Olay Retinol 24 Max Night Moisturizer: a Guru Score of 75%

What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Yay takes Nay takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored

✓Yay

"This is what I call a smart getaway retinol, and I mean that as a genuine compliment. The strongest retinol in the world isn't going to help you if you quit after a week because of redness and peeling. Tolerability and consistency will always beat potency if you can't stick with it, and this formula is built exactly for that. It uses a dual retinoid system."

Dr. Daniel Sugai

722k subs

✓Yay

"I like Olay, that's fragrance-free, rock their max hydration in the jar."

Top Pick: retinol product

All 2 takes from Dr. Daniel Sugai

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"I like Olay, that's fragrance-free, rock their max hydration in the jar."

Olay Super vs Retinol 24 Max: Which Serum Wins?

"This one still wins in my book. It has [...] their retinoid complex with retinol and retinyl propionate as their complex that we know works well on collagen production. So I'd say this one I would use more reliably. Always follow up with a moisturizer after your Olay Retinol 24 Max Night Moisturizer."

Mad About Skin

732k subs

✓Nay

"You have literally no idea what you're putting on your skin. Thanks to a little bit of investigative work, we now know that the strength of this is actually a 0.2% retinol, which is ridiculously low. The only max thing about this is the amount of hydrators that they're putting in it. So, as a moisturizer, this is fine. As a retinoid, you're going to get next to zero results because it's got such a low dose."

All 3 takes from Mad About Skin

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"It now turns out because they are still selling in the European Union that the reason they didn't want to tell us is because it actually contained a very low percentage of retinol, one that definitely doesn't warrant a Max logo or label on the product. That sort of deceptive marketing really has been exposed by these restrictions."

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"If you see Max on a product you assume that it's got a higher percentage of the key active ingredient they're promoting, in this case retinol. I don't think there's anyone out there that would assume anything different. The Max indicates a higher strength of the key ingredient that they're marketing and promoting, but all they actually say is the Max version just means more hydrators, maximum hydration. Olay, no. [...] Nobody read your marketing and thought yes that's it, more hydration."

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"You have literally no idea what you're putting on your skin. Thanks to a little bit of investigative work, we now know that the strength of this is actually a 0.2% retinol, which is ridiculously low. The only max thing about this is the amount of hydrators that they're putting in it. So, as a moisturizer, this is fine. As a retinoid, you're going to get next to zero results because it's got such a low dose."

Doctorly

3.59M subs

✓Yay

"Olay has a great retinol [...] line. They often combine retinols with peptides, especially in their eye cream. They don't get much love, I guess it's their fault they didn't really invest in the whole social media buzz, but Olay does have some good products."

Darnell Cox | 50+ Healthy Aging Expert

55k subs

✓Yay

"My top picks for retinol are [...] the Olay 24 Max. I love that product for first-time users. I mean it's not our grandma's Olay, you guys. [...] They know a lot about the science of skincare and it's often at the forefront because they're accessible and effective."

All 3 takes from Darnell Cox | 50+ Healthy Aging Expert

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"The Olay 24 Max is great because it's moisturizing and so you don't need to use a moisturizer over the top of that. You would use this on your face just like you would a cream, but when you want to use something like this on your body you put little dots so that [...] you can spread it more easily. If I were to try to take this and just spread it all around it's not going to spread as easily as if I put dots and then spread it, you're going to get a more even distribution of that product."

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"My top picks for retinol are [...] the Olay 24 Max. I love that product for first-time users. I mean it's not our grandma's Olay, you guys. [...] They know a lot about the science of skincare and it's often at the forefront because they're accessible and effective."

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"I actually really like the Olay Retinol 24 [...] Max as well and the way that I apply this is I do little dots all over because you don't want to waste the product. If I were to take like a clump of this and start in one place it's not going to spread as easily but you see how I can cover a large area with minimal product just by placing it strategically around the treatment area instead of starting with one area."

The Budget Dermatologist

724k subs

✓Nay

"The reason I say this is not my first choice is because retinol has to undergo two conversions to get to retinoic acid. [...] Retinaldehyde has to only undergo one, so this is closer to prescription strength. Now retinol can still be effective and you'll get even less side effects with that, but it's not the strongest option. But if you still want to go with a retinol product I support that."

All 2 takes from The Budget Dermatologist

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"The reason I say this is not my first choice is because retinol has to undergo two conversions to get to retinoic acid. [...] Retinaldehyde has to only undergo one, so this is closer to prescription strength. Now retinol can still be effective and you'll get even less side effects with that, but it's not the strongest option. But if you still want to go with a retinol product I support that."

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"Two other absolute drugstore staples are the Neutrogena rapid wrinkle repair and the Olay retinol 24 max. I consider these similar products. These do not disclose their percentage strength of retinol, however many clinical studies show their efficacy. I like to use options like this on my neck and hands because I find them way more gentle in those sensitive skin areas."

Dr. Shereene Idriss

1.73M subs

✓Yay

"If you are a newbie to retinol usage this is actually one that I was surprised to say I do not mind for you to start with. It starts to introduce the ingredient into your skincare routine in a very gentle formulation. I do not mind at all that there is no percentage of retinol on this. I like that it is gentle. If you're extremely sensitive or scared to dip your toes, it is a good one to try."

What the evidence says.

Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.

Retinoids

Retinoids are among the best studied ingredients in dermatology, with solid evidence for acne and for the fine lines and rough texture that come from sun exposure. Dryness and flaking in the first few weeks are common and usually settle.

Source: DermNet

Niacinamide

Niacinamide has evidence behind it for redness, uneven tone and supporting the skin barrier, and it is usually well tolerated even by skin that reacts to most things.

Source: DermNet

Sunscreen filters

Sun protection is the best evidenced way to slow visible ageing, and the filters are what does the work. Mineral and chemical filters both protect when a product is applied thickly enough and often enough, which is where most people fall short rather than on the choice of filter.

Source: DermNet

Frequently asked.

What is Olay Retinol 24 Max Night Moisturizer?

A fragrance-free retinol night moisturizer combining retinol with retinyl propionate and hydrators, designed to introduce retinoids gently while maintaining moisture.

Is Olay Retinol 24 Max Night Moisturizer worth it?

Mostly yes. 5 of the 7 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 75%.

What is Olay Retinol 24 Max Night Moisturizer's Guru Score?

Olay Retinol 24 Max Night Moisturizer holds a Guru Score of 75%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 7 expert reviewers we have collected. At least one expert has named it a Top Pick in its category.