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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 prominent skin care lines offering diverse serums, moisturizers, eye products, and cleansers. Medik8 is known for hyaluronic acid, suiting dry and dry sensitive skin best, while Olay is beloved for niacinamide and glycerin, suiting mature and acne-prone skin best. The British brand features targeted formulas like Surface Radiance Cleanse, Oxy-R Peptides, and Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream. Conversely, the other brand features standouts such as Super Eyes Daily Eye Serum, Regenerist Luminous Tone Perfecting Cream, and Brightening Eye Cream. Both brands differ in their core active ingredients and optimal skin types, yet each provides gentle efficacy for varied concerns.

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 · 96% fit

Medik8 vs Olay routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Medik8 or Olay: which is better?

Medik8 is better for gentle formulations, while Olay is better for price and value. Both brands offer products with hyaluronic acid to help provide hydration.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

What is the difference between Medik8 and Olay?

Medik8 tends to do better for gentle formulations, while Olay scores well for texture, absorption, and hydration at a lower price point. Both brands offer strong routine fits for mature, oily, acne-prone skin, and dark spots, but the products on this page show Medik8 achieving a superior routine fit for dry, combination, sensitive, and dry sensitive skin.

Medik8 or Olay for dry skin?

Medik8 is the better choice for dry skin because the products on this page provide superior routine fit compared to Olay. Hyaluronic acid helps deeply hydrate and plump the skin, while key ingredients support dryness.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Medik8 or Olay: which cleanser is better?

Medik8 is better for cleansers on this page, as Surface Radiance Cleanse has a Superior fit for acne-prone skin, oily acne-prone skin, and skin with dark spots.

Which is more affordable, Medik8 or Olay?

Olay is more affordable, as reviewers often mention high price points as a drawback for Medik8 while noting Olay as a better value.

Medik8 or Olay: which brand has better anti-aging routine fit for mature skin?

Medik8 and Olay both achieve a Superior Lovi fit for mature skin. Retinol helps reduce signs of aging by stimulating collagen accumulation.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000Archives of Dermatology, 2007

Medik8 or Olay: which brand is better for skin with dark spots?

Both Medik8 and Olay perform equally well for skin with dark spots, as the products on this page show high routine fit for this skin concern. Olay also benefits from niacinamide, which helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Medik8 or Olay: which brand offers more fragrance-free options?

Both brands offer mostly fragrance-free products on the products on this page, with Medik8 featuring 11 out of 12 and Olay featuring 26 out of 27.

Medik8 or Olay for oily skin?

Both Medik8 and Olay are great choices because they both have a High Lovi fit level for oily skin. The products on this page help improve skin texture and manage excess oil without feeling heavy.

Medik8 or Olay: which moisturizer is better?

Medik8 is better for dry skin and dry sensitive skin, where the products on this page have a Superior fit, compared to Olay's High fit level. Hyaluronic acid helps provide deep hydration across the moisturizers from both brands.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Medik8 or Olay for sensitive skin?

Medik8 is a superior fit for sensitive skin on Lovi, while Olay is a high fit. Medik8 formulas are widely known for gentle care, whereas Olay focuses heavily on ingredients like niacinamide that help improve moisture and texture.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Medik8 or Olay for acne-prone skin?

Both Medik8 and Olay provide a high routine fit level for acne-prone skin. The products on this page help improve skin clarity and hydration.

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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