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Avène vs Olay

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

Avène and Olay are two skincare lines known for thoughtful formulations that address diverse complexion needs. Avène offers versatile moisturizers, reliable sunscreens, targeted serums, and gentle cleansers featuring glycerin, suiting acne-prone and oily acne-prone skin best. Meanwhile, Olay provides an array of moisturizers, eye products, serums, and cleansers formulated with niacinamide and glycerin, which suit dry and acne-prone skin best. Ultimately, both differ as the French skincare brand founded in 1990 focuses on specialized relief through products like its Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm, Cleanance, and Hyaluron Activ B3 Concentrated Plumping Serum, whereas the latter delivers noticeable results for wrinkles and aging through standout choices like its Super Eyes Daily Eye Serum, Regenerist Luminous Tone Perfecting Cream, and Brightening Eye Cream.

Avène is a French skincare brand founded in 1990 and owned by Fondation Pierre Fabre.

pierre-fabre.comavene.co.ukaveneusa.com

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

Popular Avène vs Olay products

People Say

AvèneOlay
  • Gentleness and Soothing Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Calmed my angry red skin overnight — Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream”
    • “Nothing has ever worked to soothe or heal my skin like these before. — Avène Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm”
    • “Perfect cleanser for sensitive skin. — Avène Milk Cleanser”
    • “doesn't strip my skin — Olay Regenerating Cream Cleanser”
  • Texture and Absorption Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “sinks in quickly — Olay Super Serum”
    • “absorbs quickly — Olay Vitamin C Serum”
    • “absorbs instantly — Olay Super Serum Night Repair”
    • “Thick but absorbs well eventually — Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective 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”
    • “Saves my skin in winter — Avène Cold Cream”
  • Skin Smoothing and Anti-Aging 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 instantly felt firmer — Avène Hyaluron Activ B3 Concentrated Plumping 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”
    • “immediate radiance boost — Avène Vitamin Activ Cg Radiance Concentrated Serum”
  • Makeup Compatibility and Removal Rarely NotedSometimes Noted
    • “absorbs instantly — Olay Eye Lifting Serum”
    • “acts as primer — Olay Super Serum”
    • “concealer sits better — Olay Ultimate Eye Cream”
    • “Remove a all of the makeup with ease. — Avène Milk Cleanser”
  • Strong Fragrance and Scents Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “The fragrance is very present. — Avène Milk Cleanser”
    • “smell is too strong — Avène Cleanance”
    • “Fragrance can be an irritant — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
    • “floral scent — Olay Super Serum”
  • Packaging Issues Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Tube cracked on the side — Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream”
    • “Cap leaks in bag — Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel”
    • “Good product bad packaging. — Avène RetrinAL EYES”
    • “hard to dispense — Olay Super Serum”
  • Product Ineffectiveness Rarely NotedSometimes Noted
    • “no difference — Avène Antirougeurs Fort Relief Concentrate”
    • “no difference after month — Avène Vitamin Activ Cg Radiance Concentrated Serum”
    • “didn't work for me — Avène Hyaluron Activ B3 Concentrated Plumping Serum”
    • “no difference — Olay Vitamin C Serum”

Avène vs Olay routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Avène vs Olay routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Avène vs Olay routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 94% fit

Questions and answers

Avène or Olay: which is better?

Olay is better on this page for hydration, skin smoothing, anti-aging, and brightening, while Avène is better for gentleness and soothing. Lovi gives Olay a Superior fit for dry skin, sensitive skin, acne-prone skin, mature skin, and skin with dark spots, and a High fit for dry sensitive skin. Lovi gives Avène a High fit for dry skin, sensitive skin, acne-prone skin, mature skin, skin with dark spots, and oily acne-prone skin, and an Average fit for dry sensitive skin.

What is the difference between Avène and Olay?

Olay tends to do better for skin texture, hydration, anti-aging, and brightening, whereas Avène excels in gentleness and soothing. For the products on this page, Olay features key ingredients like niacinamide and peptides, while Avène is built around thermal water and glycerin. Topical niacinamide helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation and melanosome transfer.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Avène or Olay for dry skin?

Olay is a better fit for dry skin, where Lovi rates its routine as Superior compared to Avène's High. Olay features a wider variety of hydrating products and key ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin that help provide intense moisture and improve skin quality.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Avène or Olay: which cleanser is better?

Avène helps provide a gentle deep clean with its cleansers on this page, which reviewers mostly mention. Olay also offers a range of cleansers, but Avène ranks better for gentleness and soothing overall.

Which is more affordable, Avène or Olay?

Price point is a consideration for Avène, whereas Olay does not have affordability mentioned as a prominent review note on this page. Reviewers on this page sometimes note the price point of Avène products.

Between Avène and Olay, which brand offers better options for anti-aging and skin smoothing?

Olay offers better options for anti-aging and skin smoothing among the products on this page. Reviewers frequently note its benefits for improved texture and smoothness, and key anti-aging ingredients like retinol and peptides help stimulate collagen and improve photoaged skin.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2005

How do the fragrance options and scent issues compare between Avène and Olay products?

Olay products on this page offer far more fragrance-free options than Avène, as 26 of 27 Olay items list no fragrance compared to only 7 of 15 Avène products. Reviewers note that strong fragrance and scent issues are a drawback for both brands equally. Topical formulations with added scents may increase the likelihood of skin irritation.

Which brand performs better for dry sensitive skin according to the routine fit levels?

Olay performs better for dry sensitive skin, achieving a High routine fit compared to Avène which reaches an Average fit.

Avène or Olay for oily skin?

Both brands achieve a High fit level for oily skin on the products on this page. Reviewers note that Avène helps provide effective oil control and gentle sunscreens, while Olay helps deliver a lightweight feel and fast absorption.

Avène or Olay: which moisturizer is better?

Olay is better for moisturizers on this page, as it offers superior hydration and anti-aging benefits compared to Avène. Olay provides a wide selection of highly rated moisturizers featuring key ingredients like Niacinamide and peptides, which help improve skin texture and reduce signs of aging.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Avène or Olay for sensitive skin?

Olay is superior for sensitive skin, while Avène provides a high fit. Olay stands out for providing fragrance-free options across most of its products on this page.

Avène or Olay: which sunscreen is better?

For sunscreens on this page, Avène is generally better with mostly mentioned gentle and non-stripping sunscreens. Olay offers fewer choices here, such as its Complete All Day Moisturizer SPF 15 and Regenerist Whip Face Moisturizer SPF 25.

Avène or Olay for acne-prone skin?

For acne-prone skin, Avène and Olay both achieve a High routine fit level, though Olay is rated Superior overall. Reviewers note that the products on this page for Avène help soothe irritation, while Olay options frequently provide improved texture and smoothness.

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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