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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 accessible skincare brands offering diverse serums, moisturizers, and cleansers built around nourishing ingredients like niacinamide, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid. Both labels suit dry and mature skin best, though The Ordinary also accommodates sensitive skin while Olay specializes in deep replenishment. They differ primarily in their targeted formulations and brand origins, as the Canadian brand centers on minimalist actives while the latter is universally loved for rich, multi-ingredient luxury portfolios.

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 · 99% fit

The Ordinary vs Olay routines for oily skin

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The Ordinary vs Olay routines for combination skin

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Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Olay: which is better?

Both brands are great choices, but they excel in different areas; The Ordinary offers superior value and acne-clearing serums, while Olay delivers better texture, absorption, and hydration.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Olay?

The Ordinary provides better value and acne-clearing serums, whereas Olay excels in texture, absorption, hydration, and brightening.

The Ordinary or Olay for dry skin?

Both The Ordinary and Olay achieve a Superior routine fit level for dry skin. The Ordinary features key hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid across the products on this page, while Olay offers intense hydration and moisture.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Olay: which cleanser is better?

The products on this page do not feature a direct head-to-head cleanser comparison, but The Ordinary offers options like the Glycolipid Cream Cleanser that helps with dry, oily, and sensitive skin types.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Olay?

The Ordinary offers better value and price among the products on this page.

Between The Ordinary and Olay, which brand performs better for brightening and dark spots?

Olay performs better for brightening and dark spots, as supported by reviewer themes on this page.

How do the fragrance options differ between products from The Ordinary and Olay?

Every product on The Ordinary page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, while Olay features fragrance in one product on its page, the Oil Minimizing Clean Toner, with the rest being fragrance-free.

Which brand has better review themes regarding texture and absorption?

Olay does better on this page regarding texture and absorption, with reviewers frequently noting improved texture, smoothness, and lightweight feel. The products on this page help provide fast absorption.

The Ordinary or Olay for oily skin?

For oily skin, The Ordinary reaches a Superior routine fit level while Olay reaches a High level. Reviewers also note that The Ordinary does better for acne and blemish clearing, whereas Olay does better for texture and absorption.

The Ordinary or Olay: which moisturizer is better?

Both The Ordinary and Olay offer effective moisturizers, but Olay stands out for intense hydration and advanced anti-aging creams while The Ordinary provides great value and fragrance-free options. Hyaluronic acid helps improve skin moisture and elasticity in both brands' products.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Drug Delivery, 2017

The Ordinary or Olay for sensitive skin?

Both The Ordinary and Olay achieve a Superior Lovi fit level for sensitive skin. The Ordinary offers fragrance-free products across its entire range on this page, while Olay features mostly fragrance-free options with occasional scent issues.

The Ordinary or Olay for acne-prone skin?

Both The Ordinary and Olay offer a Superior routine fit for acne-prone skin. The Ordinary excels particularly in acne and blemish clearing, while Olay offers great hydration and lightweight feel.

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

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