This $29 Moisturizer Is a Surprisingly Effective Dupe for Murad’s Retinol Cream

Luxe skincare brand Murad has a cult following, and for good reason: The products are solid. We’ll admit it. But what a lot of folks who are willing to shell out $82 for an anti-aging moisturizer don’t realize is that those expensive formulas—they’re not the only ones that can deliver serious results. In fact, there’s one product out there whose effects are completely comparable to the Murad blends, labels aside. But here’s the thing: It’s less than half of the price. Yep, Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Moisturizer ($29) is the Murad beauty dupe your wallet’s been waiting for. 

Let’s take a look at the facts: Murad’s Retinol Youth Renewal Night Cream is ideal for thirstier skin types who are looking for a potent, yet gentle formula. The rich, lightly scented cream hydrates with shea butter, squalane, and a pack of fatty alcohols. It also features three types of retinol: A fast-acting retinoid, a time-released retinol and a retinol booster helps fight lines and deep wrinkles. In clinical studies, 83% of users noticed firmer, more supple skin in four weeks. Oh, and it’s got a healthy dose of niacinamide to protect the skin barrier, too. Sounds pretty good, huh?

Now, for Olay Regenerist Retinol 24: It’s also a night cream and ideal for those with dry skin, and it’s formulated with Vitamin B3 (aka niacinamide) and a proprietary retinoid complex. This moisturizer helps keep your skin seriously hydrated and delivers visible improvement in the appearance of fine lines, but users also noticed a difference in smoother, brighter skin in just 24 hours when they used Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 (hence the name). Finally, it’s fragrance free, and right now, it costs just $29.

So let’s recap: Both formulas offer intense moisturizing capabilities, both use niacinamide and both serve to improve the look of wrinkles with a retinol technology. However, one is less than half the price.

Still not convinced? Fans of the Olay moisturizer rave about it—in fact, it’s earned itself 4.5/5 stars from 1,602 reviews on olay.com. Satisfied customers say things like, “It goes on velvety smooth and feels incredible. My face the next morning had a noticeable difference in the feel and texture. Makeup went on smooth and achieved a flawless finish. I 100% believe in this product already, and I recommend it highly.”

Another one sums up its benefits nicely, explaining: “What I love about Olay products is that they do the job they say they will do with no unnecessary frills at a fantastic price point. When I first started using this moisturizer my skin had been kind of dry and rough from constantly being out in the sun and at the beach with sand and salt. After using this for just one night, my skin felt restored and hydrated and smooth.”

As far as beauty products go, we’re always up for a good dupe. And given how effective this Olay moisturizer is, coupled with its low price point (we’re drawing some pretty convincing charts in our heads right now), it’s safe to say that in this case, we’re squarely team Olay.