Aveeno vs Olay 2023 (The Definitive Guide)

We're positive you've seen Aveeno and Olay on the shelves at your local supermarket or beauty store before. But which is best? And which should you choose?

Come with us as we compare their best-selling moisturizers side-by-side to help you decide which is the best for you and your skincare routine!

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Aveeno vs Olay

Though both brands offer loads of different moisturizers, let's be honest, we're all here for their best-sellers. So let's dive straight in!

A good moisturizer is one that instantly provides relief to sensitive skin, and intensely rehydrates while replenishing the moisture barrier.

Two of the very best moisturizers for healthy looking skin are the Aveeno Calm+Restore Oat Gel Moisturizer and Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream.

The Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream utilizes 3 main ingredients to help firm and hydrate the skin. The blend includes Niacinamide (vitamin B3), Amino-Peptides, and Hyaluronic Acid. Niacinamide is one of those *holy grail* ingredients that we love to see on ingredients lists. It keeps your skin super hydrated and helps with surface skin cell turnover and regeneration to remove dull skin. The amino peptides help firm the skin, and the hyaluronic acid is the moisture magnet that helps regulate water within the skin cells.

Aveeno has been known to utilize oats in many of its products, and the Aveeno Calm+Restore Gel Moisturizer is no exception. The natural ingredient works as an emollient, meaning that it helps retain moisture in the skin, but it also has a bonus effect of helping to soothe and calm inflammation. In fact, dermatologists highly recommend using oats for dry skin-related problems such as eczema (so it can definitely handle a bit of dryness). On the whole, this moisturizer will help your skin feel instantly better, and it works overtime to help create that glass skin look.

The Aveeno moisturizer and the Olay cream are both paraben free. However, Aveeno is also fragrance-free, and they do not test on animals. Aveeno is also UL ECOLOGO certified, which means they make products free of dangerous chemicals, and they have made commitments to reduce animal testing and the product's impact on health and the environment.

Both products are relatively affordable, with the Olay cream coming in slightly at the higher end. Aveeno retails for about $17-$20, depending on the retailer, and the Olay cream retails for about $22-$27. Both products come in 1.7 Oz sizing.

Olay is a timeless household name, boasting countless transformational products. The Micro-Sculpting Cream is just one of many, promising to: instantly hydrate and firm, protect the skin's natural barrier, and diminish the appearance of fine lines & wrinkles. In practice, we found this cream works flawlessly for normal, combination, or oily skin. If you have skin concerns of dryness, fine lines/wrinkles, uneven texture, or sagging skin, you will want to pick this one up.

If you have sensitive skin, the Aveeno Calm+Restore Gel Moisturizer might be more up your alley. If you suffer from dry or irritated skin this moisturizer helps to strengthen your skin barrier for more resilient skin. This means over time, with continued use, you will suffer less and less irritation.

Calm + Restore Oat Gel Moisturizer by Aveeno

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Our rating: ★★★★★

Price: $$$$

Clinically proven to nourish skin.

What makes it special? This hypoallergenic, lightweight gel cream, instantly soothes and intensely hydrates sensitive skin replenishing the moisture barrier for healthy looking skin. The formula, with prebiotic oat & calming feverfew, helps nourish the skin’s moisture barrier, soothe and calm the skin.

Which skin types? For all skin types.

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Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream by Olay

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Our rating: ★★★★★

Price: $$$$

Designed to deliver moisture 10 layers deep into the skin's surface.

What makes it special? "The Red Jar" – known to many as their go-to, nonnegotiable face moisturizer with over 50 million jars sold, Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Face Cream is designed to visibly diminish wrinkles & fine lines starting day 1. Used as the last step in your routine, this luxurious-feeling moisturizer leaves skin hydrated, softens the look of fine lines and wrinkles and firms the look of skin with plumping hydration.

Which skin types? For all skin types.

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