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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 popular skincare lines offering nourishing moisturizers, cleansers, serums, and eye products designed to support varied skin needs. CeraVe utilizes hyaluronic acid and glycerin to suit acne-prone and combination skin, while Olay relies on niacinamide and glycerin to care for sensitive and acne-prone skin. Although both brands address similar concerns like dark spots, aging, and hydration through targeted formulations, they differ in their signature ingredients and exact skin type focus.

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

Buy CeraVe routine · SAR 659.02 · 89% fitBuy Olay routine · SAR 1,177.59 · 74% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

CeraVe vs Olay routines for oily skin

Buy CeraVe routine · SAR 1,155.51 · 87% fitBuy Olay routine · SAR 1,429.16 · 84% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

CeraVe vs Olay routines for combination skin

Buy CeraVe routine · SAR 993.85 · 91% fitBuy Olay routine · SAR 1,320.33 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

CeraVe or Olay: which is better?

CeraVe is better than Olay for dry skin, combination skin, acne-prone skin, and oily acne-prone skin, while both brands offer equal routine fit levels for sensitive, mature, and oily skin as well as skin with dark spots on the products on this page. CeraVe delivers superior deep hydration and gentler, non-stripping cleansers, whereas Olay excels in skin smoothing.

What is the difference between CeraVe and Olay?

CeraVe and Olay both offer fragrance-free options among the products on this page, but CeraVe achieves a superior routine fit for acne-prone, combination, and oily acne-prone skin. Additionally, CeraVe does better for deep hydration and gentle cleansers, while Olay is noted for skin smoothing.

CeraVe or Olay for dry skin?

For dry skin, CeraVe is better because Lovi gives its routine a High fit level compared to an Average fit for Olay. Both brands feature deep hydration, but CeraVe offers superior moisture and barrier repair through ceramide-dominant formulations.

CeraVe or Olay: which cleanser is better?

CeraVe does better than Olay for gentle and non-stripping cleansers, and the products on this page offer effective options for acne and oil. Ceramides help repair the skin barrier.

Which is more affordable, CeraVe or Olay?

The provided page facts do not mention the prices of either CeraVe or Olay products, so this page cannot determine which brand is more affordable.

CeraVe or Olay for oily skin?

Both brands are a High fit for oily skin, offering effective options like CeraVe's Foaming Facial Cleanser and Olay's Super Serum.

CeraVe or Olay: which moisturizer is better?

CeraVe provides a High routine fit for dry skin, whereas Olay has an Average routine fit. Reviewers note that the products on this page offer deep hydration and gentle moisture.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

CeraVe or Olay for sensitive skin?

Both CeraVe and Olay offer a High routine fit for sensitive skin. The products on this page for CeraVe are completely fragrance-free, while Olay features mostly fragrance-free options with one exception.

CeraVe or Olay: which sunscreen is better?

CeraVe offers superior fit levels for its sunscreens across more skin types than Olay on this page. CeraVe's sunscreens provide High to Superior fit levels for sensitive, dry, and combination skin.

CeraVe or Olay for acne-prone skin?

CeraVe fits acne-prone skin better than Olay, as Lovi rates CeraVe as Superior for this skin type while Olay is High. CeraVe offers products on this page that help cleanse and moisturize acne-prone skin effectively.

CeraVe or Olay for combination skin?

CeraVe has a Superior routine fit for combination skin, while Olay has a High fit. Reviewers note that the products on this page for CeraVe offer deep hydration.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Drug Delivery, 2017

CeraVe or Olay for mature skin?

For mature skin, CeraVe has a High routine fit and Olay has a High routine fit, making them equal. CeraVe features products like Skin Renewing Night Cream with a Superior fit for mature skin, while Olay offers options like Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream that also fit mature skin at a Superior level.

CeraVe or Olay for skin with dark spots?

Both brands offer solid options for skin with dark spots, with Lovi fit levels of High across the products on this page for both CeraVe and Olay. Niacinamide helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation and suppress melanosome transfer.

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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