Olay Regenerating Cream Cleanser Face Wash

Olay Regenerating Cream Cleanser Face Wash

Efficacy87/100IrritancyMedium

Works for

Exfoliation
Salicylic acid
Works well
What the product description says
“Advanced Anti-Aging Formula Olay Regenerist Regenerating Cream Face Cleanser exfoliates, regenerates and smoothes skin texture.”
Source: Amazon US

This product can help exfoliate the skin. In other words, it helps break down the bonds between dead cells on the surface of the skin and speed up the skin turnover. Skin often appears softer and brighter after exfoliation, but overdoing it can result in disrupted skin barrier. The following ingredient is doing the exfoliating job in this product: salicylic acid.

Salicylic acidKey activeEffect: HighUsed for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)~0.85–1.25%
Cleansing
Cetyl betaine, Stearyl alcohol + 4 more
Can be harsh
What the product description says
“Regenerating Cream Cleanser Face Wash”
From product name

This product works by removing dirt and oil from the surface of the skin.

It contains the following cleansing agents that tend to be harsh on the skin: sodium lauryl sulfate.

The following cleansing agents are typically mild, but still can cause an irritation or allergy for some people cetyl betaine.

Keep in mind that cleansing can disrupt the skin barrier, and most people do not need to cleanse their skin more than once per day.

Cetyl betaineEffect: High~2.7–4%
Stearyl alcoholEffect: HighAn emollient that helps soften the skin~2.3–3.5%
Sodium lauryl sulfateEffect: HighA cleansing agent (SLS). It can be irritating~1.2–1.8%
Cetyl alcoholEffect: HighA non-drying alcohol that works to soften the skin and stabilize product formulations helping oil and water mix together~0.2–0.75%
Steareth-21Effect: HighHelps oil and water mix together~0.15–0.65%
Steareth-2Effect: HighHelps oil and water mix together~0.05–0.15%
Anti-blemish
Not advertised by the brand · Salicylic acid
Works well

This product can help reduce breakouts and clogged pores because it contains the following ingredient: salicylic acid. This ingredient is used for treating acne and can have a noticeable effect.

Salicylic acidHeroEffect: HighUsed for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)~0.85–1.25%

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy
1 strong irritant: Parfum
Medium risk
We flagged 9 ingredients with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.
IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount
Cetyl betaine—High~2.7–4%est.
Salicylic acidUsed for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)High~0.85–1.25%est.
Sodium lauryl sulfateA cleansing agent (SLS). It can be irritatingHigh~1.2–1.8%est.
Ascorbic acidThe most well-researched antioxidant that works in skin. Helps neutralize free radicals supporting collagen production, helping to even out the skin tone and preventing early signs of agingHigh~0.3–0.75%est.
ParfumAn aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredientsHigh~0.05–0.15%est.
Tocopheryl acetateA more stable but less bio-available form of vitamin E compared to Tocopherol. Might help moisturize and protect the skin from free radicals, but mostly used in low concentrations to stabilize other ingredients.Medium~0.4–0.95%est.
Steareth-21Helps oil and water mix togetherMedium~0.15–0.65%est.
Steareth-2Helps oil and water mix togetherMedium~0.05–0.15%est.
Disodium edtaStabilizes the product formulationMedium~0.01–0.05%est.
Comedogenic
1 ingredient rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale
1 flagged
These ingredients have a comedogenic rating of 2 or more on a 0–5 scale; the table shows each one's rating. In leave-on products they can clog pores in acne-prone skin.
IngredientFunctionRatingEst. amount
Sodium lauryl sulfateA cleansing agent (SLS). It can be irritating3/5~1.2–1.8%est.

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Ingredients

Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.

Water~40–60%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Plain old water

More about Water
Ppg-15 stearyl ether~4.9–7.3%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

Help soften the upper layer of the skin and create a nice product consistency

More about Ppg-15 stearyl ether
Glycerin~3.4–5.1%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant

More about Glycerin
Stearyl alcohol~2.3–3.5%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Cleansing

An emollient that helps soften the skin

More about Stearyl alcohol
Cetyl betaine~2.7–4%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Cleansing
More about Cetyl betaine
Hydrated silica~1.7–2.6%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Mattifying
More about Hydrated silica
Salicylic acid~0.85–1.25%
Hero · Anti-blemishIrritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Anti-blemishExfoliationAnti-inflammatoryAntibacterialEvens skin tone

Used for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)

More about Salicylic acid
Distearyldimonium chloride~1.1–1.7%
Formula
Sodium lauryl sulfate~1.2–1.8%
Comedogenic 3/5Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Comedogenicity
3/5
Works for
Cleansing

A cleansing agent (SLS). It can be irritating

More about Sodium lauryl sulfate
Carnosine~0.6–1.4%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
MoisturizingAnti-oxidationAnti-aging

A type of peptide. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin. It can help neutralize free radicals in skin combatting the sun damage

More about Carnosine
Panthenol~0.45–1.1%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Reduces rednessMoisturizingReduces irritation

Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help improve skin barrier function

More about Panthenol
Tocopheryl acetate~0.4–0.95%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Anti-oxidation

A more stable but less bio-available form of vitamin E compared to Tocopherol. Might help moisturize and protect the skin from free radicals, but mostly used in low concentrations to stabilize other ingredients.

More about Tocopheryl acetate
Ascorbic acid~0.3–0.75%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Anti-oxidationEvens skin toneAnti-aging

The most well-researched antioxidant that works in skin. Helps neutralize free radicals supporting collagen production, helping to even out the skin tone and preventing early signs of aging

More about Ascorbic acid
Ppg-30~0.2–0.8%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
More about Ppg-30
Cetyl alcohol~0.2–0.75%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
CleansingMoisturizing

A non-drying alcohol that works to soften the skin and stabilize product formulations helping oil and water mix together

More about Cetyl alcohol
Steareth-21~0.15–0.65%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together

More about Steareth-21
Behenyl alcohol~0.1–0.45%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

Non-drying alcohol that helps water and oil mix together. Also serves as an emollient

More about Behenyl alcohol
Parfum~0.05–0.15%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients

More about Parfum
Steareth-2~0.05–0.15%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together

More about Steareth-2
Disodium edta~0.01–0.05%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

Stabilizes the product formulation

More about Disodium edta
Ingredient list view

Water, Ppg-15 stearyl ether, Glycerin, Stearyl alcohol, Cetyl betaine, Hydrated silica, Salicylic acid, Distearyldimonium chloride, Sodium lauryl sulfate, Carnosine, Panthenol, Tocopheryl acetate, Ascorbic acid, Ppg-30, Cetyl alcohol, Steareth-21, Behenyl alcohol, Parfum, Steareth-2, Disodium edta

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Worth comparing, line by line.

Match % combines shared ingredients, the first five ingredients, shared actives and hero ingredients, irritancy (lower counts in the alternative's favour), texture and body area. Only products in the same routine step are compared.

Side-by-side comparison of this product against its closest alternatives
OlayRegenerating Cream Cleanser Face WashYOUR PRODUCTNeutrogenaDeep Clean Cream CleanserClean & ClearCream Facial Cleanser Oil-FreeUp&UpDeep Cream Cleanser
Match—84%82%82%
Price—$7.09$3.10—
Shared key ingredients—4 of 113 of 113 of 11
Key difference—Xanthan GumPolysorbate 60Polysorbate 60
Irritancy Medium Medium Medium Medium
Drying alcohol————
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Olay Regenerating Cream Cleanser Face Wash
OlayRegenerating Cream Cleanser Face Wash

Affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.

As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.