Product Review - Olay Total Effects Sensitive

I've been saying for quite a while that I need to take better care of my skin.  Particularly my face.

One of the things I've been wanting to do is wear a daily moisturiser with sunscreen.  I don't want to look all old and wrinkled before my time, let alone melanoma etc!

So, product review #2 I get to try:

Olay Total Effects Sensitive

Product claims:
"an all in one product, designed for sensitive skin to help fight the 7 signs of ageing" as per their anti-ageing product Olay Total Effects.

It is designed to 'protect, calm and strengthen your skin'.

The things it does to fight the 7 signs of ageing are:

1. line minimisation
2. nourishing moisturisation
3. tone enhancement
4. gentle exfoliation
5. pore refinement
6. anti-oxidants
7. subtle lifting

It retails for around $33.  The first thing I thought when I pulled it out of the box was, "wow, that's not much for $33!!"  But comparatively with other similar products, it is around the same size and a similar price.

You don't need much for a full application, one squirt of the pump does your face & some of your neck.  So it would last a while.  It recommends twice a day on the box.  I'm not sold to that!  who applies a 'day cream' twice a day???  most people who are really into this stuff would use a 'night cream' at bedtime.

I washed my face and put it on.  My neck was a bit scratchy (which often happens with certain products) - is this meant to happen?  Afterall it is supposed to be a 'sensitive' skin product.  When I last had a facial I was all tingly and that was a good thing, so perhaps it is showing that it's working?

I have used it for a week - because I thought I can't very well review something like this after one try.

The cream smells quite 'sunblocky' - that is because it is SPF15+ and doesn't have any other fragrance added (which is good in my books).

It is thick, and my face looked positively good after first application.  Natural, but 'glowy' in a gentle, non-oily way.  Subsequent applications felt and looked good.  I felt quite assured that I was using something good on my face and it felt like a bit of a treat to put it on!

After one weeks use I notice:

• my skin is smoother.  It feels smooth to the touch.
• some of my pores appear smaller and 'cleaner' (maybe that's the more regular face washing?? hehe)
• my skin does look healthier
• I feel good - because I know I am using a good product on my skin and protecting my face from the sun!

I'm 25, I don't have a lot of wrinkles, nor bad skin tone etc.  I also feel very vain giving myself a good look over everyday and then publically reviewing my appearance on my blog!! haha

I suppose I would notice further benefits with more long term use.  I will continue to use it and might get hooked.  It is cheaper than some other creams I have tried, but I am not convinced enough to unquestionably add it to the budget.  If you regularly use qualtiy face care, it's well worth a try.  

I am convinced that I need to care for my face better, and I don't want to apply a regular sunblock everyday (way to greasy and yuck on the skin) - so I will definitely be working on it!

Product Review - Pantene Pro-V Aqua Light

So I get to try a few new great products....  on the condition I review them on my blog (sorry to my regular readers)

You may end up finding something that you'd like....

Pantene Pro-V Aqua Light

Firstly, I am a shampoo & conditioner snob.  I buy salon product, unless money is really tight.  I have ringlets and unruly frizz.  It's pretty hard to keep my hair in shape.

Anyway, I was happy to give this product a go.  The write up claimed that it is "targeted at women with fine hair who want hydration and that just washed feeling, without their hair feeling weighed down and looking flat or limp."  I don't really have fine hair, but the rest applies to me.

It apparently uses 'Clean Rinse Technology' which leaves no residue on your hair.

So, what did I think?


I was actually pleasantly surprised.  It does what is says - the shampoo lathers nicely (I didn't have to do it twice) and rinses out easily.  The conditioner glides on, and off - so my wet hair felt smooth and clean but not slimy like it still had conditioner on it.

I purposefully left no product in my hair, let it dry and went out that evening.  I got quite a lot of comments on how good my hair looked.

When my hair dried, it was ultra curly.  There was a lot of bounce and very little weight.  It wasn't hugely frizzy either which was quite nice - seeing as it was hot and raining - being perfect weather for 'boof head' me to turn up.

A few days later (I try not to wash my hair too often) and my hair actually still feels clean and looks quite good.  Impressive.  I like it better than the current salon shampoo I have (which is a new one I'm trying).

I also tried it on miss 2's hair - she has the tightest, thick little ringlets I've ever seen.  Being only 2 years old, it is still quite fine hair.  It looked beautiful and shiny and bouncy when I had washed it.  Usually I also use salon stuff in her hair because I sort of have to.

So, overall, although I don't necessarily think I am the type of person this product is targeted to - it does do what it claims.  I am fairly happy with the result, to the point where if I chose a shampoo at the supermarket, depending on price, this would be one of the first I chose.

It's a winner!  Go on, give it a go!