Who is the actress in the Olay Retinol 24 ad?
*Discovering the face behind the campaign for Olay’s Retinol 24 line*
(By Carmichael Phillip)
The campaign: Olay Retinol 24 + Peptide Night Collection
The skincare brand Olay launched a campaign for their Retinol 24 + Peptide Night collection, with the tagline “Face Anything.” According to iSpot.tv, one of the creative spots for the product is titled “Face Anything – Featuring Quinta Brunson.”
In August 2022, Procter & Gamble (the parent company) announced Quinta Brunson as the “new face” of Olay’s Retinol 24 + Peptide Night collection.
Therefore, when someone asks “Who is the actress in the Olay Retinol 24 ad?”, the most direct and supported answer is: it is Quinta Brunson.
Who is Quinta Brunson? Background & relevance to the campaign
Quinta Brunson is an American actress, writer, and producer, widely known for creating and starring in the hit TV show Abbott Elementary.
Her selection as the face of the Retinol 24 campaign is meaningful because:
Olay states that Brunson’s “fearless confidence” aligned with their campaign message of “Be bold. Face anything.”
The brand emphasised authenticity: the campaign was described as unretouched, reflecting the “Skin Promise” of Olay.
Brunson herself stated that Olay was a brand she grew up using, making the partnership personal rather than purely commercial.
Thus, Quincy Brunson’s involvement offers more than just being a “celebrity face”: she embodies the confident, relatable woman that Olay aims to speak to.
Which specific ad version features her?
The iSpot listing identifies the ad as:
Title: “Olay Retinol 24 + Peptide – Face Anything – Featuring Quinta Brunson”.
In addition: the product line indicated is the Retinol 24 + Peptide Night collection (moisturizer), sometimes shortened to “Retinol 24”.
It’s worth noting that Olay has other variants (e.g., Retinol 24 MAX) with different talent (for example, one listing names Miriam Shor as talent for “Retinol 24 MAX – Spend the Night with Olay”).
Therefore, if you saw an ad for “Retinol 24 + Peptide” with Brunson’s likeness, then yes: the actress is Quinta Brunson.
What if you saw a different Retinol 24 ad?
Because Olay’s Retinol 24 family includes several sub-lines, multiple commercials exist. Some caveats:
The “Retinol 24 MAX” variant features Miriam Shor as the actress in one creative: “Spend the Night with Olay” – iSpot lists Miriam Shor as the actress for that spot.
Some older or different adverts list no publicly identified actress (e.g., one iSpot entry for “Retinol 24 Night Face Moisturizer – Face the Test” shows “Actors – None have been identified”).
If you’re sure the ad you saw was the “+ Peptide” version, then it’s likely Brunson. If it was the “Max” version or an earlier variant, then it may have been Miriam Shor or another actor whose identity is not widely documented.
Why Olay chose Quinta Brunson & campaign implications
Olay’s marketing rationale for selecting Brunson included:
Her credibility among younger, diverse audiences who appreciate authenticity and transparency.
Global Cosmetics News
The brand’s stated mission to empower women to “Face Anything” — Brunson’s public persona aligns with that message of confidence and self-acceptance.
Olay’s push to make their night-skincare line more inclusive and visibly relatable, not just high-glamour. Brunson’s down-to-earth image helped achieve that positioning.
In the larger context of skincare marketing, this campaign highlights a shift toward unretouched imagery, diverse talent, and social relevance, rather than purely aspirational luxury.
Quinta Brunson’s role beyond acting in the ad
While many might assume the actress simply appears in the TV spot, Brunson’s role may have extended further:
As the face of the campaign, she likely participated in interviews, social-media content, and brand-storytelling tied to the product launch.
The brand emphasised a personal connection: Brunson stated that Olay was a brand from her youth, making the partnership more authentic.
Through media coverage (e.g., Teen Vogue article) she talked about shifting beauty-norms, unretouched imagery and inclusive representation — tying the product campaign into broader conversations about beauty standards.
Thus, Brunson’s impact is not just “the woman in the commercial” but a symbolic part of Olay’s brand messaging for that product line.
Important details about the product line & messaging
Some relevant facts about the Olay Retinol 24 + Peptide Night collection:
The product is positioned as a night-time moisturizer that works while you sleep, combining retinol and peptides to smooth and brighten skin by morning.
The campaign tagline “Face Anything” emphasises empowerment, confidence and visible results, rather than simply anti-aging.
Olay has also emphasised “unretouched” advertising imagery for this campaign, aiming for authenticity and transparency.
For consumers, this means the ad starring Brunson is part of a concerted brand push—not just about the product, but about embracing one’s skin and being bold.
How you can verify the actress yourself
If you want to check whether the woman you saw truly is Quinta Brunson, here are some quick ways:
Check the credits section in the advertising database iSpot.tv for that specific commercial title (e.g., “Face Anything – Featuring Quinta Brunson”).
Look for other content/promotion from Olay referencing Brunson’s involvement (press releases, brand interviews).
Compare the face you saw in the ad with official photos of Brunson (web search) to confirm the likeness.
Verify whether the product line in the ad is indeed “Retinol 24 + Peptide Night” (if so, consistent with Brunson). If the product name or variant is different (e.g., “Retinol 24 Max”), then the talent may differ.
This approach should clarify if the actress you saw is indeed Brunson or someone else.
Final summary: So who is it?
In summary:
The actress in the Olay Retinol 24 + Peptide Night campaign is Quinta Brunson — according to brand announcements and ad-tracking data.
If you saw a different variant of the Retinol 24 line (like Retinol 24 MAX) or an alternate commercial, the actress might be Miriam Shor or an uncredited performer.
For most viewers seeing the main “Face Anything – Featuring Quinta Brunson” spot: yes — it’s Quinta Brunson.
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