Quite a few months ago, I attended the launch of the new Olay White Radiance range with CelLucent technology. There were 2 main products they were launching – the CelLucent White Cream and the CelLucent White Essence.
Like many women, I fight my freckles and pigmentation, in the hope to lighten them. With a promise that it would perform like that of a whitening injection (not that I’d ever experienced that), I was interested to see how the Olay White Radiance CelLucent line performed on my skin.
In a nutshell, I was disappointed. Find out why.
Olay White Radiance CelLucent White Cream
The cream is formulated to be quite unique. Rather like that of memory foam. You know how memory foam works right? You depress or squeeze the foam and it bounces back into its original shape. This cream behaves the same way. You scoop out a dollop in the morning and by the evening, its a smooth surface again. Keep doing it and it’ll keep bouncing back so you have a brand new tub of cream every single time you use it. That’s quite fun 😛
However this cream broke me out after about 4 days. The gel texture is very silicone-y to the touch and it just did not absorb into my skin. It just felt like it was sitting there on the top of my skin. I could rub shortening into my skin and it would feel the same way. Plus after breaking out, I set this cream aside.
Olay White Radiance CelLucent White Essence
The essence fared much better than the cream. For one, it did not break me out. Secondly, it is light and absorbs quickly into the skin. Also, that dropper mechanism delivers just the right amount for me – 1 pump is all I use.
All good. Except I saw no discernable effects. I was hoping against hope that I’d find an inexpensive alternative to the one brightening essence that works very well for me, to the extent I repurchased when I ran out. Sadly, I did not, so I’m going to have to stick to that one for now.
In general:
Pros: Easily available
Cons: Expensive, Cream caused me to break out, Essence did not lighten spots or do anything but it did not break me out
Anyone want these lightly used products? I can’t use them and no one else I know wants them so if you’d like them (all hygienically used) drop me a line and I’ll send them over – Malaysia only please 🙂
If you have tried either product please share your experience. It’ll be great to know if it works for anyone else 🙂 As for myself, it would appear that the only Olay product that really works for me is the Total Effects cream which is pretty amazing stuff for the price!
Paris B
Both the Olay White Radiance CelLucent White Cream and the CelLucent White Essence retail at RM129.90/40ml at all Olay counters. It might only be available in Asia.
plue says
January 13, 2011 at 9:39 ami got the essence too, it worked for me alright. I got the similar brightening effect like my beloved Neutrogena, but it doesn’t help in diminishing my pigmentations, at least Neutrogena does, but maybe my pigmentation is at it’s lightest and can’t be help anymore, so… i’m not sure! But even if i take away that factor, the price isn’t something I want to forked out. Neutrogena is around rm90 (i think, last I bought), where this is RM130, about rm40 difference!
sigh. total effects and the micro sculpting cream works so much better, for drugstore standards! Btw, the micro sculpting essence for me works the same like the cream. Better get the cream because it’s cheaper! Haha.
ParisB says
January 13, 2011 at 3:02 pmI didn’t try that Micro-Sculpting Cream but I might do some day. I didn’t get any effect at all from the Olay Cellucent essence which really bummed me. But then I didn’t get any effect from Diorsnow DNA Reverse either 😛
Aina Alene says
January 13, 2011 at 9:46 amsigh oh well. looks great but too bad it seems like it hasnt worked for anyone! btw when u say break out, what kind of break out do u mean? small spots or cystic? argh.
i wanna try the total effects 7 in 1 anti aging serum tho! the one on so soloverly.
oh sorry, sugar here. my skin is ok now, whole face, except the the sides. very weird. my jawline and the hairline near my eears are bad. still alot of bumps and small cystic acne. but the rest of my face, nose, forehead, cheeks, find. weird weird weird. also, my skin is still dehydarted. =(
ParisB says
January 13, 2011 at 3:03 pmI got spots with this one, not cystic acne, thank God! And Sugar! I can’t keep up with your changes LOL! 😀 Glad to know your skin is recovering. Have you tried the Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery? I want to try that Total Effects Serum too – in fact, I actually checked it out at the pharmacy yesterday 😛
Hanny says
January 13, 2011 at 10:04 amNever tried Olay…. Hmmm… Was too much of an “aunty” brand for me, no?
And yikes, breakouts… me scared….
ParisB says
January 13, 2011 at 3:05 pmI used to think so too. But I tried out the Olay Total Effects, as a mystery tester and I liked it and used up multiple tubs 😀
Ny says
January 13, 2011 at 11:06 amOh yeah that Total Effects worked like magic for my mom. Even she has stopped using it now, her pigmentation remains gone.
ParisB says
January 13, 2011 at 3:05 pmI think that’s Olay’s best item – then again, its also the only one that hasn’t broken me out so there must be something good in there!
monstro says
January 13, 2011 at 11:09 amOh no and your skin hardly ever breaks out from any products. I have been warned.
ParisB says
January 13, 2011 at 3:06 pmSadly yes. I have elephantine skin most times, but when something irritates it, it irritates it bad!
Ee Von says
January 13, 2011 at 11:14 ami tried the essence, love the light texture and quick-absorbing factor, but it didn’t do much to scars and spots. the first few weeks using it it probably did slightly brighten my complexion but after that… meh. thank goodness i didn’t have to buy it, for something that doesn’t really work, it’s expensive!
ParisB says
January 13, 2011 at 3:06 pmYes! I’m wondering though if anyone has tried it and found that it works for them. Its not bad as a product but it just did not deliver its promise to whiten or brighten 🙁
mrsdjones says
January 13, 2011 at 5:06 pmHi Paris,
Sad to know it did not work for you. I’ve been using Olay total effects for quite some time and it is really good for my skin! 😉
ParisB says
January 13, 2011 at 7:21 pmYup! Total Effects was great. This one just didn’t do it.
Mari Ohira says
January 13, 2011 at 6:48 pmToo bad! Olay has just arrived here and it’s causing quite a stir in the beauty market. I was willing to try it but… my skin is already prone to breakouts, so after your review I’m somewhat a bit scared to do it. Do you happen to know a tried-and-true product by Olay?
ParisB says
January 13, 2011 at 7:00 pmFor me, its the Total Effects cream that worked for me many years ago and still worked for me a few years later when I tried it again. However, some people have also broken out from it so really, its hard to say. Still I think the Total Effects cream that comes in a pump bottle comes in a small 20g size so maybe you can try that one 🙂
Mari Ohira says
January 14, 2011 at 12:27 amIt seems good enough for me! And there’s a formula for sensitive skins as well! I think I will try it as soon as my night moisturiser ends. Thanks for the tip!
ParisB says
January 14, 2011 at 10:26 amYup! There are different formulas. Give it a go but get the trial version just in case 😀
Jan S says
January 13, 2011 at 10:23 pmThanks for the review. Saved me some money as I was quite tempted to try these products. btw what’s your favourite whitening cream and essence then? I have yet to find one which is really effective 🙁
ParisB says
January 14, 2011 at 10:25 amI like the Clinique Derma White Brightening Essence – got the link in the review above 🙂 I don’t use whitening creams as I prefer something anti-aging
Sarah says
January 16, 2011 at 5:18 pmThank you for the honest review =) Read about these products in other blogs but they seem more like adverts rather than honest reviews.
ParisB says
January 16, 2011 at 5:36 pmThank you Sarah. I have come across those too and I believe they are actually advertorials, just not disclosed as such. Wish advertisers would insist on a disclosure because some of those are really misleading and have nothing to do with the product at all 🙁
Chanel says
February 7, 2011 at 12:54 amOh no! I would never use Olay products, I don’t trust their ingredients. Hun, if you want a good whitening product, you have to look else where. There is a great Korean brand called Whoo, which has a whitening line, its called Seol, and it removes freckles. Its all natural, and Asian medicinal herb based. It works amazing, and it even lightens your skin a few shades lighter. Korean products are the best!!!
Chanel says
February 7, 2011 at 12:55 am^ also to the comment Sarah made. You’re right, these products are just hypes, they don’t have concentrated whitening ingredients. Gosh, how do these products get on the market?! I don’t get it…