Olay

 Regenerist Daily Regenerating Serum ($18.99/1.7 ounces) is a silky, silicone-based serum that contains a nice complement of water-binding agents and antioxidants. It contains approximately 2% to 3% niacinamide, and, in this amount, it can increase the skin's ceramide and fatty acid content as well as have anti-inflammatory action (Source: Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, April 2004, pages 88-93). When it comes to niacinamide being able to affect aging (wrinkled) or sun-damaged (also discolored) skin, research points to a concentration of 5% as necessary to notice any improvement in skin texture and color that's consistent with what is typically seen in young skin (Source: D. L. Bissett, J. E. Oblong, A. Saud, and M. Levine, "Topical niacinamide provides improvements in aging human facial skin," presented at the 60th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2002).

Olay claims the palmitoyl pentapeptide-3 this contains can regenerate and intensely hydrate skin. However, palmitoyl pentapeptide-3 (also known as Matrixyl) is present in this product at less than 1%, and its value for skin is documented only by Sederma, the company that sells it. As it turns out, Sederma makes lots of peptides, and makes increasingly exaggerated claims about curing every skin-care woe imaginable. Of course, none of this is published research, but that doesn't stop Sederma or any of the numerous cosmetics companies from using their ingredients. In reality, it's the various types of silicones that really give this product its elegant texture and make skin feel unbelievably silky. Regenerist Daily Regenerating Serum won't give aging skin a new lease on life, but it would be a very good serum-type moisturizer for normal to slightly oily skin. This does contain fragrance.