Neutrogena vs Olay 2024 (The Definitive Guide)

Today, we will be comparing two skincare brands that offer some of the *best* anti-aging products on the market - Neutrogena vs Olay. More specifically, we'll be comparing products from their best-selling Regenerist, Retinol 24, Rapid Wrinkle Repair, and Hydro Boost ranges, respectively.

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Neutrogena

Owned by Johnson & Johnson, Neutrogena is a science-driven skincare line known for its effective yet affordable products. Founded in 1930 by Emanuel Stolaroff, the brand was previously called Natone and was later named Neutrogena.

Neutrogena's anti-aging line features four key ingredients; Retinol, hyaluronic acid, vitamin c, and SPF, and recommends a 4 step routine cleanser, treatment, moisturizer, and sunscreen.

Two of the brand's best selling anti-aging products are the Regenerating Anti-Wrinkle Retinol Cream + Hyaluronic Acid (award-winning) and the Rapid Wrinkle Repair Eye Cream (best selling), as featured in our product comparison.

Olay

Olay has been on the scene for over 65 years and boasts a team of over 500 scientists working to develop formulas for its range of skincare products. Olay is owned by the parent company Procter & Gamble (P&G), an American multinational company that owns Gillette, Native, Old Spice, SK-II, Oral B, Snowberry, Secret, Ivory, etc.

Unsurprisingly, Olay is one of P&G's biggest success stories, with sales of more than $2 billion in 2008 and over $3.3 billion in 2013. Olay is constantly competing with skincare rivals Neutrogena and Dove, and Nivea. Overall, Olay is now in more than 80 countries and is one of the world's known skincare brands.

The most popular Olay product line in the USA is the Olay Regenerist range featured in our product comparison below. Furthermore, Olay Complete Care and Olay Regenerist were the UK's top favorites.

Neutrogena vs Olay Moisturizer

Olay Retinol 24 vs Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Moisturizers

Our first matchup is the Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair vs Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 face creams.

First and foremost, it's worth understanding that neither cream contains very much retinol. While Neutrogena's Aussie site has let slip that their cream contains a 0.13% concentration of pure retinol, Olay has just left us with the promise that it does indeed contain pure retinol (and we suspect it's probably also around the ~0.1% mark concentration-wise).

You'd be forgiven for thinking that this must mean they're no good, but actually they're *perfect* starter retinols for those with retinoid-virgin skin. While the potency of higher retinoid doses may yield more significant benefits, they're also very unforgiving and will happily slap your face with chemical burns if you're not totally sure how much your skin can handle.

Back to the comparison, Neutrogena's Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream is cushioned with a hydrating portion of Hyaluronic Acid, whereas Olay's Retinol 24 Night Cream goes one step further in the anti-aging department with the inclusion of collagen-stimulating Peptides. Not to mention the fact that Olay's also includes Niacinamide, a certified superstar ingredient boasting moisturizing, brightening, and pore-refining properties.

Texture-wise, they're both pretty similar. Both moisturizers contain Dimethicone which contributes heavily to that glide you get out of luxurious moisturizers like these. This ingredient also temporarily fills in fine lines, wrinkles, and pores for an instant anti-aging effect (to tide you over until retinol's benefits properly kick in).

Without knowing the exact concentrations, it's impossible to objectively state which of the two boasts the best formula. Subjectively, though, we love Olay's formula, and it really takes the cake with the inclusion of anti-aging Peptides and Niacinamide, as well as the fact that it's also fragrance-free.

Olay Regenerist vs Neutrogena Hydro Boost Moisturizers

Now, let's take a peek at the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel vs Olay's Regenerist Hyaluronic + Peptide 24 Gel Cream.

The key similarity between the two is the fact that they're both gel-cream moisturizers with an emphasis on hydration, specifically thanks to the inclusion of Hyaluronic Acid. That's more or less where Neutrogena stops—and judging by the reviews, it's certainly not a bad place to stop—yet Olay goes one step further.

As part of the Regenerist range, it's no surprise that the Olay Hyaluronic + Peptide 24 Gel Cream has a bit of an anti-aging twist. Specifically, it additionally contains collagen-stimulating Peptides and fine line-reducing Niacinamide. This "twist" (as we're calling it) comes at a cost, though. $10, or 50% more than Neutrogena's, to be precise.

Both products are oil-free, lightweight, and non-comedogenic, making them great options for oilier skin types. They're also intensely hydrating and gentle, making them ideal for normal or dry skin. Olay has a slight edge when it comes to those of us with sensitive skin, though, since Neutrogena's contains both dye and fragrance (and Olay's doesn't).

Regardless of skin type, if you're looking for a healthy-looking glow, you can't go far wrong with either moisturizer. The decision ultimately comes down to whether or not you feel like the extra $10 is worth it for Olay's anti-aging bonuses. If all you're looking for is a hydration boost, then feel free to save your hard-earned and opt for Neutrogena's Hydro Boost Water Gel.

Neutrogena vs Olay Eye Cream

Next up in our side-by-side comparisons are the Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair vs Olay Retinol 24 eye creams. Retinol can be used around the eye area to minimize the look of fine lines and crows feet, as well as brighten dark circles.

When it comes to picking an eye cream, you should have one thing and one thing only spring to mind: gentleness. The skin surrounding your eyes is considerably thinner than the rest of your face, and so it requires an even lighter touch.

Fortunately, both Olay and Neutrogena got the memo, and their eye cream offerings are particularly tender. HOWEVER, as much as retinol is widely accepted as being suitable for use around the eyes, if you have naturally sensitive skin or don't know how your skin reacts to retinol, please proceed with a modicum of caution.*

(*A good chunk of the negative reviews for both products—in a sea of mostly positive reviews—are from customers who have unfortunately experienced some irritation.)

The formulas are more or less identical to their face cream counterparts, with Neutrogena's Rapid Wrinkle Repair Eye Cream combining Retinol and Hyaluronic Acid, and Olay's Retinol 24 Eye Cream synergizing Retinol and Niacinamide.

Given that the playing field is more level with Olay omitting peptides from their formula this time around, it almost seems like a no-brainer to opt for the cheaper Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Eye Cream.

The only reason we'd choose Olay instead would be if you could justify the additional cost. For instance, if you have oily skin it could be worth it to you (since Niacinamide arguably offers more benefits to oily skin types). Or, if you *really* wanted to complete the full Olay routine, then what's a few extra bucks?

Neutrogena vs Olay Serum

Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair vs Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Serums

Next, we have the Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair vs Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 serums. A skin serum is not a moisturizer or cream, but a highly concentrated formula designed to sink into your skin and absorb quickly. A serum will usually be applied to the skin after cleansing but before moisturizing as an additional step in your skincare routine to treat a specific skin condition.

If you've been following along with the comparison thus far, it'll come as no surprise that Neutrogena's Rapid Wrinkle Repair Serum features Retinol and Hyaluronic Acid, and Olay's Regenerist Retinol 24 Serum highlights Retinol, Niacinamide, and Peptides.

Nor will it surprise you to hear that we have no idea how much retinol is in either serum, simply because neither brand divulges this info. It'd be great to be able to go into how different potencies of retinol would massively influence your decision, but alas we're going to have to settle for a cursory comparison of their formulas instead.

Assuming they boast relatively similar concentrations of retinol (grr), it's plain to see that Olay's formula offers greater anti-aging benefits given the inclusion of collagen-stimulating peptides.

However, Neutrogena's formula also includes Hinokitiol, a superpower ingredient that has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-melanogenic properties. Perhaps most intriguingly, though, it is particularly effective against P. acnes bacteria, a major cause of adult acne.

Combined with the keratolyic (meaning an ingredient which breaks down the outer layers of the skin) retinol, it actually means that the Rapid Wrinkle Repair Serum doubles up as a reasonably effective treatment for pesky blemishes, and even rosacea.

If all you're looking for is an anti-aging serum and you don't mind paying a little extra, then the Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Serum is the obvious choice.

Neutrogena Hydro Boost vs Olay Regenerist Serums

And finally, we have the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Serum vs Olay Regenerist Hyaluronic + Peptide 24 Serum serums.

So as not to entirely repeat ourselves, we're just going to begin by saying that our conclusion here is the exact same as for the Neutrogena Hydro Boost vs Olay Regenerist comparison above.

To summarize: while Neutrogena's Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Serum is solely focused on hydration, Olay's Regenerist Hyaluronic + Peptide 24 Serum contains what we called an anti-aging "twist".

In other words, if you're just looking for a hydrating serum then Neutrogena is the way to go. Olay's serum is an extra $10 for additional anti-aging benefits, which is obviously only worth it if that's what you're after. (Collagen-stimulating Peptides and fine line-refining Niacinamide doesn't come cheap, apparently!)

Neutrogena vs Olay Conclusion

Neutrogena and Olay offer a range of products using Retinol to promote healthy glowing skin. Each product reviewed in this article contains Retinol to reduce fine lines, increase skin cell turnover and reveal smooth, hydrated skin. When it comes to ingredients, price point, popularity, and research, both brands are similar.

However, if you can invest in a higher quality anti-aging skincare line, it may be worth your time and money. Here's why: Retinol has faced becoming a trending word in marketing skincare brands. Celebrities and dermatologists claim its incredible skin benefits and promote drugstore brands' effectiveness for glowing, younger skin.

Unfortunately, marketing campaigns that claim Retinol products can show results in 24 hours do not match the science. Sure, Retinol works to exfoliate the skin, meaning you can wake up with smoother feeling skin the very next day. Yet dermatologists say that brands can be misleading regarding fine lines and wrinkles, which are not a quick fix. Nevertheless, the long-term results of adding a Retinol cream to your skincare lineup are worth the investment.

As for the question at hand, we prefer Neutrogena over Olay. The prices come out to be around the same, but the formulas of the Rapid Wrinkle Repair range are more enticing—and premium, for that matter—than their Retinol 24 counterparts. Our opinion is corroborated by the disparity in popularity between the two.

Granted, popularity isn’t necessarily a guarantee of quality nor results, but when comparing two equally gigantic brands it certainly isn’t a bad indicator to go by. In testing, though, we had nothing but positives to report for either range (so if Olay has taken your fancy instead, you'll be in for just as much of a treat!).

This article was originally published on February 15th 2022, but it has been reviewed and updated with the latest available information on January 26th 2024 by Sara Mckay, MA.