Olay Regenerist Max day and night creams review

For as long as we can remember, Olay has been shorthand for effective, science-backed skincare at a purse-friendly price. The Olay Regenerist line, in particular, is the crème de la crème of the brand's skincare offerings and is infused with powerful actives designed to hydrate, renew and make skin feel firmer.

We all know the transformative effects of a solid skincare routine, especially as we prepare our skin against sub-zero temperatures and biting winds in the colder months ahead. Enter Olay's Regenerist Collagen Peptide Max 24 Day Cream Without Fragrance and Regenerist Retinol 24 MAX Night Skin Cream – a hardworking duo designed to bolster your skin by day and replenish and rejuvenate overnight. 

The Olay Collagen Peptide 24 Day Cream Without Fragrance is packed with the brand's highest concentration of collagen peptides to support your skin's structure. With age, the amount of collagen in our skin gradually decreases, causing skin to lose its plumpness, bounce and volume. Collagen molecules are large, so usually only sit on the very surface of the skin. But Olay's collagen peptides claim to be able to penetrate up to 10 layers deep to help restore skin's firmness after just 14 days of use.

At night, when skin is most receptive to skincare ingredients, switch to the Olay Retinol 24 Max Night Skin Cream Without Fragrance. The formula is made with a powerful retinoid complex and the active ingredients penetrate deep into the skin’s surface layers to kickstart the renewal process. Dermatologists wax lyrical about retinol as a silver bullet for improving the look of fine lines, wrinkles, age spots and enlarged pores. It also contains 40% more hydrating ingredients vs Olay Retinol 24 to offset the dryness retinol is known to cause. Apply each night and, after 14 days, expect skin to look smoother and brighter.

In addition, both day and night creams also contain vitamin B3 (aka niacinamide), which is scientifically proven to create a more even skin tone and intensely hydrate and restore skin's protective barrier, for stronger, smoother and enviably glowing skin. Better still, both formulas are free from artificial dyes and perfumes, so even those with sensitive skin can reap the benefits.

There's just one caveat. If you don't already, wear an SPF30+ over your day cream as retinol can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. The added bonus of sunscreen is it prevents future pigmentation and protects those fresh collagen reserves from damage caused by UV rays.

Lucy Smith 
Commerce Writer at GLAMOUR

First of all, the fact that these creams were fragrance free was a huge bonus for me with slightly sensitive skin. I was a tad nervous to try the retinol but, with two weeks of testing behind me, I now know I needn’t have been. These creams were gentle, cleared away any under-the-surface acne I had coming through, and the day cream made for an excellent glowy primer under makeup. Big fan of two-in-one moisturiser-active formulas and, for people with dry skin, this will certainly keep them hydrated. My one bug bear? I wish the packaging was a tube as opposed to an open tub, just to keep the product fresher for longer.

Rating: 8/10

Lian Brooks
Audience Development Manager at GLAMOUR

As someone with combination skin, I was looking forward to trying out Olay’s Regenerist MAX range to see if it could help balance out my uneven skin texture. The duo promises to hydrate tired skin – one thing I could definitely benefit from as we head into the colder months.

The day formula is classic of Olay; thick and creamy without being too heavy, leaving skin feeling immediately refreshed after application. It glides on easily without any greasy residue, meaning makeup sits well on top of it. Similarly, the retinol night cream acts to complement the day cream’s hydrating qualities, with my skin appearing visibly brighter and fresher the morning after use.

While I wouldn’t say that I noticed a major change to my fine lines after the two weeks of testing, my skin did feel much firmer and my pores and skin texture seemed to be more even. I loved the luxurious texture of the products and the fact that they were fragrance free, while I felt like my morning routine benefited from having such a hydrating base. Overall I'm looking forward to seeing how they perform over another two weeks!

Rating: 8/10

Georgia Trodd
Commerce Writer at GLAMOUR

I’ll be totally honest, Olay isn’t a brand I’ve used before when it comes to my skincare routine. After testing the Collagen Peptide Max 24 Cream and the Retinol Max 24 Night Face Moisturiser, however, I’m converted.

The day cream - said to reveal visibly stronger and glowing skin in 14 days - was actually my least favourite of the two products. While I can confirm it gave me that sought-after, hydrated appearance, it left a slight filmy feel on my face and I found that wearing my usual foundation on top made it pill. My WFH, makeup-free days were a dream though; my complexion felt hydrated throughout, so I wouldn’t write off re-purchasing it completely.

In my opinion, if you’ve only got the funds for one formula, make it the Retinol Max 24 Night Face Moisturiser. Not only did it plump up my fine lines, making them almost invisible, it smoothed out some stubborn hyperpigmentation left over from a spot. It’s thick and nourishing, which I personally prefer in a night cream, and is honestly worth every penny of its price tag. 

True to their packaging, both formulas are completely fragrance-free but that didn’t diminish their high-end feel. If you’re looking for luxury skincare but don’t want to break the bank, you know what to do.

Rating: 7/10

Kumba Kpakima
Associate Social Media Manager at GLAMOUR

Small but mighty, these moisturisers are not here to play! Since adding the night and day products into my daily routine, my skin has been left glowing. The morning moisturiser was very lightweight and added a soft, natural radiance to my skin. Before bed, a small dab of the evening moisturiser gave me that much-needed glow, and my skin felt fresh and hydrated the next morning.

I am fully team ‘fragrance-free skincare’, so it was a big win for me to see that both moisturisers were scentless. For this reason, I didn’t have to deal with any skin irritations or annoying spots, and I could get that much-needed hydration without feeling like my face was completely breaking out. For my dry skin type girls out there, you know the struggle of having to go the extra mile to make sure your skin doesn’t look rough and dull, but honestly, a little really does go a long way with both moisturisers. I don’t know if I’ll be swapping this out for my long-standing cocoa butter but it has definitely become a skincare must-have for me.

Rating: 8/10

Denise Primbet
Commerce Writer at GLAMOUR

When it comes to skincare products, I tend to be quite picky, mainly because I have dry, sensitive skin that's also prone to redness. And while my skincare routine isn't too complicated and only consists of three products, if there's one step I never skip it's the moisturiser. Naturally, when I got my hands on the Olay Regenerist Collagen Peptide Max 24 Day Cream and the Olay Regenerist Retinol Max 24 Night Face Moisturiser, I was really excited to get testing.

My criteria is simple: hydrated and nourished skin that doesn't feel greasy or heavy on the face – and both products provided exactly that. Having put them to the test over the last two weeks, I can definitely see improvement. The day cream worked its glowy magic thanks to the Collagen Peptides and Vitamin B3, and the night cream provided deep nourishment with the help of the Retinoid complex supported by vitamin B3. These active ingredients definitely contributed to impressive results; I noticed my skin feeling plumper and looking more radiant than usual. The formula also felt super gentle on my face, didn't cause any breakouts, irritation, or excessive redness. What I enjoyed most was how weightless it felt on my skin, and how fast it absorbs too. And the fragrance-free feature was another plus in my book. There's nothing that I dislike more than skincare with an overwhelming scent. This duo has definitely earned a spot in my skincare cupboard. I can totally see myself using them in the colder months, when my skin is in need of that extra hydration.

Rating: 8/10

Right now you can buy the Olay Regenerist Retinol24 Night Face Moisturizer With Retinol & Vitamin B3 50ml and collect 4 Advantage Card Points when you spend £1.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7qLjApqauqp2WtKLGyKecZ5ufY8Kse8GcZpqqpJ6wrbGOqKOasV1ngW65wLFknZmpYruqs8etZKanmajBtr7IrJyrq12nsre1xLA%3D