🇬🇧United Kingdom

Simple vs Olay

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

Simple and Olay are established skincare brands known for gentle formulations that pair niacinamide and glycerin to support various complex needs. Simple offers soothing moisturizers, makeup removers, cleansers, and toners that suit acne-prone skin and skin with dark spots best, whereas Olay features targeted moisturizers, eye products, serums, and cleansers that suit acne-prone skin and mature skin best. While both brands harness niacinamide to reduce hyperpigmentation, improve wrinkles, and address aging signs while using glycerin to enhance hydration and barrier function, they differ in their specific standout products and the exact blend of skin types they serve.

Simple is a British skincare brand founded in 1960 and owned by Unilever PLC since 2011.

en.wikipedia.orgsec.govprnewswire.comsimple.co.uk

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

Popular Simple vs Olay products

People Say

SimpleOlay
  • Gentle on sensitive skin Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Does not cause any form of irritation on the skin which I love. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “The only cleanser that doesn't turn my face red. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “no artificial perfume — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “fragrance-free — Olay Eye Lifting Serum”
  • Hydration and moisture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “banished dryness within days — Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturiser”
    • “Instantly boosts skin's hydration... face doesn't feel dry and tight. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “Instantly smoother, softer, and more hydrated — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
    • “light and smooth — Olay Ultimate Eye Cream”
  • Lightweight and non-greasy feel Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “sinks in instantly — Simple Water Boost Hydrating Gel Cream”
    • “absorbs very quickly — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “absorbs quickly — Olay Vitamin C Serum”
    • “absorbs instantly — Olay Super Serum Night Repair”
  • Fragrance-free formula Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Love that it has absolutely no scent. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “love that it's alcohol-free — Simple Kind to Skin Soothing Facial Toner”
    • “No strong smell — Simple Refreshing Facial Wash”
    • “no scent — Olay Super Serum Night Repair”
  • Improves skin texture Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin feels baby soft — Olay Retinol24”
    • “Skin feels like silk — Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Moisturizer”
    • “velvety soft skin — Olay Super Serum Night Repair”
  • Affordable price point and value Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “great value for money — Simple Kind to Skin Soothing Facial Toner”
    • “super affordable — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “Can't beat the price for the quality. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “Better than high-end moisturizers — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
  • Caused breakouts and skin reactions Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Gave me tiny bumps on my forehead. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “caused major breakouts — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “caused cystic acne — Olay Retinol24”
    • “Caused breakouts — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
  • Packaging and leaking issues Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Worried about the snap top bottle leaking when travelling. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “The cap broke off immediately. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “hard to get last bit out — Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturiser”
    • “hard to dispense — Olay Super Serum”
  • Residue and film left on skin Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Feels slimy on skin — Simple Refreshing Facial Wash”
    • “Still feeling a little bit of a film on my skin. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “Wake up feeling a bit greasy — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
    • “cakes up all over — Olay Advanced Eye Cream”

Simple vs Olay routines for dry skin

Buy Simple routine · £136.73 · 83% fitBuy Olay routine · £83.22 · 82% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Simple vs Olay routines for oily skin

Buy Simple routine · £221.50 · 87% fitBuy Olay routine · £195.17 · 86% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Simple vs Olay routines for combination skin

Buy Olay routine · £188.48 · 86% fitBuy Simple routine · £185.60 · 85% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Simple or Olay: which is better?

Simple is better for being gentle on sensitive skin and offering an affordable price point, while Olay does better at improving skin texture.

What is the difference between Simple and Olay?

Simple offers affordable options that are especially gentle on sensitive skin, whereas Olay excels at improving skin texture through a wider variety of specialized ingredients like peptides and retinol.

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

Simple or Olay for dry skin?

For dry skin, both Simple and Olay achieve a High routine fit on this page, making them equally suitable options. Simple is known for being gentle on sensitive skin and offering affordable, fragrance-free moisturizers, while Olay provides intense hydration and helps improve skin texture.

Simple or Olay: which cleanser is better?

Simple offers cleansing products on this page that are generally viewed as gentle and sensitive-skin-friendly, while Olay provides options like its Regenerating Cream Cleanser that help improve texture and smoothness for mature and acne-prone skin.

Which is more affordable, Simple or Olay?

Simple offers a more affordable price point and better value compared to Olay. Reviewers frequently mention Simple as a budget-friendly option.

Simple or Olay: which brand is better for mature skin?

Both Olay and Simple provide a High fit for mature skin, but Olay stands out with products like the Regenerist Ultra Rich Hydrating Moisturizer achieving a Superior fit level. Olay features key ingredients such as peptides and retinol which help improve skin texture and reduce signs of aging.

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

Simple or Olay: which brand has more fragrance-free options?

Simple has more fragrance-free options because every product on this page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, whereas Olay includes fragrance in one of its products on this page.

Simple or Olay: which brand is better for improving skin texture?

Olay does better for improving skin texture. The products on this page help enhance smoothness with key ingredients like Niacinamide.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Simple or Olay for oily skin?

Both Simple and Olay offer a High routine fit for oily skin. Reviewers note that the products on this page for both brands provide a lightweight feel, and Olay's key ingredients like niacinamide help control sebum while retinol and peptides improve skin texture.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Simple or Olay: which moisturizer is better?

Simple offers lightweight and value-friendly moisturizers on this page, whereas Olay provides specialized options like Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream that may improve skin texture and offer intense hydration.

Simple or Olay for sensitive skin?

Simple does better for sensitive skin, as reviewers find it more gentle on sensitive skin. Lovi rates the routine fit for sensitive skin as High for both brands.

Simple or Olay for acne-prone skin?

For acne-prone skin, Olay has a Superior routine fit compared to Simple's High fit on this page. Olay offers specialized ingredients like peptides and retinol which help improve skin texture and manage breakouts.

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

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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