Guest Review by Joeybunny - Olay Regenerist Thermal Mini-Peel

image from olay.com

A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to receive a gift bag full of Olay and DDF skincare and body care products from a client who works for Olay/DDF. Really, it was kind of one of the most awesome presents ever! While I was sitting at work going through all the different products, one really caught my eye:

Olay Regenerist Thermal Mini-Peel!

Now, before I describe this amazing awesome splendiferous peel (because it really is amazing, awesome, and splendiferous), I need to say something - I am a skincare snob. Not only am I a skincare snob, I do not understand drugstore skincare lines with high-end price points. For example, I use exclusively Paul and Joe Beaute skincare. Their Foaming Face Wash is $25 USD. The Olay Regenerist Thermal Mini-Peel is $21.99USD at my local drugstore.

My reaction to that was a big WTF?! If I’m going to spend $22 on a face wash, I want that damned face wash to be luxe, you know? I never realized that a lot of drugstore skincare was so pricey! Olay’s specialty lines (Professional, Definity, Regenerist, and Total Effects) are not cheap, considering where they are sold. So basically, I’m left wondering why the stuff is not $5 or whatever. When I buy La Mer, I know it’s expensive because of the packaging, where it’s sold, and what’s in it. So what the hell makes this mini-peel thing so expensive?

It’s expensive because it works. It bloody works! The Olay Regenerist line is meant to, well, regenerate the appearance of the skin; basically, it’s supposed to give the effect of a chemical peel without the price of a chemical peel.

Here’s what the Olay Regenerist site says:

“Formulated with the exclusive Olay Amino-Peptide Complex, Regenerist combines a specific pentapeptide, Pal-KTTKS, with other proven anti-aging ingredients (vitamin B3, vitamin E, pro-vitamin B5, green tea extract, and allantoin).This unique complex helps to regenerate skin's appearance without compromising skin's moisture barrier. It renews skin's outer layer, helps skin appearance regenerate quickly and strengthens skin's moisture barrier.”

Ok, ok. Your skin is going to be more moisturized, more smooth, and more even. I have to say, since I started using this scrub about a month ago, my skin is in fact more smooth, more even, and more moisturized because my moisturizers sink in faster and more evenly. So maybe all that amino-banana-pepto bismol complex business stuff isn’t all mumbo-jumbo.

The Regenerist Thermal Mini-Peel is a purple exfoliator that has both physical (in the form of a micro-crystal complex) and chemical (glycolic acid!) exfoliants. It also heats up when applied to a wet skin. The scrub isn’t harsh, nor does it burn. In fact, it’s quite soothing. I do wish it smelled better, but whatever. I saw an instant - yes, instant! - difference in the texture and tone of my skin after my first usage of the product. A month later, surgery scars on my face are faded, as are some pesky acne marks near my mouth. Incredible, no? And to think, you can find this at your local drug store!

Like I said before, this retails for about $21.99USD for 6 oz of product. I use a dollar coin-sized amount twice a week, and I have barely made a dent in the bottle. I highly recommend trying this out if you’ve been having problems with your skin’s tone or texture! I really am surprised I liked this so much; clearly, I was wrong about drugstore skincare.