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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 established skincare labels offering serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and eye products. The Ordinary, a Canadian brand founded in 2016 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 2021, builds its targeted formulations around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane, suiting dry and oily acne-prone skin best. Meanwhile, the second brand is warmly loved for thoughtfully formulated solutions enriched with nourishing niacinamide and glycerin that suit sensitive and acne-prone skin. While both share key ingredients like glycerin to improve hydration and barrier function, they differ in their specific product lineups, targeted concerns, and precise active ingredient profiles.

The Ordinary is a Canadian skincare brand founded in 2016 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 2021.

glossy.coen.wikipedia.org

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

Buy The Ordinary routine · S$164.78 · 92% fitBuy Olay routine · S$248.06 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

The Ordinary vs Olay routines for oily skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · S$393.06 · 89% fitBuy Olay routine · S$485.72 · 81% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

The Ordinary vs Olay routines for combination skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · S$289.36 · 88% fitBuy Olay routine · S$383.33 · 80% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Olay: which is better?

Both The Ordinary and Olay are great choices depending on your skincare goals and budget. The Ordinary offers superior value and acne-clearing benefits, while Olay excels in texture, absorption, hydration, and brightening dark spots.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Olay?

The Ordinary focuses on targeted, affordable ingredients and does better with value, acne clearing, and fit for mature or oily acne-prone skin, while Olay excels in intense hydration, texture, absorption, and brightening. Both brands offer fragrance-free options across most of the products on this page.

The Ordinary or Olay for dry skin?

For dry skin, The Ordinary provides a Superior routine fit while Olay achieves a High fit. Both brands offer products with hyaluronic acid, which helps improve skin hydration and reduce signs of aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Drug Delivery, 2017

The Ordinary or Olay: which cleanser is better?

When choosing a cleanser from the products on this page, both The Ordinary and Olay offer great options with multiple formulas tailored to different skin types. Reviewers mention that Olay provides better overall texture and absorption, while The Ordinary is known for better value and price.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Olay?

The Ordinary provides better value and price among the products on this page compared to Olay.

Which brand performs better for brightening and dark spots, The Ordinary or Olay?

Olay performs better for brightening and dark spots compared to The Ordinary. Niacinamide helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation and suppress melanosome transfer, which supports even skin tones.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Do The Ordinary products or Olay products have fewer issues with pilling and sticky finishes?

The Ordinary products on this page have fewer issues with pilling and sticky finishes compared to Olay. Review themes indicate that Olay is more commonly associated with pilling and sticky finish complaints.

Which brand is better suited for mature skin, The Ordinary or Olay?

The Ordinary is better suited for mature skin, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to Olay's High fit level. Topical retinol stimulates collagen accumulation and helps improve the appearance of naturally aged skin.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000Archives of Dermatology, 2007

The Ordinary or Olay for oily skin?

Both The Ordinary and Olay offer a High routine fit for oily skin. The Ordinary features affordable and great value serums, while Olay delivers a lightweight feel and intense hydration.

The Ordinary or Olay: which moisturizer is better?

When it comes to moisturizers, Olay generally provides a richer experience with options like the Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream, while The Ordinary offers straightforward formulas like Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA that help deliver essential hydration. Reviewers often mention Olay for intense moisture and smooth texture, whereas The Ordinary is frequently praised for its affordable value.

The Ordinary or Olay for sensitive skin?

For sensitive skin, both The Ordinary and Olay achieve a High routine fit on the products on this page. Reviewers report that The Ordinary helps with gentle and non-irritating serums, whereas Olay is sometimes noted for strong fragrance and scent issues.

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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