Skincare Essentials You Need For Your 30s

Thank you to Olay skin care for partnering on this post!

Olay Micro-Sculpting Cream
Olay Brightening + Vitamin C Hydrating Moisturizer
Olay Retinol24 Night Moisturizer

Olay Skin Care

My Skincare Story

It’s no secret that I’m obsessed with skincare.  But the funny thing is, this was definitely not always the case.  If you rewind back to my 20s, it was all about makeup for me and I quite literally had a makeup collection that would rival any professional makeup artist.  I don’t think I ever left the house without a full face of makeup on!

Priorities changed pretty quickly once I hit my 30s.  The transgressions that I made in my younger years — going to bed with my makeup on, not bothering with sunscreen — the effects were all catching up to me!  My focus shifted from makeup to skincare, and honestly, it was one of the best decisions.  I love trying out different skincare brands and different skincare products — oftentimes I feel like figuring out what works for your skin is a constant game of trial and error!

One of my favorite sources for learning about new beauty products has been Allure magazine, as they present a Best of Beauty picks every year that is always spot on.  Their Editor Picks this year included a roundup of products from Olay, and after checking out some of the incredible reviews that users have left online for these Olay products, I knew I had to incorporate them into my routine!

Target and Target.com are my go-to destination to purchase all the best of beauty – including Olay skincare. Target is the beauty authority, so who better to pair with than Allure, the magazine who has brought readers the critical BEST OF BEAUTY picks for years, to bring you their Editor Picks skincare from Olay!

Olay Micro-Sculpting Cream
Olay Brightening + Vitamin C Hydrating Moisturizer
Olay Retinol24 Night Moisturizer

Can you believe that Olay is the first skincare brand that I started using way back to my teenage years?  Olay is a brand that I’ve always trusted as their products are both effective as well as affordable.  I was particularly curious about the Olay Regenerist cream moisturizer lineup consisting of the Olay Micro-Sculpting Cream, Olay Brightening + Vitamin C Hydrating Moisturizer, and Olay Retinol24 Night Moisturizer.

Firm & Tone: Olay’s Micro-Sculpting Cream

Olay Micro-Sculpting Cream
Olay Brightening + Vitamin C Hydrating Moisturizer
Olay Retinol24 Night Moisturizer

Olay’s Micro-Sculpting Cream was definitely the product that I was most interested to try!  One of my main skin concerns is the sun damage that I have around my cheekbones — blame the fact that I wasn’t consistent about putting on sunscreen as well as crazy hormones during pregnancy that resulted in those spots becoming significantly darker.  The iconic Micro-Sculpting Cream “red jar” has been in the Olay lineup for a few years now and it’s always received rave reviews.  This cream is developed with two ingredients in particular that caught my attention — (1) Niacinamide which has been proved to help lighten hyperpigmentation and (2) Amino-Peptide Complex II which is an Olay proprietary blend that works to improve elasticity, smoothness, and firmness.

I’ve been using this cream consistently for the last two weeks as part of my morning skincare routine — I alternate using it along with the Olay Brightening + Vitamin C cream — and have definitely noticed that my skin has a more even tone to it and the texture has also significantly improved.  The hyperpigmentation on my cheekbones doesn’t seem quite as noticeable, the redness that I usually have on either side of my nose is almost unnoticeable, and there’s even a subtle “bounce” to my skin that I didn’t have before!  The Olay Micro-Sculpting Cream is also packed with glycerin and hyaluronic acid, an incredible moisturizer duo that helps skin retain moisture without feeling heavy or greasy.

Of the three Olay products that I tested, I would hands-down recommend the Olay Micro-Sculpting Cream if I had to pick only one.  This cream is suitable for all skin types, can be used night and day, and has years of proven track record when it comes to making a difference in your skin!

Anti-Aging Must-Have: Olay Retinol24 Moisturizer

Olay Micro-Sculpting Cream
Olay Brightening + Vitamin C Hydrating Moisturizer
Olay Retinol24 Night Moisturizer

If there’s one piece of advice I could give my younger self when it comes to skincare, start using retinol.  I didn’t start using a retinol until just a couple years ago, but it is essential to my skincare routine.  Retinol has the ability to deliver visible improvements in my fine lines as well as in my skin’s smoothness, brightness, firming, dark spots, and pores.  Plus, it hydrates for 24 hours!  And even though retinol is the #1 most dermatologist recommend ingredient in skincare, it’s actually shown that most women gave up using retinol in under a month! 😭

Retinols can be tricky to use — some may cause irritation, others may not show results, and ultimately the products can be expensive.  I’ve been using retinol for a few years now but if you’re just starting out, I would recommend only using it every other night for up to 3 weeks to see how your skin tolerates it, and then ramp up from there.  Also note that retinol should be used at nighttime only as it does result in skin sensitivity to sunlight.

Olay Micro-Sculpting Cream
Olay Brightening + Vitamin C Hydrating Moisturizer
Olay Retinol24 Night Moisturizer

I switched my nighttime skincare such that I was only using the Olay Retinol24 Night Moisturizer after cleansing and toning my face.  Olay’s Retinol24 is formulated with a combination of B3 plus Olay’s most transformative Retinoid Complex, including two types of retinol.  I personally found the moisturizer to be incredibly hydrating (perfect for my dry skin!) as well as no signs of any irritation.

Retinols require consistency and diligence for the effects to really be seen.  While I’ve only been using the Olay Retinol24 for about 2 weeks right now before bed, I would say that I love the way my skin looks when I wake up in the morning!  My skin feels hydrated and just looks vibrant / healthy.  Pick up the Olay Retinol24 Night Moisturizer at Target for only $28.99 — finally, retinol doesn’t have to mean expensive!!

Brighten Up, Buttercup: Olay Brightening + Vitamin C Hydrating Moisturizer

Olay Retinol24 Night Moisturizer
Olay Brightening + Vitamin C Hydrating Moisturizer
Olay Micro-Sculpting Cream

If you watch my Instagram stories, you’ve probably heard me talking about Vitamin C like a broken record! 😆  I regret not having started using Vitamin C in my 20s and honestly feel like it’s something everybody needs in their daily skincare routine!  Vitamin C is a super powerful antioxidant that helps neutralize free radicals and other stressors your skin endures from the environment.  Even more importantly, vitamin C helps hydrate which is key to skin that is visibly brighter!

Olay’s Brightening + Vitamin C Hydrating Moisturizer is formulated with not only with Vitamin C, but also with vitamins B5 and B3 that together help provide lasting hydration, visibly smooth your skin’s texture, and keep your skin looking bright all day.  I’ve personally been alternating the Olay Brightening + Vitamin C Hydrating Moisturizer with the Olay Micro-Sculpting Cream as part of my daytime skincare routine and I love how it’s made my skin look brighter (especially on my cheeks where I needed it!).

Olay Retinol24 Night Moisturizer
Olay Brightening + Vitamin C Hydrating Moisturizer
Olay Micro-Sculpting Cream

Final Thoughts

Olay is a brand that I grew up using and have trusted since my teenage years.  While my skincare concerns have definitely changed since then, I love that Olay provides such an incredible lineup of products that I’m able to incorporate 3 of their top moisturizers into my skincare routine today!  Olay is conveniently located at Target and Target.com, making good skincare something that I can take care of with their convenient curbside pick up when I’m on mom duty!

What Olay skin care products do you love using?  Let me know in a comment below!