Olay Fresh Effects Shine, Shine Go Away! Face Cleanser

When I first saw the ads for this new face wash from Olay I went, “Minimize shine? Yeah, sure.”

Then I received a free tube of this product and, after three weeks of use, I discovered that actually it sort of did.

I say “sort of” because while this foaming cleanser did have an instant mattifying effect, thanks in part to its use of kaolin clay, that effect didn't last all day.  

So was “shine minimized” like Olay said it would be? Technically yes, though if you're looking for a long-lasting solution to shine, you will be disappointed by this product. Instead, this cleanser needs to be treated like just one step in the multi-stop trip that is controlling shine.

And while this product's focus is controlling shine, Olay claims that this cleanser also “purifies like a mask” and “lifts away impurities for a deep down-to-the-pores clean.” I don't completely agree with this because I still have some clogged pores and blackheads but I will give Olay its claim that this product removes twice as much dirt, oil and makeup as “basic cleansing.”

 Okay, I don't know if it's removing twice as much, but I have no doubt that this cleanser is getting in there and removing more dirt than say, my 100% all natural bar of vegetable oil soap or even Spectro-Gel. While some of my pores are still clogged, they do look cleaner and my skin in general looks clearer. And best of all, I haven't had a real pimple in over two weeks (and yes, for me that’s a big deal).

Hydration-wise, my skin has also been doing great. Despite the inclusion of some less-than-kind ingredients (more on that in a minute), this cleanser hasn't dried out my skin or left it feeling tight or irritated. Instead, it left it feeling very clean and yes, even “fresh.”

However, according to this review over on Beautypedia.con, regular use of this “harsh cleanser” will likely lead to irritation, due to “a potentially problematic amount of potassium hydroxide (lye).”  This irritation can then lead to more oil production, which means more shine. So this might be one of those products that’s best used for short periods of time.

One thing about the Beautypedia review that did strike me as odd is that it describes this product as “highly fragranced.” I actually didn't notice any real scent to this product, so either the US version of this product uses different ingredients or this cleanser uses fragrance for no good reason. And that’s a shame because I’m always up for something with a great scent.

Would I buy this product: Even though this isn't the “healthiest” cleanser out there, I might still pick up a tube and use it for brief periods when my skin’s on the oily side. At $8 a tube, this is the type of product that you can afford to have just sitting on the shelf.

Should you buy this product: I would skip this if you have dry or sensitive skin. And even “normal” skin people really don’t need this cleanser. But if you have combination skin like me, you might want to give it a try. Just be sure to toss it if it does cause you any irritation.