Fun fact: Olay is called Oil Of Olaz in Italy. But the old lady images sticks all the way to the other side of the world. It’s a shame. Olay has some of the best moisturisers you can find at the drugstore. Case in point: Olay Total Effects Night Firming Moisturiser.
The first time someone recommended it to me, I was like, “I’m not going to buy Olay!” But, once I dropped the judgement, I decided that, if it were good enough for Paula Begoun, it was good enough for me, too. And I’m so glad I did. It’s one of the few moisturisers at the drugstore with its fair of antioxidants. It can moisturise your skin and prevent wrinkles too. Nice. Here’s all you need to know about it:
(And in case you’re wondering, yes the packaging and formula have changed slightly since I first reviewed it. I’ve kept the images, but the review talks about the latest formula version.)
Key Ingredients In Olay Total Effects Night Firming Moisturizer: What Makes It Work?
NIACINAMIDE TO… EVERYTHING
Niacinamide is a form of Vitamin B3 that can do anything you want it to. Here are a few of its super powers:
No matter your skin type or problems, it’s always a good idea to add Niacinamide to your skincare routine. If I see it as one of the first ingredients in a moisturiser, I know it’s going to be a good one.
Related: The Complete Guide To Niacinamide: What It Is, What It Does, And How To Use It
ANTIOXIDANTS TO PREVENT WRINKLES
Unlike most moisturisers at the drugstore, Olay Total Effects Night Firming Moisturiser has its fair share of antioxidants to help prevent premature aging. Here are the highlights:
Each antioxidant destroys a different type of free radicals, the molecules that destroy elastin, collagen, cellular DNA, and all that good stuff that cause wrinkles. That’s how they keep your skin looking younger for longer.
Related: Is Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate The Best Vitamin C Derivative?
The Rest Of The Formula & Ingredients
NOTE: The colours indicate the effectiveness of an ingredient. It is ILLEGAL to put toxic and harmful ingredients in skincare products.
Green: It’s effective, proven to work, and helps the product do the best possible job for your skin.
Yellow: There’s not much proof it works (at least, yet).
Red: What is this doing here?!
Aqua: The main solvent in the product, it helps other ingredients to dissolve as well.
Glycerin: It’s a humectant, a fancy name for ingredients that attract moisture from the air into the skin, leaving it hydrated for longer.
Isohexadecane: A solvent that helps dissolve other ingredients. It also improves the texture of skincare products.
Dimethicone: A silicone that creates a protective barrier on the skin to keep moisture in. It also fills in fine lines and wrinkles, so they look smaller, and gives the texture a velvety feel. Contrary to popular opinion, science has proven it doesn’t clog pores nor suffocates skin.
Isopropyl Isostearate: An emollient that makes skin softer and smoother.
Stearyl Alcohol: A fatty alcohol with moisturising properties (yes, some types of alcohol can be moisturising!). It makes skin softer and smoother.
Polyacrylamide: It’s a film former and suspending/bulking agent in skincare products.
Panthenol: A humectant that draws moisture from the air to the skin to increase its hydration level. It also has soothing properties that calm down inflammation.
Caprylyl Glycol: It makes skin softer and smoother.
Dimethiconol: A type of silicones that gives the texture slip.
Laureth-7: It improves the texture of skincare products.
Cetearyl Glucoside: An emulsifier that helps the oily and watery parts of a formula blending seamlessly.
Cetearyl Alcohol: A fatty alcohol that moisturises skin and makes it softer and smoother.
Stearic Acid: An emollient with emulsifying properties. It makes skin softer and smoother and prevents the oily and watery parts of a formula from separating.
Palmitic Acid: Another emollient that makes skin softer and smoother.
Cetyl Alcohol: It makes skin softer and thickens the texture of skincare products.
Behenyl Alcohol: A thickening agent and emulsifier. Emulsifiers prevent the oily and watery parts of a formula from separating.
Arachidyl Alcohol: A thickening agent with emollient properties.
Disodium EDTA: A chelating agent, a fancy way of saying it binds to the trace elements in the water and neutralises them before they can ruin the formula.
PEG-100 Stearate: Another emulsifier. It prevents the oily and watery parts of a formula from separating into a gooey mess.
Ammonium Polyacrylate: A emulsion stabiliser that also acts as a film-forming agent, dispersing agent, stabiliser, and thickener.
Polymethylsilsesquioxane: A film former and skin conditioning agent derived from silicones.
Titanium Dioxide: You probably know it as a sunscreen agent, but it’s here as a thickener and opacifier.
C13-14 Alkane: Another emulsifier. It keeps the oily and watery parts of a formula from separating.
1.2-Hexanediol: A synthetic preservative that inhibits the growth of bacteria in your skincare products.
Phenoxyethanol: Another preservative that inhibits bacterial growth, helping skincare products last longer.
Sodium Benzoate: A preservative that prevents any nasties from growing into your skincare products.
Methylparaben: One of the most effective preservatives, it prevents bacteria and fungi from growing into your skincare products.
Propylparaben: Another very effective preservatives that prevents bacteria and fungi from growing into your skincare products.
Parfum: One of the most irritating ingredients in skincare, it makes products smell good.
Benzyl Salicylate: It gives a floral scent to cosmetics, but it can be irritating.
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone: A fragrant ingredient that makes skincare products smell good, but it can be irritating.
Texture
The texture is just right: not too lightweight and runny, but not thick and heavy either. It spreads easily and absorbs quickly into the skin.
Fragrance
Very subtle, clean scent that disappears quickly. I’m not a fan of scents. Fragrance is the most irritating ingredient in skincare, so I always appreciate when a brand leaves it out. But if your skin doesn’t mind fragrance, this is lovely.
How To Use It
As all moisturisers, it’s the last step of your evening skincare routine. But you can use it in the morning, too, right before sunscreen.
Need help creating an anti-aging routine that really works? Sign up to the newsletter below to receive the “Anti-Aging Skincare Routine Cheatsheet” (it includes product recommendations, too!).
Packaging
The previous version of Olay Total Effects Night Firming Moisturiser came in a light gold bottle with a pump applicator that dispenses just the right amount of product you need. The packaging is now all white, but the shape and pump dispenser remain the same.
Performance & Personal Opinion
Olay Total Effects Night Firming Moisturiser is one of my fave night creams. It just works. It does a wonderful job at moisturizing my skin, making it soft, smooth and a little bit brighter. It also makes my fine lines appear temporarily smaller. When I wake up in the morning, my skin just looks better and healthier. It gives me that my skin-but-better look, if you know what I mean.
As for reducing age spots, I can’t vouch for that as I don’t have any – yet. But niacinamide has been scientifically proven to help with discolourations, so if your dark spots are new, this should help a little. Are they old? You may want to add a more powerful skin-lightener, like arbutin or azelaic acid, to your skincare routine.
What I know for sure is that it doesn’t unsag skin and shrink pores. The big ones around my nose are still the same size.
Related: The Battle Of The Skin-Lighteners: What’s The Best Alternative To Hydroquinone?
How Does Olay Total Effects Night Firming Moisturiser Compare To The Other Olay Moisturisers?
Olay has a gazillion night moisturisers and creams. Too many if you ask me. I understand the brand needs to make money, but the more options you offer, the more you confuse clients – and then they don’t buy anything. Ever felt like that? Fret not, I’ve got you covered. Here’s the lowdown on all Olay night moisturisers to find out which one is right for you:
Olay Anti-Wrinkle Firm And Lift Night Moisturiser (£14.00): A rich moisturiser with niacinamide to brighten and moisturise skin and a sprinkle of green tea to prevent wrinkles. I wouldn’t call it anti-wrinkle though. There aren’t enough antioxidants to prevent wrinkles, there’s no retinol to reduce the wrinkles you already have, and there’s nothing in here that can firm skin. Available at Boots and Sephora.
Olay Anti-Wrinkle Pro Vital Night Cream (£13.99): A hydrating cream with a sprinkle of antioxidants to plump up skin, reduce the look of wrinkles, and prevent new ones from forming. I just wish it didn’t contain fragrance. Available at Boots and Superdrug.
Olay Complete Night Cream Normal & Dry Skin (£13.99): A silicone-based moisturiser to fill in fine lines and wrinkles so they look smaller and hydrators to make skin softer and smoother. It’s a basic moisturiser best suitable for normal and dry skin. Available at Superdrug.
Olay Double Action Night Cream (£4.99): A simple, no-frills moisturisers that attracts and binds water to your skin, making it softer and smoother for hours. It’s a very basic formula, though. No niacinamide or antioxidants to brighten or fight wrinkles. Available at Sephora.
Olay Niacinamide 24 + Vitamin E Night Face Cream (£38.00): A basic moisturiser with niacinamide and humectants to deeply hydrate skin. It doesn’t have anti-aging properties. Available at Boots and Superdrug.
Olay Regenerist Night Face Cream (£34.00): A no-frills moisturiser with niacinamide to hydrate and brighten and hyaluronic acid to plump up wrinkles. But it’s not anti-aging, as the brand claims. Available at Boots.
Olay Regenerist Overnight Face Mask (£34.00): Similar to most moisturisers on this list, it has a lot of niacinamide to brighten and moisturise – and not much else. It’s still a good formula for dry skin on a budget. Available at Boots and Superdrug.
Olay Regenerist Regenerating Night Cream (£10.00): A very basic moisturiser that makes skin softer and smoother for hours. But it certainly doesn’t regenerate skin or fights wrinkles. Available at Boots and Superdrug.
Olay Regenerist Retinol24 Max Fragrance-Free Night Cream (£44.00): A silky moisturiser with a silicone base and two forms of retinoids, Retinol Propionate and Retinol, to reduce wrinkles and dark spots. Use it only every other day to avoid irritation. It’s pretty much the same formula as the other retinol moisturiser before, so it doesn’t really matter which one you buy (don’t you hate it when brands sell you the same formula in a different packaging?). Available at Boots.
Olay Retinol24 Night Face Cream (£38.00): This silky moisturiser contains two forms of retinoids, Retinol Propionate and Retinol, to fight the signs of aging and reduce wrinkles. Keep in mind, retinoids get deactivated when exposed to light, so a jar isn’t the best type of packaging for them. Also, they can cause dryness and irritation when you first start using them. If you decide to buy it, use it only every other nights. Retinoids should never be used daily. Available at Boots and Sephora.
Olay Vitamin C + AHA24 Night Gel Face Cream (£38.00): An exfoliating cream with lactic acid to remove dead skin cells, a process that softens, brightens, and smoothens skin. As for Vitamin C, there’s not much of it here. It’s a good option to exfoliate sensitive skin, but don’t use it more than twice a week. Available at Boots and Sephora.
What I Like About Olay Total Effects Night Firming Moisturiser
Silky soft texture, glides on smoothly, and absorbs quickly.
Makes skin softer and smoother.
Has antioxidants to prevent premature wrinkles.
Brightens skin.
Practical packaging.
What I DON’T Like About Olay Total Effects Night Firming Moisturiser
Contains fragrance, which can irritate sensitive skin.
Didn’t shrink my pores.
Can’t fade away dark spots.
Who Should Use This?
This moisturiser is a great choice for normal and dry skin types.
Does Olay Total Effects Night Firming Moisturiser Live Up To Its Claims?
CLAIM
TRUE?
Reduces the appearance of wrinkles.
Yes. The key work here is “appearance”. It doesn’t promise to make wrinkles disappear. It only promises to make them look smaller. Any good moisturiser does this.
Moisturises.
Yes!
Evens skin tone.
Niacinamide can help fade away dark spots, especially if they’re new.
Refines look of pores.
There’s evidence Niaciamide can help with this, but this cream did nothing for my pores.
Smoothes the texture of the skin.
Yes. Again, any moisturizer does this.
Brightens.
Yes, niacinamide can reduce sallowness and brighten the complexion.
Helps to restore skin’s firmness.
Note it doesn’t promise to firm skin. It only promises to help (what?) firm skin. There’s nothing in here that can firm skin.
Exfoliates to enhance skin’s surface natural self-renewal process for healthier looking skin every morning.
There’s nothing here that can exfoliate skin.
Its non-greasy, fast absorbing formula will not clog the pores of the skin.
True.
Price & Availability
$24.99/£14.99 at Boots, Sephora and Superdrug
The Verdict: Should You Buy It?
If you’re looking for an effective moisturiser that can moisturise, soothe, and prevent wrinkles without breaking the bank, Olay Total Effects Night Firming Moisturiser is definitely worth a try. It’s one of the best moisturisers at the drugstore.
Dupes & Alternatives
CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion ($15.99): One of my fave moisturisers, it has ceramides and niacinamide to strengthen the skin’s protective barrier and make every skin type soft and smooth without clogging pores. But it’s not anti-aging. Available at Boots, Cult Beauty, Look Fantastic, and Ulta.
EltaMD PM Therapy Facial Moisturizer ($44.00): A niacinamide-based moisturiser to brighten and hydrate dry skin. It works, but it’s the most basic formula on this list. Available at Dermstore, Look Fantastic, and Skin Store.
Aqua, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Isohexadecane, Dimethicone, Isopropyl Isostearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Polyacrylamide, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethiconol, Laureth-7, Cetearyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Cetyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, PEG-100 Stearate, Ammonium Polyacrylate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Titanium Dioxide, C13-14 Alkane, 1.2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Parfum, Benzyl Salicylate, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
About Gio
Hi, I’m Gio. I’m a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is skin coach and writer on a mission to help you achieve your best skin day ever – every day. I bust skincare myths and debunk marketing jargon to help you figure out what’s worth the splurge and what’s best left on the shelf – using science, not hype. I also offer skincare consultations to help you create the best skincare routine for your unique needs.
