olay Regenerating Cream Cleanser”
  • Makeup Compatibility and Base Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Melts waterproof mascara — Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm”
    • “foundation glides on — Clinique moisture surge”
    • “holds concealer in place — Clinique All About Eyes”
    • “absorbs instantly — Olay Eye Lifting Serum”
  • Brightening and Radiance Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “iridescent glow — Olay Super Serum”
    • “hides dark shadows — Olay Ultimate Eye Cream”
    • “skin looks brighter — Olay Vitamin C Serum”
    • “wake up glowing — Clinique Moisture Surge Overnight Mask”
  • Price and Value Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “expensive for drugstore — Olay Super Serum”
    • “expensive — Olay Super Serum Night Repair”
    • “jar is too small for the cost — Clinique moisture surge”
  • Insufficient Hydration Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “not moisturizing enough — Olay Super Serum”
    • “needs moisturizer over it — Olay Super Serum Night Repair”
    • “too light for night — Olay Eye Lifting Serum”
    • “skin felt tight — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel”
  • Packaging Issues Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Unhygienic tub — Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm”
    • “prefer a pump dispenser — Clinique All About Eyes”
    • “pump dispenses too much — Clinique Smart Clinical Repair Wrinkle Correcting Serum”
    • “hard to dispense — Olay Super Serum”

Clinique vs Olay routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Clinique vs Olay routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Clinique vs Olay routines for combination skin

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Questions and answers

Clinique or Olay: which is better?

Olay is better for mature skin and brightening, offering a Superior fit for mature skin on this page, while Clinique is better for gentle and non-irritating formulas and makeup compatibility. Both brands deliver an equal High routine fit for dry, oily, sensitive, dry sensitive, and oily acne-prone skin.

What is the difference between Clinique and Olay?

Olay achieves a Superior fit level for mature skin, whereas Clinique reaches a High fit level for mature skin on this page. Reviewers report that Olay excels in lightweight feel and texture improvement, while Clinique stands out for its gentle, non-irritating formulas.

Clinique or Olay for dry skin?

Both Clinique and Olay fit dry skin at a High level on the products on this page. Hyaluronic acid helps provide intense hydration and improve skin quality.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Clinique or Olay: which cleanser is better?

Clinique is better for gentle cleansing, as the products on this page receive praise as gentle and effective cleansers and achieve a High fit level for sensitive skin.

Which is more affordable, Clinique or Olay?

Olay is more affordable, whereas reviewers often note a high price point for the products on this page by Clinique.

Which brand has better fragrance options?

Clinique has better fragrance options because every product on this page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, whereas Olay includes fragrance in one of its products on this page.

Clinique or Olay for oily skin?

Both Clinique and Olay provide a High routine fit for oily skin on this page. Olay reviewers often mention improved texture, smoothness, and lightweight feel, while Clinique reviewers mostly note hydrating, oil-controlling, and smoothing moisturizers.

Clinique or Olay: which moisturizer is better?

Olay does better than Clinique for smoothing and texture improvement, while both brands offer equally hydrating moisturizers on this page. Olay reaches a Superior fit level for mature skin moisturizers.

Clinique or Olay for sensitive skin?

Both Clinique and Olay achieve a High fit level for sensitive skin on this page. Reviewers note that Clinique offers a gentle and non-irritating formula.

Clinique or Olay for acne-prone skin?

Olay fits acne-prone skin better than Clinique, as the products on this page achieve a High fit level for this skin type compared to Clinique's Average fit.

Clinique or Olay for mature skin?

Olay is better for mature skin, as Lovi rates its routine fit as Superior compared to Clinique's High fit level.

Clinique or Olay for skin with dark spots?

Olay achieves a High fit level for skin with dark spots on this page, whereas Clinique achieves an Average fit level. Olay features key ingredients such as niacinamide, which helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

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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