If you were to ask 100 women what their biggest beauty concern is, I’d guarantee most responses would be skin-related. Personally, I don’t think I’ve had a day since before I was 12 that the appearance of my skin hasn’t bothered me (as sad as that is!), although the problems have varied from oily and acne-prone to dry and flaky and everything in between.
Now that I’ve finally kicked my acne to the curb with some pretty powerful (and very drying) prescription meds, I’m finally ready to look at addressing the issues that come with being a busy single mum of three, working full-time in front of a computer in an air-conditioned office, and spending a lot of time out in the harsh Queensland sun — namely, evidence of being 35, like dull, sagging skin, and fine lines and wrinkles.
To be perfectly honest, my skin is as dry as 2021 has felt long, and I’d be lying if I said it doesn’t get me down a bit.
As I get older, my skincare needs are changing. Not just in terms of what the products are and what they do, but their ease of use and price point are more important to me now.
I don’t have the luxury of time, nor the means to splurge on Botox and top-shelf serums. So, when I was offered the chance to try the new Olay Regenerist Collagen Peptide 24 collection to see what those sweet, sweet collagen benefits were all about, I pounced.
Image: Supplied.
And turns out not all collagen are made equal. I didn't realise there was a significant difference between collagen and collagen peptides in skincare – a main difference between being peptides are generally more 'bioavailable'.
While regular collagen remains on the skin's surface levels, it's proven (from a recent Franz Cell Study) that Olay Collagen Peptide 24 penetrates up to 40 per cent deeper into the skin as compared to regular collagen. When put to the test, 88 per cent of users who tested this out experienced plumper, bouncier morning skin during the period of using the range.
Of course, I wanted to test firsthand, so I tested these products alongside two other bouncy skin-seeking women; 33-year-old Nicolle, who is in the trenches with a toddler, and 32-year-old Lacey-Jade, whose thirst for collagen is unquenchable.
“As a full-time working parent with a toddler who has well and prematurely reached his terrible twos, it’s safe to say I have had my fair share of, ‘You look tired, is everything okay?’ comments when attempting to go makeup-free. Especially after emerging from a four-month lockdown with said toddler, so I'm looking for the best collagen skincare I can get my hands on right now,” Nicolle says.
“For the first time, I had genuinely considered getting some injectables just to give my face a bit of a freshen up. I enjoy a collection from the same brand and specific instructions on how to use them—it takes away the mental load of having to do lots of research and work out what should go where.
“All I know is, collagen and collagen beauty are the new buzzwords that light up the Mamamia You Beauty Facebook Group and anything that promises to leave you with plump and bouncy skin is something I am willing to try!”
Lacey-Jade is a self-confessed “skincare freak” on a mission to find products that will minimise the signs of ageing.
“I’m not afraid of getting older—I love being a bit wiser and more experienced; I just don’t want my face to show my wisdom and experience,” she says.
“When I saw that Olay’s new line of products was overflowing with collagen, I needed it on my face, and after testing the Olay Regenerist Collagen Peptide 24 Moisturiser, Serum and Eye Cream, I have some thoughts.
“At first glance, the ingredients are exactly what I need. I’m a beauty writer so when I see the words niacinamide and collagen pentapeptides on the list of ingredients, I get excited. Together, these ingredients are meant to lock in moisture, increase your skin’s resilience and improve the texture of your face. I also love the lack of fragrance (most fragrances make me itch).
“At a second glance, it’s an easy system. Serum, moisturiser, eye cream. I love simplicity, it’s so great for people who get a bit overwhelmed by skincare.”
What’s the verdict? Let’s see what we all thought of the individual products after using them for two weeks:
Olay Regenerist Collagen Peptide 24 Serum, $59.99
Nicolle: The serum, I must say, is delicious. The texture is so light and a little goes a long way. It’s very penetrative, which made my face feel really fresh and alive. After just one week of consistent use, I already definitely noticed a difference in the appearance of my skin. Overall, it was much brighter, more even and I noticed a reduction in redness—particularly around my nose and cheek area.
Nicolle. Image: Supplied.
Lacey-Jade: My favourite product is the serum; it’s lightweight, and only needed to be used sparingly to have an effect (yay for a long-lasting!), and it made my skin feel plump. And big points for being non-greasy.
Lacey-Jade. Image: Supplied.
Kelly: The last serum I bought, I paid an eye-watering amount for only for it to burn my face, so I felt a bit wary. This one, however, felt light, hydrating and soothing — definitely a new favourite for me to add to my regime.
Olay Regenerist Collagen Peptide 24 Moisturiser, $59.99
Nicolle: I love a moisturiser that can be used day and night because it cuts down the need for extra products. What I do love about night creams is they are generally thicker than day creams, however the Collagen Peptide 24 moisturiser was lovely, thick and really creamy, which makes it easy to use and spread out evenly across your face and neck. I also found my skin felt really hydrated for the duration of the day, even when wearing makeup over the top.
Lacey-Jade: I was very interested to see how my skin would take to this moisturiser, especially as I like to avoid products that are too oily for my combination skin. But after I worked it into my complexion, it was non-oily and left me with brighter, bouncy skin. It was super hydrating too, so keen to see how it helps my fine lines over more sustained use.
Lacey-Jade. Image: Supplied.
Kelly: I too get concerned that a moisturiser might be too heavy and leave me looking more greaseball than glowing, but the Collagen Peptide 24 Moisturiser hit the sweet spot. It really locked in the hydration of the serum, without leaving a thick residue. I was super impressed with how luxe it felt, and how quickly it sunk in too; perfect for someone like me who is always running late!
Kelly. Image: Supplied.
Olay Regenerist Collagen Peptide 24 Eye Cream, $59.99
Nicolle: Being olive skinned, I naturally have darker circles and dull skin under my eyes. I also have some slight fine lines and wrinkles that have recently started to develop. In the past, I’ve tried several different eye creams but I’ve always found it to end up stinging or burning. This didn’t happen at all with the Collagen Peptide 24 Eye Cream; it went on smooth and the fact it’s fragrance-free meant I didn’t have a reaction. I loved how beautifully hydrating it felt.
Lacey-Jade: After a few uses, I wasn't sure if it was doing much to my skin, but after using it for a few weeks my under eyes are brighter and my fine lines and wrinkles have definitely become less visible. This gem just needed a moment, and heck, did she deliver.
Kelly: I’ve been meaning to try an eye cream for a while now (those helpful “if you remember X, it’s time for an eye cream” memes have been getting a bit personal), but I was a bit worried because I get a bit of dermatitis on my eyelids. This formula went on smoothly, made me feel and look more awake, and two weeks later I have no sign of those itchy, flaky dermatitis patches.
Kelly. Image: Supplied.
Overall impressions?
After two weeks of using the Olay Regenerist Collagen Peptide 24 Serum, Eye Cream and Moisturiser, we're singing the praises of this trio. With all three products, a little goes a long way (I’ve barely made a dent after two weeks!), and each of us have definitely felt the collagen benefits of long-lasting hydration, firm, bouncy skin and an improvement in skin texture.
Best of all, this system of using this Olay Collagen Peptide 24 trio is so simple, leaving no need for separate day and night products. Love that for us.
Want to try these products for yourself? Give your skin The Morning Bounce, all day long with Olay's new Collagen Peptide 24 collection. Shop the range from Chemist Warehouse.
Feature Image: SuppliedMamamia.
