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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 skincare brands offering serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and more. The Ordinary is built around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane, suiting dry and dry sensitive skin best, while Olay thoughtfully pairs niacinamide and glycerin to suit acne-prone and mature skin best. Both brands differ in their specific ingredient concentrations and targeted formulations to address distinct skincare needs.

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

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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 · £90.51 · 97% fitBuy Olay routine · £83.22 · 82% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

The Ordinary vs Olay routines for oily skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · £120.07 · 93% fitBuy Olay routine · £195.17 · 86% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

The Ordinary vs Olay routines for combination skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · £134.25 · 92% fitBuy Olay routine · £188.48 · 86% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Olay: which is better?

The Ordinary is better for value and acne-clearing serums, while Olay does better for texture, hydration, and brightening.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Olay?

The Ordinary offers better value and acne-clearing serums, while Olay excels in texture, absorption, hydration, and brightening.

The Ordinary or Olay for dry skin?

For dry skin, The Ordinary offers a superior routine fit compared to Olay which has a high fit. Hyaluronic acid helps improve skin hydration.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Olay: which cleanser is better?

The products on this page from The Ordinary and Olay both offer a variety of cleansers, but reviewers note that The Ordinary provides better overall value and price while Olay excels in texture and absorption. Lovi rates the cleansers from The Ordinary as a Superior fit for dry skin and dry sensitive skin, whereas Olay cleansers generally offer High or Average fit levels across those same skin types.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Olay?

The Ordinary offers better value, with its serums noted by reviewers as affordable and great value compared to Olay.

Between The Ordinary and Olay, which brand is better suited for reducing dark spots?

Olay is better suited for reducing dark spots because it performs better on brightening and dark spots compared to The Ordinary. Niacinamide helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation and suppresses melanosome transfer.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Do The Ordinary and Olay products contain fragrance?

The products on this page from The Ordinary list no fragrance in their ingredients, while almost all Olay products are also fragrance-free except for the Oil Minimizing Clean Toner.

Which brand performs better for texture and absorption?

Olay performs better for texture and absorption, as reviewers often mention improved texture, smoothness, and lightweight feel for its products.

The Ordinary or Olay for oily skin?

Lovi rates both The Ordinary and Olay as having a High fit for oily skin. The Ordinary offers superior value and acne-clearing options, while Olay excels in texture and hydration.

The Ordinary or Olay: which moisturizer is better?

Both The Ordinary and Olay offer strong moisturizers, with Olay standing out for intense hydration and texture while The Ordinary provides great value and options tailored for sensitive skin.

The Ordinary or Olay for sensitive skin?

The Ordinary is a better fit for sensitive skin, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to Olay's High fit on this page. Hyaluronic acid helps improve skin hydration and anti-aging signs.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Drug Delivery, 2017

The Ordinary or Olay for acne-prone skin?

Both The Ordinary and Olay offer a Superior fit for acne-prone skin, with The Ordinary particularly noted by reviewers for its acne-clearing serums. Niacinamide helps reduce pigmentation, and topical treatments may assist with blemishes.

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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