The Best Olay Products by Skin Concern

The best Olay products are the Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream Fragrance Free ($36.65) as an everyday peptide moisturizer, the Retinol24 Night Smoothing Serum ($39.99) as a gentle first retinoid, the Retinol24 Night Moisturizer ($39.99) for dry skin at night, and the Complete + Daily Moisturizer SPF 40 ($26.65) for daytime. The Vitamin C Brightening Serum is the pick for dullness if you don't mind fragrance, and the Refreshing Gel Cleanser ($9.99) is the budget buy.

Before you buy, you can scan a jar's barcode or label with the ingredient scanner in Pori to check the formula against your skin type. That helps with Olay, because many products come in both scented and fragrance-free versions. Pori reads ingredients; it does not diagnose skin conditions.

Quick picks

• Best overall: Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream Fragrance Free ($36.65 for 1.7 oz, olay.com): niacinamide and three peptides in a light cream.
• Best first retinoid: Retinol24 Night Smoothing Serum ($39.99 for 1.3 oz, olay.com): retinol and retinyl propionate with niacinamide, fragrance-free.
• Best night cream: Retinol24 Night Moisturizer ($39.99 for 1.7 oz, olay.com): the same retinoid pair in a cream, for drier skin.
• Best daily SPF: Complete + Daily Facial Moisturizer SPF 40 ($26.65 for 6 oz, olay.com): fragrance-free sunscreen moisturizer for sensitive skin.
• Best with zinc oxide: Complete Lotion Moisturizer Sensitive SPF 30 ($19.99 for 2.5 oz, olay.com): zinc oxide 6.9% with three chemical filters.
• Best for dullness: Vitamin C Brightening Serum ($39.99 for 1.3 oz, olay.com): a vitamin C derivative with niacinamide and lactic acid.
• Best budget: Refreshing Gel Cleanser with Hyaluronic ($9.99, olay.com): a fragrance-free foaming gel wash.

We compared published ingredient lists, Drug Facts, brand claims and listed prices; we did not test these products on skin. Prices are list prices on olay.com as of November 2026; Olay is discounted often at drugstores, Target and Amazon. This page ranks products. For who owns Olay, why niacinamide runs through the range and what each line does, see our Olay skincare guide.

How do the best Olay products compare?

Which Olay moisturizer is best?

Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream Fragrance Free: best overall

The little red jar is Olay's signature cream, and the fragrance-free version is the one to buy. Its list puts niacinamide fifth, then adds dimethicone, panthenol and three peptides: palmitoyl dipeptide-7, palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 and tripeptide-3. Olay lists it for dry, normal and oily skin at $36.65 for 1.7 oz.

Who it suits: normal and dry skin that wants a light, hydrating cream. Who should skip it: very dry skin that needs something heavier, and anyone on a tight budget. The catch: Olay's claims, such as tightening and lifting, are cosmetic; peptide evidence is modest. Expect smoother, better-hydrated skin. Our peptides in skincare guide explains what peptides can and can't do. The original version, with a light floral scent, costs the same.

Retinol24 Night Moisturizer: best night cream

This cream puts retinol and retinyl propionate high in the list, right after water, dimethicone, glycerin and a few texture agents, with niacinamide, the same three peptides and carnosine. Olay says it is fragrance-free and lists it at $39.99 for 1.7 oz.

Who it suits: dry and normal skin that wants a retinoid and a night moisturizer in one step. Who should skip it: anyone pregnant, since the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) says retinoids should not be used during pregnancy, and anyone using a prescription retinoid. The catch: Olay does not disclose the retinoid percentage, so you can't compare strength with other brands. Start every other night and wear sunscreen in the morning.

Which Olay retinol is best?

Retinol24 Night Smoothing Serum: best first retinoid

If you want Olay's retinoid on its own, under your usual moisturizer, choose the serum. The list starts with water, dimethicone and glycerin, then retinol, retinyl propionate, niacinamide and palmitoyl pentapeptide-4. Olay calls it fragrance- and dye-free, for normal, sensitive, dry and oily skin, at $39.99 for 1.3 oz.

Who it suits: retinoid beginners with fine lines or uneven texture. Who should skip it: anyone pregnant, and people with a formaldehyde allergy. Its preservatives include DMDM hydantoin, which the FDA lists among formaldehyde-releasing ingredients that are common cosmetic allergens. The catch: as with the cream, the strength is not disclosed, and the price is higher than most drugstore retinol serums. The AAD advises starting with the least intense retinoid you can find, every other night, with sunscreen every day. Our best retinol serum for beginners list has cheaper options, and peeling from retinol covers the first weeks.

Which Olay sunscreen is best?

Complete + Daily Facial Moisturizer SPF 40: best daily SPF

This is Olay's best value for daily sun protection. The actives are avobenzone 3%, homosalate 10%, octisalate 5% and octocrylene 9%, and the base adds niacinamide, vitamin E, panthenol and rice bran extract. Olay labels it fragrance-free for sensitive skin, with a light matte finish, at $26.65 for a 6 oz bottle.

Who it suits: normal, combination and sensitive skin that wants one morning product. Who should skip it: people who react to chemical filters. The catch: it is not water-resistant; the directions tell you to use a water-resistant sunscreen if swimming or sweating.

Complete Lotion Moisturizer Sensitive SPF 30: best with zinc oxide

For a lower price, this fragrance-free lotion combines zinc oxide 6.9% with octinoxate 7.5%, octisalate 2.5% and octocrylene 2.5%, plus niacinamide, panthenol, green tea, vitamin E and aloe. Olay lists it at $19.99 for 2.5 oz.

Who it suits: sensitive skin that wants some mineral protection in a light lotion. Who should skip it: anyone looking for a 100% mineral sunscreen, and people with a formaldehyde allergy, because it also lists DMDM hydantoin. The catch: SPF 30 is the AAD's minimum, so apply a full layer. Skip Olay's SPF 15 moisturizers as your only daily sunscreen.

Is Olay Vitamin C serum worth it?

Vitamin C Brightening Serum: best for dullness

The serum uses 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid, a stable vitamin C derivative, alongside niacinamide, lactic acid, a peptide and panthenol. Olay says to use it morning and night and lists it at $39.99 for 1.3 oz.

Who it suits: normal and oily skin that looks dull and wants a light, layered brightening step. Who should skip it: sensitive skin. The ingredient list ends with fragrance, and Olay describes it as citrus-scented. The catch: derivatives are gentler and usually weaker than pure ascorbic acid, and Olay doesn't give the percentage. For stubborn dark spots, see how to fade dark spots and our best vitamin C serum for beginners list.

Which Olay cleanser is best?

Refreshing Gel Cleanser with Hyaluronic: best budget

Olay's cleansers are cheap, and this one is fragrance-free. It foams with sodium lauroamphoacetate and other surfactants and adds sodium hyaluronate, niacinamide and a peptide. It costs $9.99 on olay.com.

Who it suits: normal and oily skin that likes a foaming gel. Who should skip it: very dry skin, which may prefer a cream wash. The catch: the list also includes salicylic acid and sodium trideceth sulfate, a sulfate-type surfactant, so patch test it if your skin is reactive. Hyaluronic acid and peptides do little in a wash that rinses off in seconds, and the same goes for Olay's retinol and vitamin C cleansers.

Which Olay products should you skip?

• The scented version when a fragrance-free one exists. Micro-Sculpting Cream, the Regenerist Whip and Super Cream SPF 30 come in fragrance-free versions.
• SPF 15 moisturizers as daily sunscreen. The AAD recommends SPF 30 or higher.
• Retinol24 and the vitamin C serum with lactic acid on the same night at first. Introduce one active at a time; our guide to introducing new products shows how.
• Olay's free selfie scan as your shopping list. Our Olay Skin Advisor review explains why its picks come only from Olay.

How we chose

We picked one Olay product for each common job and favored fragrance-free versions and SPF 30 or higher. We read each product page on olay.com in November 2026 for price, size, claims and the full ingredient list or Drug Facts, and checked retinoid, sunscreen and allergen advice against the AAD and the FDA. We did not wear-test anything and took no payment from Olay or Procter & Gamble. Browse more in our moisturizer and serum catalogues, or see the skincare routine for your 40s.