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CeraVe vs Olay

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

CeraVe and Olay are beloved American skincare brands known for thoughtfully formulated moisturizers, cleansers, serums, sunscreens, and eye products. Both brands suit dry skin and acne-prone skin best, owing to their gentle, deeply nourishing formulations. While CeraVe harnesses hydrating hyaluronic acid and glycerin to soothe the skin, the other brand relies on niacinamide and glycerin to deliver noticeable results for aging and uneven tone. Ultimately, these accessible options differ primarily in their signature active ingredients, which perform essential functions like barrier restoration and wrinkle reduction.

CeraVe is an American skincare brand founded in 2005 and owned by L'Oréal since 2017.

en.wikipedia.orghappi.comloreal-finance.comcerave.com

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

Popular CeraVe vs Olay products

People Say

CeraVeOlay
  • Lightweight and Non-Greasy Texture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Absorbs into skin without residue — CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “Sinks right into your skin — CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “absorbs quickly — Olay Vitamin C Serum”
    • “absorbs instantly — Olay Super Serum Night Repair”
  • Deep Hydration and Moisture Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Saved my dry winter skin — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “woke up with plump skin — CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream”
    • “cured my dry patches — CeraVe Eye Repair Cream”
    • “My skin feels so hydrated and plump. — Olay Regenerist Regenerating Serum”
  • Fragrance-Free Formula Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “No scent, no irritation — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “Great for sensitive skin — CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “No irritation at all — Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Moisturizer”
    • “no scent — Olay Super Serum Night Repair”
  • Gentle and Non-Stripping Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “doesn't leave face tight — CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser”
    • “no burning sensation — CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum”
    • “clean but not dry — CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser”
  • Skin Smoothing Not 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”
  • Improves Skin Texture Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “smoother complexion — CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum”
    • “less greasy — CeraVe Healing Ointment”
    • “smooths fine lines — CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream”
    • “Makeup goes on so smooth — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
  • Packaging Issues Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “no safety seal included — CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream”
    • “tube splitting at seams — CeraVe Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum”
    • “hard to dispense — Olay Super Serum”
    • “dropper is frustrating — Olay Super Serum Night Repair”

CeraVe vs Olay routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

CeraVe vs Olay routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

CeraVe vs Olay routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 94% fit

Questions and answers

CeraVe or Olay: which is better?

Both brands are great choices depending on your skin goals, as CeraVe excels in deep hydration and gentle barrier care, while Olay offers superior skin smoothing and anti-aging routines.

International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2005

What is the difference between CeraVe and Olay?

CeraVe and Olay are popular skincare brands with different strengths, where CeraVe features a ceramide-focused approach for barrier repair, while Olay highlights peptide and niacinamide formulations for anti-aging. Reviewers find that CeraVe provides deeper hydration and gentler cleansing, whereas Olay excels at skin smoothing and overall texture.

International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2005

CeraVe or Olay for oily skin?

Both brands provide a High routine fit for oily skin. The products on this page for both CeraVe and Olay feature lightweight feels and gel or oil-control options.

CeraVe or Olay: which cleanser is better?

CeraVe does better for gentle and non-stripping cleansers among the products on this page. Its cleansers help provide effective care for acne and oil.

Which is more affordable, CeraVe or Olay?

The products on this page do not list pricing information, so it is not possible to determine which brand is more affordable.

Which brand has more fragrance-free products, CeraVe or Olay?

CeraVe has more fragrance-free products on this page, as every single CeraVe product lists no fragrance in its ingredients compared to 26 of 27 Olay products.

CeraVe or Olay for sensitive skin?

Olay achieves a Superior fit level for sensitive skin, whereas CeraVe reaches a High fit level.

CeraVe or Olay: which moisturizer is better?

Both brands provide good options, but CeraVe is generally noted on this page for deep hydration while Olay is often cited for skin smoothing.

CeraVe or Olay for acne-prone skin?

Both CeraVe and Olay achieve a Superior Lovi fit level for acne-prone skin on the products on this page. Reviewers report that CeraVe offers effective cleansers for acne and oil, while Olay provides intense hydration.

CeraVe or Olay: which sunscreen is better?

Both CeraVe and Olay offer sunscreens on this page, with CeraVe featuring three options including the Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen and Olay offering options such as the Regenerist Whip Face Moisturizer SPF 25. CeraVe sunscreens help provide broad options across skin types with fit levels reaching up to Superior for mature, dry, and dry sensitive skin.

CeraVe or Olay for mature skin?

Olay has a Superior fit for mature skin, whereas CeraVe has a High fit. Olay features key anti-aging ingredients like peptides, while CeraVe relies on ceramides and retinol.

International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2005

CeraVe or Olay for skin with dark spots?

Both CeraVe and Olay are great options for skin with dark spots, where Lovi rates CeraVe High and Olay Superior. CeraVe offers fragrance-free formulas with ingredients like niacinamide and salicylic acid, while Olay provides options featuring niacinamide to help improve skin tone.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

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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