Olay Regenerist Targeted Tone Enhancer

A Top Rated Anti-Aging Skin Care Product

It looks like Olay has done it again! The Olay Regenerist line was the top-rated antiaging skin care product in the recent Consumer Reports wrinkle cream test.

Olay Regenerist - Targeted Tone Enhancer was not included in the Consumer Reports testing, but based on market reception and user reviews, I think they have another winner.

The company’s strategy of making affordable products with multiple active ingredients makes it one of the most popular antiaging skin care lines on the market.

But, most importantly does the product work?

Looking at the ingredient list, I don’t see any of the usual cast of characters for targeting age spots and other discolorations. No Hydroquinone. No Kojic Acid. No Licorice or Bearberry Extract.

However, very high on the ingredient list (#3 after Water and Glycerin) is Niacinimide (Vitamin B3). According to Dr. Zoe Diana Draelos, noted antiaging dermatologist and author of the textbook "Cosmetics in Dermatology", Niacinimide has several skin antiaging effects.

Niacinimide suppresses UVB damage, enhances anti-cancer properties of keratinocytes (the cells which produce new skin cells) and is an exfoliating agent.

So Niacinimide acts in three positive ways: exfoliating dead surface cells; protecting from future UVB damage; and promoting the production of healthy new cells.

In Dr. Draelos’ opinion, "Many new, lesser known vitamins may become part of topical formulations in the future."

Looking further down the Olay Regenerist Targeted Tone Enhancer ingredient list, I find – just as Dr. Draelos predicts – several other vitamins shown to have antiaging properties: Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E) antioxidant; Pantenol (Pro-vitamin B5) moisturizer; Retinyl Propionate (Pro-retinyl, a Vitamin A derivative) exfoliant; and Pro-retinol (which the body converts into Vitamin A) exfoliant.

In addition to all of these wonderful vitamins, Targeted Tone Enhancer contains Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, which plumps wrinkles from within by growing new collagen, and Camellia Sinensis (White Tea) Leaf Extract, another powerful antioxidant.

Olay says, "Olay Regenerist Targeted Tone Enhancer uses an exclusive amino-peptide complex combined with Pro-Retinol to renew the outer layer of your skin for a more youthful brightness. It allows you to target damaged cells to diminish the appearance of age spots and discoloration without drastic measures."

But what do users say?

Epinions.com gives it a four-star rating (out of a possible five) based on three reviews.

Two users loved it. Though the third reported it didn’t diminish her melasma, she did see a reduction in fine lines and wrinkles.

She explained that "melasma tends to settle itself deep in the tissues, unlike sun damage. Now, some of you gals with minor or moderate brown discolorations due to over exposure to the sun, may have better luck with this.

Sun damage can be deep if you've burned a lot in the past, but it tends to be less deep in the tissues, closer to the epidermis (outermost layer of skin) than melasma."

A user with splotches of spider veins on both cheeks reported, "I've been using this cream for several weeks now, and in that time, I've noticed a definite evening of the tone of my skin. My skin is nearly all the same tone and the blotchiness on my cheekbones has receded considerably."

The third user wrote, "Just like in the commercial, I sprouted a liver spot right on my cheekbone, under my eye. And yes, you do feel like there is a spotlight following you around. … After 2 weeks I could tell a difference and after 4 weeks I am having to really look to find the spot at all."

I personally am plagued by spider veins around my nose and have had laser treatments that were not worth the money. I tried every OTC treatment for telangiectasias I could find, including Avon latest high-antioxidant Clinical Laser pen (which was a big disappointment).

I just ordered a tube of Olay Regenerist Targeted Tone Enhancer for myself!

This article is for informational purposes only. It does not purport to offer medical advice.