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Olay's Fresh Effects products don't add anything new to their extensive line, and this cleanser/scrub hybrid is no exception. It's similar to many other cleansers Olay offers, from the cleansing agents it contains to the scrub particles composed of relatively gentle polyethylene (plastic) beads.
The formula is best for normal to oily skin. It rinses cleanly and although it can remove makeup, the scrub portion isn't the best for use around the eyes. If you need to scrub to remove makeup, use a washcloth or facial cleansing brush with your regular cleanser before resorting to an actual scrub or cleanser/scrub hybrid.
Olay added a few skin-worthy ingredients to this exfoliating cleanser, but the amounts are so low your skin won't notice—plus, a cleanser is rinsed off before those ingredients can help. This contains fragrance, which isn't ideal, but it's less of an issue for skin in a rinse-off product.
- Leaves skin feeling smooth and soft.
- Rinses without a residue.
- Removes makeup.
- A cleanser with scrub particles isn't advised for removing eye makeup.
- The skin-worthy ingredients are more for show than effect.
Get fresh. We brought together fantastic foaming bubbles and exfoliating microbeads to give you the freshest wash ever.
Olay At-A-Glance
Starting decades ago with the now-classic Oil of Olay, this brand now offers an extensive range of skin-care products sold at drugstores and mass-market stores. Today's Olay lineup for those concerned about staving off the effects of aging skin is impressive, comprising their Regenerist, Pro X, and Total Effects lines. All of these (and several other Olay products) contain the B vitamin niacinamide. As you might expect, the claims made for it are inflated, but niacinamide is a very helpful ingredient for all skin types, capable of exerting multiple benefits.
In fact, perhaps the biggest complaint about Olay is that there are a number of repetitive formulas within and between the sub-brands make this line confusing and tricky to shop! Still, there is a lot to like about this drugstore stalwart, with its main drawback being a few formulas containing fragrance or other ingredients that have the potential to cause irritation.
For more information about Olay, owned by Procter & Gamble, call (800) 285-5170 or visit www.olay.com.
About the Experts
The Beautypedia team consists of skin care and makeup experts personally trained by the original Cosmetics Cop and best-selling beauty author, Paula Begoun. We’re fascinated by skin care and makeup products and thrilled when they meet or exceed our expectations, but we’re also disappointed when they fail to perform as claimed, are wildly overpriced, or contain ingredients scientific research has proven can hurt skin.
Our mission has always been to help you find the best products for your skin, no matter your budget or preferences. Beautypedia’s thorough and insightful reviews cut through the hype and provide reliable recommendations for all ages, skin types, and skin tones.
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