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Olay vs Elemis

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

Olay and Elemis are two esteemed skincare ranges known for offering thoughtfully formulated moisturizers, serums, and cleansers that suit dry skin and mature skin best. The former relies on nourishing niacinamide and glycerin to support delicate barriers, while the latter weaves together glycerin and shea butter to provide deeply restorative qualities. Ultimately, both brands differ through their unique ingredient synergies, with Olay focusing on targeted hydration and Elemis emphasizing advanced anti-aging preparations.

Elemis is a British skincare brand founded in 1989 and owned by L'Occitane Group since 2019.

elemis.comau.elemis.comen.wikipedia.org

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

Popular Olay vs Elemis products

People Say

OlayElemis
  • Hydration and Moisture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Instantly smoother, softer, and more hydrated — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
    • “Skin feels like silk — Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Moisturizer”
    • “The cream really hydrates and my face looks amazing. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Night Cream”
    • “Quenches thirsty skin... immediate improvement. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
  • Luxurious and Lightweight Texture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs quickly — Olay Vitamin C Serum”
    • “absorbs instantly — Olay Super Serum Night Repair”
    • “Absorbs almost immediately, and my skin feels well hydrated all day. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
    • “whipped silk feel — Elemis Superfood Midnight Facial”
  • Skin Texture and Smoothing Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “skin feels baby soft — Olay Retinol24”
    • “Absorbs so quickly! — Olay Regenerist Regenerating Serum”
    • “velvety soft skin — Olay Super Serum Night Repair”
    • “baby soft — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads”
  • Fragrance-Free and Gentle Formulas Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “tiny beads aren't harsh — Olay Regenerating Cream Cleanser”
    • “doesn't strip my skin — Olay Regenerating Cream Cleanser”
    • “No irritation at all — Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Moisturizer”
    • “no stinging or redness — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
  • Fast Absorption and Radiance Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “sinks in quickly — Olay Super Serum”
    • “iridescent glow — Olay Super Serum”
    • “healthy glow — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads”
    • “instantly fresh glow — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash”
  • Pleasant Scent Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “smells like a spa — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
    • “smells like a holiday — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
    • “smells like a tropical cocktail — Elemis Superfood Midnight Facial”
    • “smells amazing — Olay Vitamin C Serum”
  • Price Point Issues Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “expensive for drugstore — Olay Super Serum”
    • “expensive — Olay Super Serum Night Repair”
    • “small quantity (0.5 oz) — Olay Eye Lifting Serum”
    • “Complete waste of money for me. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
  • Strong or Unpleasant Fragrance Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Fragrance can be an irritant — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
    • “floral scent — Olay Super Serum”
    • “smells like plastic — Olay Retinol24”
    • “The smell is very strong... could not handle for long. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
  • Packaging Concerns Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “jar looks half empty — Elemis Superfood Midnight Facial”
    • “tube feels half empty — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
    • “pump broke quickly — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash”
    • “hard to dispense — Olay Super Serum”

Olay vs Elemis routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Olay vs Elemis routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Olay vs Elemis routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Olay or Elemis: which is better?

Olay is better for fragrance-free options and gentle formulas, while Elemis is noted for its pleasant scents and luxurious textures, though both brands help with hydration and smooth skin texture.

What is the difference between Olay and Elemis?

Olay tends to fit mature skin, dry skin, and acne-prone skin best, while Elemis focuses heavily on dry skin and mature skin. Reviewers note that Olay offers better fragrance-free options, whereas Elemis often features a higher price point.

Olay or Elemis for dry skin?

Olay fits dry skin better, offering a Superior routine compared to Elemis, which has a High fit. Olay provides fragrance-free options across most of the products on this page, whereas almost all Elemis products contain fragrance.

Olay or Elemis: which cleanser is better?

Olay is better for fragrance-free and gentle formulas across the products on this page. Reviewers note that Olay offers a better fit for sensitive skin, while Elemis products more frequently feature strong fragrances and higher price points.

Which is more affordable, Olay or Elemis?

Olay is more affordable than Elemis, as high price point issues are mostly mentioned for Elemis while Olay does better on price point.

Olay or Elemis: which brand has more fragrance-free products?

Olay has more fragrance-free products on this page, as 26 of its 27 products list no fragrance compared to only 4 of the 22 products from Elemis.

Olay or Elemis: which brand is better for mature skin?

Olay is better for mature skin, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to Elemis, which reaches a High fit. Olay also features more fragrance-free options across the products on this page.

Olay or Elemis: which brand is better for reducing dark spots?

Olay is better for reducing dark spots, as Lovi rates its overall routine fit as Superior compared to High for Elemis. Niacinamide helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation and suppress melanosome transfer.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Olay or Elemis for oily skin?

Olay fits oily skin better than Elemis, as Lovi rates Olay as High and Elemis as Average for this skin type. Reviewers also note that Olay offers more fragrance-free options and gentler formulas for sensitive skin.

Olay or Elemis: which moisturizer is better?

Olay is generally better for moisturizers because the products on this page offer superior or high fit levels across most skin types, including dry, mature, and sensitive skin. Niacinamide helps reduce skin pigmentation, and hyaluronic acid provides anti-aging effects.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Drug Delivery, 2017

Olay or Elemis for sensitive skin?

Olay is a better choice for sensitive skin, offering a Superior routine fit compared to Elemis, which has a High fit. Additionally, the products on this page for Olay feature mostly fragrance-free options, whereas most Elemis products contain added fragrance.

Olay or Elemis for acne-prone skin?

Olay is a better choice for acne-prone skin, as Lovi rates its routine as Superior compared to High for Elemis. Reviewers on the products on this page also note that Olay offers better fragrance-free and gentle formulas, while the vast majority of its products list no added fragrance.

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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