Olay Retinol 24 is fragrance-free and does more for the money. Neutrogena is the simpler, smaller retinol cream.
Both are drugstore retinol night creams you use after cleansing, and both will help soften fine lines with steady use. They’re built differently, though.
Olay Retinol 24 stacks its ingredients. It uses two retinoids, retinol and retinyl propionate, listed right after its base, then niacinamide and peptides. It’s fragrance-free and comes in a 1.7 oz size. Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair keeps it simple. Retinol and hyaluronic acid in a moisturizing cream, packed in a 1 fl oz pump bottle. It contains fragrance.
Neutrogena also makes a larger 1.7 oz Regenerating Cream with the same retinol and hyaluronic acid pairing. We cover when that’s the better Neutrogena buy below.
Which retinol night cream to buy
What separates the two creams
Olay does more in one step. It pairs retinol with retinyl propionate, a gentler vitamin A ester, and lists both right after its base ingredients. Niacinamide follows, which helps with tone and pores and supports the skin barrier, then a blend of peptides. Neutrogena keeps it simpler: retinol and hyaluronic acid in a classic moisturizing cream, with both listed near the end of the formula.
Fragrance is the clearest split. Olay Retinol 24 is fragrance-free. Neutrogena's night moisturizer lists fragrance in its formula. Retinol already makes skin more reactive while it adjusts, so if scented products tend to bother you, that alone points to Olay.
Value and packaging. Olay gives you 1.7 oz and usually costs less per ounce, though it costs more upfront. Neutrogena's 1 fl oz night moisturizer is the cheaper bottle to start with, and its pump keeps air and light off the retinol between uses. If you already know you like Neutrogena's retinol, the 1.7 oz Regenerating Cream covered below costs less per ounce than the small bottle.
Whichever you choose, go slowly. Both are real retinol creams, and both can cause dryness or flaking in the first weeks. Neither moisturizing extra cancels that out, so start a few nights a week and wear sunscreen every morning.
| Smaller pump bottle Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Night Cream | VS | Best overall Olay Retinol 24 Fragrance-Free Peptide Night Cream |
|---|---|---|
Retinol | Retinoids |
Retinol + retinyl propionate |
Sodium hyaluronate, glycerin | Supporting ingredients |
Niacinamide, peptides, glycerin |
Yes | Fragrance |
No |
1 fl oz | Amount |
1.7 oz |
Higher | Cost per ounce |
Lower |
| View | View |
Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Night: retinol and hyaluronic acid in a pump
Retinol and hyaluronic acid night moisturizer in a pump.
Neutrogena’s night moisturizer is a classic silicone-and-emollient cream: water, pentaerythrityl tetraethylhexanoate, dimethicone and glycerin up top, then fatty alcohols for body. Retinol and sodium hyaluronate (hyaluronic acid) come late in the list. That’s typical for retinol, which works at low levels, and the hyaluronic acid adds a little extra hydration.
The pump bottle is a real plus. Retinol breaks down with air and light, and a closed pump protects it better than a jar.
The drawback is fragrance, which is listed in the formula. If scented skincare tends to sting or redden your skin, choose Olay. The bottle holds 1 fl oz, so it costs less upfront but more per ounce.
- Pure retinol plus hyaluronic acid in one night moisturizer
- Pump bottle keeps air and light away from the retinol
- Lower upfront cost, so it’s an easy first retinol to try
- Contains fragrance
- Only 1 oz, and usually more per ounce than Olay
- No niacinamide or peptides
Olay Retinol 24: two retinoids, niacinamide and no fragrance
Fragrance-free retinol cream with niacinamide and peptides.
Olay’s night cream has a short, silicone-based formula: water, dimethicone, glycerin, a starch, then retinol and retinyl propionate. Using two retinoids is the core of Olay’s Retinol 24 line. Retinol does the heavy lifting on fine lines, and retinyl propionate is a gentler vitamin A ester. Both sit near the top of the list.
Niacinamide (vitamin B3) comes right after. It helps with uneven tone, dullness and the look of pores, and it supports the skin barrier while you adjust to retinol. A blend of peptides, including palmitoyl pentapeptide-4, follows in smaller amounts.
It’s fragrance-free and has a light, smooth feel that sinks in without stickiness. At 1.7 oz it usually costs less per ounce than Neutrogena’s 1 oz night moisturizer. Very dry skin may want a richer moisturizer over it.
- Fragrance-free
- Two retinoids, retinol and retinyl propionate, high in the list
- Niacinamide and peptides in the same step
- 1.7 oz, and usually less per ounce than the Neutrogena night bottle
- Higher upfront cost
- Retinoids still cause dryness and flaking while your skin adjusts
- Lightweight, silicone-heavy texture may not be rich enough for very dry skin
Neutrogena Regenerating Cream: the bigger Neutrogena retinol cream
Neutrogena retinol and hyaluronic acid in a 1.7 oz size.
Regenerating Cream is Neutrogena’s Rapid Wrinkle Repair retinol in a 1.7 oz size. Like the night moisturizer, it pairs retinol with sodium hyaluronate (hyaluronic acid) in a silicone-smooth cream base.
The reason to buy it is quantity. It holds 70% more cream than the 1 oz night moisturizer and usually costs less per ounce. It doesn’t add niacinamide or peptides, so it still does less than Olay beyond the retinol.
Try the smaller bottle or Olay first if you’re new to retinol. Pick this up once you know Neutrogena’s retinol agrees with your skin.
- Same retinol and hyaluronic acid pairing as the night moisturizer
- 1.7 oz, so it lasts much longer
- Usually costs less per ounce than the 1 oz night bottle
- Not a stronger or different kind of treatment, just more of it
- Still no niacinamide or peptides
How to start either retinol cream
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Patch-test first
Apply a small amount along your jawline for a few nights before using it on your whole face. Watch for redness, stinging or peeling that doesn’t settle.
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Start two or three nights a week
Use a pea-sized amount on clean, dry skin at night. After two weeks without irritation, add a night, and work up to nightly use as your skin allows.
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Keep the rest of your routine plain
Don’t start exfoliating acids, benzoyl peroxide or another retinoid at the same time. A gentle cleanser and a plain moisturizer are all you need around it.
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Wear sunscreen every morning
Retinoids make skin more sensitive to the sun. Use a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher every day and reapply when you’re outdoors.
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Back off if your skin complains
If dryness or stinging builds up, skip a few nights or apply moisturizer first to buffer the retinol. Stop if irritation keeps coming back.
Expect some dryness, flaking or tingling in the first few weeks with either cream. That’s normal retinol adjustment, and slowing down usually fixes it. Visible changes to fine lines take consistent use over a couple of months. Retinoids are generally avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding. If you have rosacea, eczema or another skin condition, see a dermatologist before adding retinol.
Choose Olay Retinol 24 for most people. It’s fragrance-free, lists retinol and retinyl propionate right after its base ingredients, adds niacinamide and peptides, and gives you 1.7 oz for less per ounce than the Neutrogena night moisturizer.
Choose Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Night if you want a simple retinol and hyaluronic acid cream in a pump bottle and you don’t mind fragrance. It’s the smaller, lower-cost bottle to try retinol with, but skip it if scented skincare bothers you.
If you already know Neutrogena’s retinol suits you, the 1.7 oz Regenerating Cream gives you more of the same retinol and hyaluronic acid pairing for less per ounce. Whichever you pick, start slowly and wear sunscreen every morning.
