little white truths

I received this sample face cream as a GWP and I included it in one of my recent samples posts in order to get through it.

I've now been using it on and off for the past couple of months, and after this review I plan to finish the rest as a body cream because I just don't like it and I can't wait to pan it. More on that below.

Olay claims/product details:

• A lightly scented, fast-absorbing and non-greasy cream with a luxurious feel 
• In just eight weeks, its formula with PearlOptics Science fades the look of dark spots, age spots, sun spots and discolouration – evening your overall skintone
• Illuminates skin's appearance to help recapture its healthy-looking, youthful glow 
• Contains carnosine, a powerful antioxidant di-peptide that protects the skin against dulling
• Olive M boosts antioxidants to fight free radicals
• Vitamin B3 boosts cellular turnover and maintains skin’s moisture
• N-Acetyl brightens the skin and reduces the appearance of dark spots
• Glycerin offers intense moisturising properties
• RRP $48.99 AUD for 50ml, but do shop around

Verdict

I don't like this cream at all and I'm looking forward to getting through it. Unsurprisingly I'm not the only one who isn't a fan, and the reviews on eg beautyheaven's website are lukewarm at best.

It's a pale peach cream with a strong scent, and I wasn't surprised to see fragrance noted about halfway through the ingredients list, so it doesn't just contain artificial fragrance, it contains quite a lot of it and I would avoid this if you have sensitive skin.

In texture it feels smooth and creamy, but from the moment I first used it, I could feel how chalky and powdery it felt when applied - so I wasn't surprised to see that the formula is heavy on silicones. What this means (at least in my case) is that the damn stuff won't absorb properly, so it leaves my face feeling tight and parched after use.

Not only this, but because it leaves a film over my skin, I can't ease any dryness by laying down an oil over the top because nothing will penetrate through it. This means that all it's doing is leaving a coating on my skin and it's not offering any real benefits.

Another thing worth mentioning is that, likely because it's heavy on silicones and glycerin, not only does it feel chalky and powdery on the skin, but it also has a tendency to ball up when you layer it over a serum or try to put something more hydrating over the top. Blurgh.

On the claims: no it's not fast-absorbing (it doesn't absorb well at all); I don't think it feels luxurious (it feels chalky to me); no it hasn't faded the look of age spots or discolouration; no it's not illuminating; no it doesn't moisturise or maintain my skin's moisture; and no it doesn't help with dullness either.

Overall I don't like this product and I can't wait to send mine packing. In my view it doesn't meet any of its claims, and it also hasn't been formulated with skin-friendly ingredients because it's heavy on fragrance and silicone. I've given it a disappointing products tag.

Not for me.