
This post is sponsored by Olay. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I first started hearing about the benefits of retinol when I was pregnant with Bowie so I held off. Then I was breastfeeding and held off again. Then I had pretty much forgotten about it because #mommybrain and when I finally remembered to look it up, all of the options were so expensive! When I was approached to partner with Olay on the launch of their #Retinol24 line of products, I was excited because the affordable price point was something I could really get behind and continue to purchase long term, if I was happy with the results.

A bit about the products…
Retinol is a form of Vitamin A that is very powerful and potent. It encourages skin cells to turn over faster than they normally would and has the ability to brighten and smooth skin and fade signs of damage. Olay’s Retinol24 products are unique because they contain a proprietary blend of B3 and retinoid complex in order to reduce irritation and provide 24 hour hydration, making it appropriate for daily use. Their special formula aims to help brighten skin, smooth fine lines, even the look of skin tone and visibly improve dark spots.

My experience…
I’ve been using the products for a couple of weeks now and I’m really impressed so far because I’m actually already seeing visible results! After 1 week of use, my husband looked at me after I washed my makeup off one night and said, “What happened to your face? Something’s different.” That’s right, for the first time in nearly 8 years, he actually noticed a difference in my skin and the only change I’d made to my routine was introducing the Retinol24 products. To me, that was a major marker of success! I’ve used a lot of different products over the years and noticed slight improvements myself but for the most part, they’ve gone completely overlooked by my husband. These improvements have been noticeable enough in just one week that even he saw them so I’m definitely going to keep it up!

My tips for use…
When I initially posted about this product line on Instagram, I saw a couple of comments from people who had tried them and experienced some irritation. This is a super common side effect of retinol because it’s a very potent and powerful ingredient…which means it works! While this product line specifically addresses this with their unique hydrating formula, some people are still going to be more sensitive than others. It should go without saying but all products work differently on all people so know the skin you’re in! The key to introducing any new product is knowing your skin type. If you’ve experienced sensitivity in the past, it’s probably best to test patch a product before using it all over. I have pretty sensitive skin so to start, I’ve been using the Retinol24 Night Eye Cream in combination with either the Retinol24 Night Moisturizer every other night. I’ve read up a lot on retinol and professionals often recommend easing yourself into using it until your skin becomes accustomed to it. If you’re super sensitive, you may even want to leave 2 days in between use and then gradually increase usage as you see and feel fit for your skin! I’ve been using the products for a couple of weeks now and I’m really impressed so far because I’m actually already seeing visible results! If you’re interested in trying them for yourself, you can shop the affordable Olay Retinol24 products HERE!

Shenae Grimes-Beech is an actor and YouTuber with a highly engaged community of like-minded women who are here to stand up for what they believe in and lean into discomfort, especially when it means doing the right thing.
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