I decided to test Oil of Olay facial cream, not so much for this review, but because I spend a fortune on the stuff and decided it was high time for me to discover if I was getting my money’s worth. After all, while not as expensive as Clinique or Estee Lauder, Oil of Olay can become a drain on your wallet, especially if you use it daily, as I do. So, feeling like a mad scientist, I donned my proverbial lab coat and proceeded to conduct my own research.
Note: Test Oil of Olay on a small patch of skin 24 hours prior to use. It is not for everyone, and may irritate sensitive skin.
The Test
For the purposes of this test I used my regular variety of Oil of Olay: Oil of Olay Oil-Free Beauty Fluid (a name which I hate, by the way). For one week, after my daily shower, using regular soap with no moisturizers, I applied Oil of Olay to the left side of my face only. Oil of Olay claims that it “gives you the moisture you need for touchably soft, smooth, great-looking skin without added oil that can cause greasy build-up and shine. Oil-Free Beauty Fluid is guaranteed to be 100% free of oil and it won’t clog pores which can lead to blemishes and breakouts.” The purpose of my test was (1) to discover if the company’s claims were true, (2) to ascertain immediate results of Oil of Olay Beauty Fluid, and (3) to find if there were any long-term improvements to the side of the face treated with Oil of Olay. Keep in mind, however, that this was a one week test, and the use of the phrase long-term, in this instance, simply applies to evidence exhibited by a clean face at the end of the trial.
Day One
The first day, after my shower, I carefully applied Oil of Olay to the left side of my face alone. Minor results were shown, in that the left side of my face felt smoother and a bit cleaner, and the right side felt a bit dry. Visually there was not much difference.
Day Four
After four days of repeating the process, the changes were a bit more noticeable. The right side of my face, which had not been treated with Oil of Olay, was beginning to feel uncomfortably dry, and I could see dry patches of skin on my forehead and cheekbones. The Oil of Olay side was supple and smooth in appearance, and still felt fresh and comfortable.
Day Seven
The left side of my face, treated with Oil of Olay, remained much the same: smooth, supple, with no dry patches. The right, untreated side was another story. The skin was so dry it actually itched, rough to the touch, and fine lines under my eye were more visible than on the Oil of Olay treated side.
Conclusion
For my final decision regarding this product, I washed my entire face, applying nothing to it when done, and then I examined myself. The differences were very minute, but they were still there. Looking at my face, I noticed slight differences in the appearance of fine lines and size of pores, with the left, treated side being a bit better. The left side felt smoother, while the right side was rough. Both sides of my face felt dry and stretched without the product on, but I did notice some improvement of sensation on the left side.
This was not a long term test, lasting only a week, but the results lead me to conclude that Oil of Olay can possibly improve the quality of skin when used regularly. It does improve the look and feel of skin on a day-to-day basis, and seems to be effective at replenishing moisture and disguising tiny age lines. In my case, Oil of Olay’s claims held true, as it did provide me with softer, more touchable skin, and it did not clog my pores. In light of this discovery, my complaints over price shall cease, and Oil of Olay will remain on my shopping list.