Olay doesn’t do itself any favours, does it?
Case in point: Olay Regenerist Daily Regenerating Serum. It’s the kind of serum you wouldn’t notice on crowded drugstore shelves.
The bottle isn’t shaped like a banana or dressed up in a bright neon pink guaranteed to catch your eye. This stuff isn’t Instagram material for sure.
And yet, once you try it, you can’t help tell your friends all about it. Here’s why:
What’s In Olay Regenerist Daily Regenerating Serum?
NIACINAMIDE
Olay was the first brand to put niacinamide on the map. Pretty much all its products have it. Olay Regenerist Daily Regenerating Serum is no exception.
But what is it? Niacinamide is a form of Vitamin B3 that does everything for your skin:
- It hydrates skin: It’s more effective than petrolatum at preventing water loss
- It soothes skin: It alleviates the symptoms of rosacea and irritations
- It lightens skin: It reduces dark spots, blotchiness (redness) and sallowness (yellowing)
- It helps treat wrinkles: Preliminary research shows it can boost the production of skin-firming collagen
- It treats acne: Its effects are similar to those of 1% clindamycin gel
No matter your skin type or condition, Niacinamide can only help.
Related: The Complete Guide To Niacinamide: What It Is, What It Does, And How To Use It
SILICONES
Olay Regenerist Daily Regenerating Serum has a silicone base.
Think of silicones as an Instagram filter. They blur out every imperfections, smooth out large pores, and fill in fine lines and wrinkles so they look smaller.
Sure, the effects are only temporary. But while they last, your skin does look smoother and more youthful.
But, wait! Don’t silicones suffocate skin? Nope. That’s just a myth. Silicones have a particular molecular structure made up of gaps between each molecules.
Your skin can still perspire – and active ingredients get through – these gaps.
Related: Are Silicones Bad For Skin?
PALMITOYL PENTAPEPTIDE-4
You probably know Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 as Matrixyl. It’s a peptide made up of a fatty acid mixed with amino acids.
Studies show it boosts collagen, reduces fine lines, and improves skin’s texture. And at incredibly low concentrations too (the studies were done with only 0.0003%!).
Granted, most of the studies come from the manufacturer. But the independent research is promising enough to make it well worth a go.
Related: The Truth About Peptides In Skincare: Do They Really Work?
Texture
Gel-like, spreads easily and sinks in quickly.
Fragrance
White floral scent. I personally find it “very old lady”.
How To Use It
After cleansing and exfoliation, morning and/or night.
Performance & Personal Opinion
You can tell Olay Regenerist Daily Regenerating Serum has a silicone base. The silky texture gives it away. Plus, it makes a great base for makeup and plays well with my moisturiser and sunscreen.
It has a little airbrushing effect that smooths out large pores and fine lines, so they don’t look so obvious to the naked eye. Granted, the effect is only temporary.
But hey, antiaging actives like retinol take their sweet time to work. Girl gotta look good in the meantime, know what I mean?
Plus, it makes my skin softer to the touch – without clogging my pores or giving me breakouts.
The bad? It doesn’t give me much a glow. But it has enough niacinamide to help you fade away dark spots in your skin. I don’t have any yet, but the science doesn’t lie.
Related: Treatment VS Prevention: What Really Works Against Wrinkles?
Who Is This For?
Women in their 20s/30s ready to up their antiaging game.
Who Is This Not For?
If you don’t like silicones, this isn’t for you.
Packaging
Olay Regenerist Daily Regenerating Serum comes in a sleek white tube with a pump dispenser that releases just the right amount of product you need.
Does Olay Regenerist Daily Regenerating Serum Live Up To Its Claims?
| CLAIM | TRUE? |
|---|---|
| Regenerates the youthful look of skin. | I’m not sure what “regenerates” means, but it does make skin look a little younger. |
| Reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. | It does make fine lines and wrinkles look smaller, but the effect is only temporary. |
| Exfoliates. | There’s nothing here that can exfoliate skin. |
| Smoothes. | Yes, silicones do smooth out skin’s texture. |
| Brightens. | It has enough niacinamide to brighten dark spots. |
Price & Availability
$24.93/£19.99 at Feel Unique, Target and Walmart
Do You Need It?
I wouldn’t say need, but if you’re still young and want to up your antiaging game, Olay Regenerist Daily Regenerating Serum is well worth a try.
[penci_review]
Dupes & Alternatives
- Mad Hippie Face Cream ($25.99)
Ingredients
Aqua, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Panthenol, Polyethylene, Tocopheryl Acetate, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Dimethiconol, Allantoin, Butylene Glycol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Laureth-4, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Triethanolamine, Laureth-7, Sodium PEG-7 Olive Oil Carboxylate, Disodium EDTA, PEG-100 Stearate, DMDM Hydantoin, Benzyl Alcohol, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Methylparaben, Parfum, Caramel
i am not a fan of products with silicone, not allergic to it but i don’t like the feel of the artificial smoothness it gives. my mom is a huge fan of olay products
Xin, I actually love the smoothness it gives! I’d touch my face the whole day to feel it lol! But I can see why others may not like it. Your mother may enjoy the serum though if she’s a fan of olay products. 🙂
Actually, I honestly think this is a great product but I kind of agree with xin on the texture…It is quite siliconey… But I ignore it since it is a solid product.
Beauty Box, I actually love siliconey textures, they feel so silky soft to me, but I can see why some people don’t like them. In any case, I agree that when a product is solid and effective, a not perfect texture cam be forgiven.
Years back, I would never have picked up a product full of silicones just because I thought they wouldn’t allow skin to breathe and might feel heavy or break me out. So misinformed! I’m so thankful for truthful, factual reviews from credible people like you.
I have tried Olay’s sculpting serum and it is velvety smooth on my skin. I’m indifferent to silicones. As long as it feels light on my skin and the product works well, I’m okay with them! 😀
I find Olay products to work pretty well but I love other skincare products too much, and in The States at least, I’m sure skincare products are much cheaper too (not to mention value sets).
Janessa, it’s a shame that silicones are so maligned. I actually love how soft they make my skin feel and they are a godsend for my hair. There’s no way I could detangle my fine, prone-to-knots hair without them! I agree with you that as long as they work fine for you, you should use them. Actually, that’s true of any ingredient. There’s too much misinformation about ingredients around at the moment, which is a shame because it prevents people from choosing the products that would work best for their skin and sometimes, even spend more for something less beneficial.
I’m glad you like Olay products, but I can see why you’d like to try something new as well. I do stray sometimes too but I always come back to Olay in the end because they make some solid products that don’t break the bank. 🙂