The Best Inexpensive Face Cream

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Do you know the number one reason why more women don’t use skincare? The cost. Magazines, TV ads, and the whole beauty industry in general, ingrained it in our minds that you get what you pay for, but this isn’t true. I admit, I used to be kind of a skincare snob, and only bought my products at higher end department stores. However, each time I had a chance to try more affordable alternatives, my mind was always blown away by how some products perform similarly to what I was using at the time, and I could buy them at a fraction of the cost.

So, is expensive skincare really better? Yes and no.

Labor-intensive ingredients, such as natural oils, butters, and exotic botanical extracts, will always add a few extra bucks to the total cost of the final product. I also noticed that time-tested, proven ingredients, like Hyaluronic Acid or Retinol, don’t really change the price all that much. With state of the art manufacturing facilities, the cost of producing these amazing anti-aging actives is kept low, so every woman can enjoy the benefits of truly effective skincare no matter her beauty budget. It’s only a matter of choosing the right products that will offer targeted solutions. Now, if only finding those perfect products was that easy…

I remember how overwhelmed I felt trying to develop a proper skincare routine in my early 20s. All of those serums, toners, moisturizers, and balms – it was impossible to pick the perfect bunch, especially when I didn’t really know much about my skin’s needs at the time. If I could give one advice to my younger self, I would tell her that hydration is key. Keeping the skin moisturized at all times is one of the most important elements of my current anti-aging routine, and I just wish I knew this sooner. Lucky for us, it’s never too late to start taking better care of our biggest organ. 🙂

Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream is a moisturizing, anti-aging powerhouse for young skin I can totally get behind. In a recent independent study, GH Institute compared Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream against 10 prestige creams found in most department stores. These products ranged in price from $26 to $440. The tests included clinical and blinded consumer studies, where GH Institute Beauty Lab scientists collected more than 10,000 hydration measurements, and guess what? Olay came up on top!

Here are just some of Micro-Sculpting Cream’s impressive achievements:

• At the three-hour mark, Olay moisturized 400% better than a cream nearly 18 times its price and beat all other products tested.
• Olay Micro-Sculpting Cream increased moisture by 50% on average over a 24-hour period.
• In blind comparisons, consumers preferred Olay 80% of the time over expensive creams, reporting that it felt “rich” without being heavy.
• Formulated with proven, time-tested anti-aging ingredients like Niacinamide and Hyaluronic Acid, Olay helps improve skin’s texture by 10% in four weeks.

Before: I am happy with my skin, but it could use a little more moisture. After: Skin is noticeably plumper, more even-toned, fine lines around the eyes look a little smoother after the first use.

My mom used the Olay Regenerist line for a long time and she swears by it. I always admired her youthful-looking skin, and now that I’m all grown up myself, it’s only natural that I like the same products. Olay has introduced a re-engineered formula for their best-selling Micro-Sculpting Cream, and it’s better than ever. The formula delivers on its promise to show visible wrinkle results starting at day one, and reduce the appearance of lines, revealing brighter, more hydrated skin on day two. After two weeks the skin is noticeably firmer and the elasticity is improved, and after four weeks the appearance of deep and fine lines will be reduced significantly.

In my routine Olay Micro-Sculpting Cream takes the place of an occlusive daytime moisturizer. After cleansing and toning my face and neck, I first apply an eye cream followed by anti-oxidant serum, gently pat the skin with my fingertips until most of the product is absorbed, and then swipe a dime-sized amount of Olay, focusing on my face and neck areas. I usually give the cream a few minutes to absorb while I’m going other things, then apply SPF30+ sunscreen and go about my day. Easy, right?

I really enjoy using Micro-Sculpting Cream. It’s a wonderful everyday hydrator that keeps my skin quenched and makes me feel more confident going makeup-free, when I run errands or have friends & family over for some Friday night movies and games. While I think makeup in general is a great way to have fun and express yourself, I no longer feel like I have to wear it on a daily basis. After all, what can be more beautiful than a confident woman comfortable in her own skin? This is why I strongly advocate for developing a skincare routine that works for you. At the end of the day, makeup comes off!

Let’s take a closer look at the ingredients:

• Carob Seed Extract helps the skin repair and regenerate [in vitro and in vivo testing]
• Niacinamide improves cell turnover and maintains skin’s moisture barrier
• Amino-peptide (pal-KTKKS) helps decrease the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
• Panthenol soothes and moisturizes the skin
• Vitamin E – powerful anti-oxidant that protects against free radical damage
• Olivem – olive oil derivative modified to increase the penetration of anti-aging ingredients into the skin’s stratum corneum
• Glycerin and Hyaluronic Acid – powerful humectants that can hold many times their weight in water, keeping the skin moisturized and plump

Olay Micro-Sculpting Cream is not magic, but a carefully formulated solution to target the first signs of aging. Every woman’s skin is unique, so don’t get too caught up in using products for a specific age range. It doesn’t matter whether the first signs of aging show up in your 20s, 30s or 40s, what matters is how you deal with them. Finding the right product is not as hard anymore, thanks to the Internet, so my biggest advice to you is to find your product and stick with it. Overnight miracles don’t exist, but hard work and dedication always pay off.

And hey, to any other clueless 20-year-old Anastasias out there, remember that hydration is key! Your skin will thank you when you’re older. 😉

Have you tried products from Olay Regenerist line? What do you think about Olay skincare, do you have any favorites? Have you seen Olay Micro-Sculpting Cream on the shelves of your favorite retailers? Let me know in the comments!

*I partnered with Olay on this post but all thoughts and opinions are my own. #ad #ageless

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Olay. The opinions and text are all mine.