Olay's Regenerist Regenerating Serum is meant to hydrate your skin while reducing the appearance of fine wrinkles and improving skin texture, according to product information. The company's Regenerist Eye Lifting Serum has won the Woman's Day magazine Best in Beauty and Health award for best facial skin care product. Several ingredients go into the product.
Silicone
Cyclopentasiloxane and dimethicone are types of silicone, which are silica, or sand. Silicone acts as a water-binding agent and gives emolliency, meaning it prevents water loss on skin and provides a softening effect, according to Paula Begoun, author of "The Original Beauty Bible." Another Regenerist ingredient, polymethylsilsesquioxane, is a polymer that's derived from the silicone methyltrimethoxysilane.
Humectants
Glycerin is a humectant, meaning it absorbs water. It increases the amount of water in your surface layer of skin because it attracts water from the environment as well as your lower layers of skin. This helps to maintain your outer skin barrier, which prevents scaling and dryness, advises Begoun. Butylene glycol and propylene glycol also act as humectants in this product.
Vitamins
This product has three vitamins---pantenol, or vitamin B5, niacinamide, or vitamin B3, and tocopheryl acetate, or vitamin E. Vitamin E is a lipid-soluble vitamin that's an "antioxidant superstar," says Begoun. Niacinamide that's applied topically can increase free fatty acid levels and ceramide in skin, prevent your skin from losing water and stimulate microcirculation in your dermis. These factors can lead to improved elasticity, improvement in the appearance of wrinkles, a decrease in skin discolorations and a reduction in sallowness, according to Begoun.
PEGs
Olay has several PEG compound ingredients. PEG stands for polyethylene glycol. PEG compounds can be used as binding agents, emollients and stabilizers in cosmetic formulations, advises Begoun.
Amino Peptides
Regenerist serum has two types of amino peptides, palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 and carnosine. Carnosine has antioxidant as well as anti-inflammatory properties, Begoun says. Palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 is meant to stimulate collagen production, but scientific studies don't exist to back this use, according to "Simple Skin Beauty" by Ellen Marmur and Gina Way. Palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 is attached to a fatty acid, which boosts its ability to penetrate your skin.
Parabens
Ethylparaben, propylparaben and methylparaben are parabens that are used as preservatives. These are popular because they are considered less irritating than many other preservatives. They also provide the benefit of broad spectrum activity against mold, bacteria and fungus that may contaminate cosmetics, according to Begoun.
Green Tea
Camellia sinensis leaf extract is green tea extract. Green tea is an antioxidant and also has anti-inflammatory properties. Studies on green tea's anticarcinogenic properties also look promising, but these have been done on animals, so benefits might not translate to humans, advises Begoun.
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