🇬🇧United Kingdom

Olay vs Elemis

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

Olay and Elemis are two distinct skincare lines known for thoughtful formulations that pair specific ingredients to address diverse complexions. The former is warmly loved for its targeted moisturizers, eye products, serums, and cleansers that thoughtfully combine niacinamide and glycerin to suit acne-prone and mature skin. Meanwhile, the British brand celebrated since 1989 offers curated preparations spanning nourishing serums, rich moisturizers, gentle cleansers, and refining toners that weave together glycerin and shea to suit dry and mature skin best. Ultimately, both differ primarily in their botanical and scientific approaches, with the first focusing on niacinamide for wrinkles and pigmentation, and the latter relying on shea butter to reduce inflammation and relieve skin pruritus.

Elemis is a British skincare brand founded in 1989 and owned by L'Occitane Group since 2019.

elemis.comau.elemis.comen.wikipedia.org

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

Popular Olay vs Elemis products

People Say

OlayElemis
  • Hydration and Moisture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Instantly smoother, softer, and more hydrated — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
    • “Skin feels like silk — Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Moisturizer”
    • “The cream really hydrates and my face looks amazing. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Night Cream”
    • “Quenches thirsty skin... immediate improvement. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
  • Luxurious and Lightweight Texture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs quickly — Olay Vitamin C Serum”
    • “absorbs instantly — Olay Super Serum Night Repair”
    • “Absorbs almost immediately, and my skin feels well hydrated all day. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
    • “whipped silk feel — Elemis Superfood Midnight Facial”
  • Skin Texture and Smoothing Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “skin feels baby soft — Olay Retinol24”
    • “Absorbs so quickly! — Olay Regenerist Regenerating Serum”
    • “velvety soft skin — Olay Super Serum Night Repair”
    • “baby soft — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads”
  • Fragrance-Free and Gentle Formulas Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “tiny beads aren't harsh — Olay Regenerating Cream Cleanser”
    • “doesn't strip my skin — Olay Regenerating Cream Cleanser”
    • “No irritation at all — Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Moisturizer”
    • “no stinging or redness — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
  • Fast Absorption and Radiance Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “sinks in quickly — Olay Super Serum”
    • “iridescent glow — Olay Super Serum”
    • “healthy glow — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads”
    • “instantly fresh glow — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash”
  • Pleasant Scent Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “smells like a spa — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
    • “smells like a holiday — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
    • “smells like a tropical cocktail — Elemis Superfood Midnight Facial”
    • “smells amazing — Olay Vitamin C Serum”
  • Price Point Issues Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “expensive for drugstore — Olay Super Serum”
    • “expensive — Olay Super Serum Night Repair”
    • “small quantity (0.5 oz) — Olay Eye Lifting Serum”
    • “Complete waste of money for me. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
  • Strong or Unpleasant Fragrance Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Fragrance can be an irritant — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
    • “floral scent — Olay Super Serum”
    • “smells like plastic — Olay Retinol24”
    • “The smell is very strong... could not handle for long. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
  • Packaging Concerns Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “jar looks half empty — Elemis Superfood Midnight Facial”
    • “tube feels half empty — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
    • “pump broke quickly — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash”
    • “hard to dispense — Olay Super Serum”

Olay vs Elemis routines for dry skin

Buy Elemis routine · £324.88 · 88% fitBuy Olay routine · £83.22 · 82% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Olay vs Elemis routines for oily skin

Buy Olay routine · £195.17 · 86% fitBuy Elemis routine · £290.16 · 76% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Olay vs Elemis routines for combination skin

Buy Olay routine · £188.48 · 86% fitBuy Elemis routine · £263.56 · 78% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Olay or Elemis: which is better?

Olay is better for fragrance-free options and gentle formulas, while both brands offer equal levels of hydration and moisture across the products on this page.

What is the difference between Olay and Elemis?

Olay tends to do better on skin texture and offers more fragrance-free and gentle options among the products on this page, whereas Elemis often provides a pleasant scent and luxurious textures despite its higher price point. Both brands perform similarly for hydration and moisture, though Olay is more budget-friendly.

Olay or Elemis for dry skin?

Both Olay and Elemis offer products on this page that fit dry skin well at a High level. Reviewers report that both brands provide intense hydration and smoother skin texture, while Olay features more fragrance-free options across the products on this page.

Olay or Elemis: which cleanser is better?

Both Olay and Elemis offer effective cleansers on the products on this page, but Olay is generally preferred for gentler, fragrance-free options. Reviewers note that Olay cleansers are less likely to cause irritation, whereas Elemis cleansers may feature stronger fragrances.

Which is more affordable, Olay or Elemis?

Olay is more affordable than Elemis, as high price point is a widely reported issue for Elemis while Olay does better on price.

Olay or Elemis: which brand offers more fragrance-free options?

Olay offers more fragrance-free options, as 26 of the 27 products on this page list no fragrance. Elemis has fragrance listed in most of its products on the page.

Olay or Elemis: which has better options for mature skin?

Both Olay and Elemis are great options for mature skin, as both brands achieve a High routine fit level for this skin type. Olay offers specific products on this page like the Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream which achieve a Superior fit level for mature skin, while Elemis features options like the Pro-Collagen Marine Cream at a Superior fit level. Additionally, topical ingredients found in these products such as retinol and peptides help stimulate collagen accumulation and improve the appearance of photoaged human facial skin.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2005

Olay or Elemis: which brand is better suited for dry sensitive skin?

Olay and Elemis perform equally well for dry sensitive skin, as both brands achieve a High routine fit level on the products on this page. Olay offers the advantage of fragrance-free options, as 26 of its 27 products list no fragrance.

Olay or Elemis for oily skin?

Both Olay and Elemis offer a High routine fit for oily skin. Reviewers note that Elemis moisturizers tend to provide a luxurious and lightweight feel.

Olay or Elemis: which moisturizer is better?

Both Olay and Elemis offer high-performing moisturizers, with Olay standing out for fragrance-free options and Elemis being noted for luxurious textures. The products on this page for both brands provide intense hydration and help improve skin texture and smoothness.

Olay or Elemis for sensitive skin?

Both Olay and Elemis offer a High routine fit for sensitive skin on the products on this page. Olay may be a better option for those seeking fragrance-free care, as 26 of its 27 products list no fragrance compared to only 4 of 22 for Elemis.

Olay or Elemis for acne-prone skin?

Olay is the better choice for acne-prone skin, as the products on this page offer a Superior routine fit compared to Elemis. Both brands provide good hydration, but Olay stands out for having more fragrance-free options and gentler formulas for sensitive skin types.

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

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