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Medik8 vs Olay

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

Medik8 and Olay are two respected skincare brands known for their focused formulations and thoughtful care. Medik8 is a British line founded in 2009 and owned by L'Oréal Groupe since 2025, offering serums, moisturizers, eye products, toners, and more built around hyaluronic acid, making both the brand and its hydrating products best suited for dry and dry sensitive skin. Meanwhile, Olay is warmly loved for its targeted moisturizers, eye products, serums, cleansers, and more which thoughtfully pair niacinamide and glycerin, suiting acne-prone and mature skin best. While both brands feature extensive selections for specific concerns, they differ in their core ingredient philosophies and primary skin compatibility.

Medik8 is a British skincare brand founded in 2009 and owned by L'Oréal Groupe since 2025.

loreal.commedik8.comtracxn.com

This page compares some of the most popular Medik8 and Olay products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Medik8 vs Olay products

People Say

Medik8Olay
  • 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”
    • “absorbed effortlessly — Medik8 Total Moisture Daily Facial 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”
    • “Restores moisture — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
  • Gentle Formulation Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “zero irritation or peeling — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “only Vitamin C my sensitive skin can tolerate — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “Best retinol replacement — Medik8 Bakuchiol Peptides”
    • “doesn't strip my skin — Olay Regenerating Cream Cleanser”
  • Brightening and Glow Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “I wake up glowing. It adds back that youthful bloom that I've lost. — Medik8 Sleep Glycolic”
    • “unlocked a serious glow — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “iridescent glow — Olay Super Serum”
    • “hides dark shadows — Olay Ultimate Eye Cream”
  • Skin Improvement and Clarity Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “smoother skin — Medik8 Surface Radiance Cleanse”
    • “skin feels baby soft — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “skin feels firmer — Medik8 Oxy-R Peptides”
    • “tiny beads aren't harsh — Olay Regenerating Cream Cleanser”
  • Pleasant Experience and Scent Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “smells like a spa — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “smell is gorgeous — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “smells amazing — Olay Vitamin C Serum”
    • “light fresh scent — Olay Regenerating Cream Cleanser”
  • Price and Value Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “expensive for drugstore — Olay Super Serum”
    • “expensive — Olay Super Serum Night Repair”
    • “Expensive per bottle — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
  • Packaging Issues Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Glass bottle breaks easily — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
    • “hard to get last bit — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “click mechanism tricky — Medik8 Oxy-R Peptides”
    • “hard to dispense — Olay Super Serum”
  • Slow or Ineffective Results Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Not as effective as retinol — Medik8 Bakuchiol Peptides”
    • “no difference — Medik8 Oxy-R Peptides”
    • “no difference — Olay Vitamin C Serum”
    • “minimal firming effect — Olay Eye Lifting Serum”

Medik8 vs Olay routines for dry skin

Buy Medik8 routine · £187.36 · 97% fitBuy Olay routine · £83.22 · 82% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Medik8 vs Olay routines for oily skin

Buy Medik8 routine · £285.55 · 89% fitBuy Olay routine · £195.17 · 86% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Medik8 vs Olay routines for combination skin

Buy Medik8 routine · £261.28 · 92% fitBuy Olay routine · £188.48 · 86% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Medik8 or Olay: which is better?

Medik8 stands out for its gentle formulations and superior fit for dry and sensitive skin, while Olay offers better value and superior results for acne-prone skin. Both brands provide effective hydration and anti-aging benefits using ingredients like hyaluronic acid and peptides.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

What is the difference between Medik8 and Olay?

Medik8 stands out for gentle formulations best suited for dry and sensitive skin, while Olay offers budget-friendly products with superior performance for acne-prone skin. Both brands provide effective options containing hyaluronic acid to help deliver intense hydration and improve skin texture.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Medik8 or Olay for dry skin?

Medik8 is the better choice for dry skin, as Lovi rates its routine as Superior compared to Olay's High fit level. Reviewers also highlight Medik8 for gentle formulations, while Olay tends to have more strong fragrance issues.

Medik8 or Olay: which cleanser is better?

Medik8 stands out for its cleanser on this page, achieving a Superior fit level for acne-prone skin, oily acne-prone skin, and skin with dark spots. Reviewers also highlight Medik8 for more gentle formulations, whereas Olay features cleansers with more mixed ratings across skin types.

Which is more affordable, Medik8 or Olay?

Olay is more affordable, whereas reviewers often mention a high price point for the products on this page by Medik8.

Medik8 or Olay: which has better fragrance-free options?

Medik8 provides slightly more fragrance-free choices, as almost all the products on this page are fragrance-free. Olay also offers many fragrance-free products on this page, though it includes a few scented options.

Medik8 or Olay for oily skin?

Medik8 and Olay both offer a High Lovi fit for oily skin on the products on this page. Olay features a wider variety of ingredients like niacinamide and peptides, while Medik8 provides gentle serums that help hydrate and improve skin texture.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2005

Medik8 or Olay: which moisturizer is better?

Both Medik8 and Olay offer strong options, but the products on this page show that Olay generally delivers more intense hydration and better texture for daily moisturizers. Medik8 fits dry and sensitive skin types best, while Olay products on this page excel particularly for mature and acne-prone skin.

Medik8 or Olay for sensitive skin?

Medik8 is a better fit than Olay for sensitive skin because Lovi rates Medik8 as Superior for this skin type compared to Olay's High rating. Reviewers also mention that Medik8 offers more gentle formulations.

Medik8 or Olay for acne-prone skin?

For acne-prone skin, Olay is the better choice because the products on this page achieve a superior routine fit compared to Medik8. Medik8 also performs well with a high fit level, but Olay stands out for this specific skin type.

Medik8 or Olay for mature skin?

For mature skin, Lovi rates Medik8 as Superior and Olay as High. Both brands offer targeted anti-aging options, but Medik8 achieves a higher fit level for this skin type.

Medik8 or Olay for skin with dark spots?

Both Medik8 and Olay perform well for skin with dark spots, as the products on this page show high fits for this concern. Niacinamide, a key ingredient found across Olay products, may help reduce cutaneous pigmentation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

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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