Which Olay Night Moisturizer Should I Use?

On a recent shopping excursion at my local grocery store, I noticed that there was a plethora of Olay moisturizers, all with somewhat redundant or confusing claims. Three current bestsellers are night moisturizers: Olay Regenerist Night Recovery Treatment ($17.14, Amazon.com), Olay Total Effects Night Firming Cream for Face and Neck ($17.14, Amazon.com), and Olay Definity Cream ($23.05, Amazon.com). This article hopes to clarify the differences of the three, based on the ingredients in each formulation.

Olay Regenerist Night Recovery Treatment

Of the three Olay night moisturizers — Regenerist, Total Effects 7x, and Definity — Regenerist is my favorite. This moisturizer contains some excellent ingredients: niacinamide, palmitoyl pentapeptide-3 , dimethicone and many other hydrating ingredients, vitamin E and green tea. Niacinamide has been found in numerous independent research studies to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness (yellowing), and increases elasticity. Although this product contains slightly less niacinamide than the other two products (based on the ingredients list), the other ingredients more than compensate. Palmitoyl pentapeptide-3 (in concentrations between 2-8%) has been found to individually provide increased collagen synthesis and natural production of hyaluronic acid in the skin. Vitamin E (tocopherol acetate) is an excellent antioxidant with a high environmental protection factor (EPF), and green tea is established as one of the most potent topically applied antioxidants as well. Although this product contains numerous amino acids that have no established benefit when applied topically onto the skin (Alanine, Arginne, Betaine, Glycine, Lysine, Proline, Serine, Threonine), this is still definitely a night moisturizer that packs a punch! Overall rating: 9/10

Ingredients in Olay Regenerist Night Recovery Treatment

Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Polyethylene, Niacinamide, Dimethicone crosspolymer, Dimethicone, Steryl dimethicone, Propylene glycol, Butylene glycol, Panthenol, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-3, Tocopheryl acetate, Lavandula angustifolia (lavender) extract, arnica montana flower extract, camellia sinesis leaf extract, Alanine, Arginne, Betaine, Glycine, Lysine, Proline, Serine, Threonine, Glutamic Acid, Sodium PCA, Sorbitol, PEG-10, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Sucrose Polycottonsedate, Allantoin, Petrolatum, BIS-PEG/PPG-14/14 Dimethicone, Cetyl Ricnoleate, Disodium edta, PEG-100 Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Benzyl alcohol, Butylparaben, Ethylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Red 40, Blue 1, Fragrance.

Olay Definity

Definity is my second favorite of the three moisturizers, and the best for those with hyperpigmentation or dark spots. The combination of N-acetyl glucosamine (NAG) and niacinamide was recently shown to reduce facial hyperpigmentation in Japanese and Caucasian subjects with facial hyperpigmentation in two double-blind, vehicle-controlled, split-face, left-right randomized clinical studies. Olay Definity also contains a concentration of ultra-beneficial niacinamide between Regenerist and Total Effects 7x. Unfortunately, Olay Definity also lacks the amino acid palmitoyl pentapeptide-3 and green tea of Olay Regenerist, lists antioxidant vitamin E further down on the ingredients list than Olay Total Effects 7x, and contains soluble collagen. Although collagen synthesized within the skin is highly beneficial, according to Dr. Leslie Baumann, topically applied collagen is too large to fit through the stratum corneum [uppermost layer of the skin], as collagens have a molecular weight of 15000 to 50000 daltons, whereas only molecules of molecular weight 5000 or less can penetrate the skin. As such, topically applied collagens are a waste of money. Therefore, this is a hydrating moisturizer that may reduce the appearance of dark spots, but if you do not have problems with hyperpigmentation, then Regenerist is a better buy, with more free-radical fighting antioxidants and collagen-building palmitoyl pentapeptide-3. The multi-colored mica in the product may also have an aesthetically pleasing look as it reflects the light. Product rating: 8.5/10

Ingredients in Olay Definity

Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Niacinamde, Acetyl Glucosamine, Dimethicone, Polyethylene, Polyacrylamide, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Panthenol, Triethanolamine, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Dimethiconol, DMDM Hydantoin, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Disodium EDTA, Laureth 4, Tocopheryl Acetate, Laureth 7, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil (Safflower), Fragrance, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Soluble Collagen, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tin Oxide, Titanium Dioxide, Mica

Olay Total Effects Firming Cream for Face and Neck

This is my least favorite of the featured moisturizers (Regenerist, Total Effects 7x, and Definity), but it is still not a bad moisturizer. Although Olay Total Effects Night Firming Cream contains a slightly higher concentration of niacinamide (based on the ingredients list) than Regenerist, Olay Total Effects Night Firming Cream also contains fewer antioxidants, with only tocopherol acetate and not green tea. In addition, Olay Total Effects Night Firming Cream contains coconut oil, which may not be advisable for women with acne or who are prone to breakouts. Interestingly, the product also contains a fair concentration of titanium dioxide, a physical sunscreen, but does not list an SPF on the packaging. (Another product that does this is Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair. Perhaps companies do this because shoppers are not looking for an SPF in their night creams?) Overall Rating: 8/10

Ingredients in Olay Total Effects Firming Cream for Face and Neck

Water|Glycerine|Niacinamide|Isohexadecane|Dimethicone|Isopropyl Isostearate|Polyacrylamide|Stearyl Alcohol|Sucrose Polycottonseedate|Cetyl Alcohol|Panthenol|Tocopherol Acetate|Behenyl Alcohol|Polymethylsilsesquioxane|C13-14 Isoparaffin|Titanium Dioxide|Benzyl Alcohol|Coconut Oil|Dimethiconol|Laureth-7|Fragrance|Ethylparaben|Cetearyl Glucoside|Cetearyl Alcohol|PEG-100 Stearate|Stearic Acid|Disodium EDTA|Propylparaben|Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein|Sodium Hydroxide|Methylparaben|Ammonium Polyacrylate

Overall opinions & Summary

All are good moisturizers with hydrating ingredients and some anti-aging properties. The best anti-aging moisturizer (based on ingredients alone) is Olay Regenerist Night Recovery Treatment, and the best for treating dark spots is Olay Definity Cream. Due to the fact that none of these night moisturizers contain retinoids, which are super anti-aging ingredients, you may wish to apply a topical retinoid first at night, such as Retin-A or RoC Retinol Night Cream ($14.79, Amazon.com), unless you are pregnant or nursing or have sensitive skin. Overall, however, excellent sources of niacinamide and proof of my belief that some high quality products really can be found at the drugstore!

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