Mum's verdict: Regenerist hit the spot

One of the greatest joys of being a beauty aficionado is when you discover some drugstore gems that don't lack in quality when compared to their high-end counterparts!

Case study: Olay's new moisturisers which are part of the Regenerist line. Regenerist products are targeted to mature skin that requires effective anti-wrinkle protection, as well as an instant "lifting" effect to make those lines look smoother in under a minute.

Since it would be unfair to use them on my skin (I don't fall under the "mature skin" target group yet), I let my mum put them to the test ;)

* FYI, mama has a long experience with Olay products; I remember her always having a milk cleanser&toner with the name of Oil of Olaz (as it was called back when I was a kid!), and she buys Olay face creams from time to time... *

On the left we have the wow product of Olay's Regenerist range, the Wrinke Relaxing Complex, which can be used on its own or on top of moisturiser. On the right is the
3-Point Treatment Cream, a fragrance-free moisturiser. Here's a closer look a each one:

Olay Regenerist 3-Point Treatment Cream, fragrance-free: this is Olay's anti-ageing and lifting moisturiser that caters to those who prefer fragrance-free products. You could say that it's thoughtful of a brand to take into consideration the few clients that don't want fragrance in their skincare, but that wasn't what made me respect the brand:

This is not one of your average glycerin+silicone drugstore moisturisers that claim a lot and ultimately do nothing in terms of skincare benefits. There's a lot of science involved behind the creation of this cream and honestly, it baffles me why it's not eminent in the tv spots or magazine ads.

I've deliberately inserted a photo of its ingredients list, so you can see what I'm talking about. Here's the break-down of the ingredients:

• Powerful moisturising agents [Sodium Hyaluronate, Soluble Collagen- hello!]
• Some ever so welcome antioxidants [Panthenol (Pro-Vit B5), Tocopheryl Acetate (Vit E), Citric acid (Vit C)]
• Healing and smoothing ingredients [Elastin, Allantoin]
• A few extracts of natural origin [Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (green tea)]
• Peptides* [Niacinamide, Carnosine, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide]

* Peptides are one of the latest trends in skincare and can be found in high-end skincare products. Basically, peptides are tiny fragments of protein molecules that help allow the natural production of collagen.

There's also a few silicones and parabens in the ingredients- but I can live with that ;)

Olay Regenerist Wrinkle Relaxing Complex: this product got me initially confused, since it's not marketed as a moisturising cream or as a serum (despite that it feels like one). Think of it as a treatment that you can apply alone or on top of moisturiser, for instant smoothing of wrinkles and a glowing complexion.

Now, I know the claims sound all too promising, but they're true in some extent! Other than the moisture-locking and anti-oxidant ingredients that are also found in the fragrance-free cream (see above), the Wrinkle Relaxing Complex contains micro-fillers of 3 different sizes, so as to be able to fill wrinkle cavities of different thickness and depth. That in turn results to the skin's glowing finish, since the light can "travel" on its surface rather than "lose its track" because of wrinkles- and please, forgive my lousy metaphor!

     Ingredients list

So, what mama has to say about these two products?

Well, for starters she's loving their texture. Both feel silky on the skin, with the

Wrinkle Relaxing Complex (left) absorbing quickly into a beautiful satiny finish and the

3-Point Treatment Cream (right) being rich and hydrating, without feeling heavy on the skin.

As for me, I can tell that her face looks glowing after each use. The wrinkles and fine lines seem to be "plumped up", and there's an overall healthy and radiant appearance of her skin. It's kind of relieving to find ouτ that there do exist effective anti-ageing products that don't cost the world!

Both of these Regenerist products work best if they're applied with a bit of massage.

Below I've included a clip of Anastasia Achilleos where she demonstrates how these products work and the best way to apply them:

All in all, I'm very impressed with how Olay views skincare as a whole: if today's scientists can come up with affordable products that do as they claim while being rich in ingredients of good quality, well, that is something to write home about.

What's your experience with Olay?
Would you trust a drugstore brand for your skincare needs?

* Both Olay Regenerist products were sent for free. They deserve a mention, hence this article. As always, I'm sharing my honest opinion. *

Evi   xx