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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 two skincare brands offering serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and more. Canadian-founded The Ordinary features hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane, suiting dry sensitive skin and dry skin best, while the beloved Olay uses niacinamide and glycerin to support dry skin and acne-prone skin. Both brands differ in their specific formulations and targeted concerns, providing focused ingredients for diverse skin needs.

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 · 98% fit

The Ordinary vs Olay routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

The Ordinary vs Olay routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 94% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Olay: which is better?

The Ordinary offers better value and a superior fit for oily and combination skin, while Olay provides better hydration, texture, and a superior fit for acne-prone and mature skin. Both brands achieve equal levels of routine fit for dry, sensitive, dark spot-prone, and oily acne-prone skin.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Olay?

The Ordinary excels for acne-prone skin and value, whereas Olay performs better for hydration, texture, and mature skin. Both brands offer fragrance-free options across most of their products on this page.

The Ordinary or Olay for dry skin?

Both The Ordinary and Olay fit dry skin at a Superior routine level. The Ordinary features key hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, while Olay products help provide intense hydration and improve moisture.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Drug Delivery, 2017

The Ordinary or Olay: which cleanser is better?

The products on this page from The Ordinary include cleansers with high fits for dry and oily skin types, while Olay offers options like the Regenerating Cream Cleanser that helps with acne-prone and mature skin.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Olay?

The Ordinary offers more affordable products on this page and is often praised by reviewers for providing great value serums.

Between The Ordinary and Olay, which brand is better for reducing dark spots and brightening the skin?

Both The Ordinary and Olay are equal for reducing dark spots and brightening the skin. Both brands achieve a Superior fit level for skin with dark spots on this page. Topical niacinamide helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation and suppresses melanosome transfer.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

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

Every product on The Ordinary page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, whereas Olay features fragrance-free options across most of its line alongside one product containing fragrance.

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

Olay performs better for mature skin with a Superior routine fit level, whereas The Ordinary has a High routine fit level.

The Ordinary or Olay for oily skin?

The Ordinary is a better fit for oily skin, offering a Superior routine level compared to Olay's High level. Reviewers also note that the products on this page by The Ordinary do better for acne and blemish clearing.

The Ordinary or Olay: which moisturizer is better?

Both The Ordinary and Olay offer effective moisturizers, with Olay standing out for intense hydration and texture while The Ordinary provides great value. Olay's routine fit is superior for mature skin, whereas The Ordinary fits dry sensitive skin best.

The Ordinary or Olay for sensitive skin?

The Ordinary and Olay both achieve a Superior routine fit for sensitive skin. The products on this page list no fragrance for The Ordinary, and nearly all Olay options are also fragrance-free.

The Ordinary or Olay for acne-prone skin?

Olay achieves a superior routine fit for acne-prone skin, whereas The Ordinary reaches a high level. Reviewers report that acne-clearing serums are mostly mentioned as a praised benefit for The Ordinary.

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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