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Essence is the skin care step you didn’t know you needed

Here’s what our Review Crew® had to say about this lightweight multitasker

By Briar Clark

BEAUTYcrew Beauty Editor / October 23 2020

Here’s what our Review Crew® had to say about this lightweight multitasker

By Briar Clark

BEAUTYcrew Beauty Editor / October 23 2020

The product

An essence is one of those skin care steps that seems frivolous and extra... until you actually start using one and then there’s no going back. The beauty of an essence is that they’re lightweight and hydrating, which not only makes them perfect for a range of skin types, but they also help with the absorption of any following products layered on top.

Traditionally they’ve been exclusively sold by pricier brands, but now there’s a budget offering from Olay that will satiate your skin’s thirst.

Introducing: Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Essence Water, an ultra-light supercharged formula that features a blend of anti-ageing ingredients including niacinamide for hydrated, primed, plump, and radiant skin.

Our panel of Review Crew® testers put this lightweight hydrator to the test.

The panel

Beauty Crew sent Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Essence Water to a panel of women aged 18 to 45 with tired and dull complexions, who were looking to brighten skin, smooth fine lines and help prevent further signs of ageing.

The lowdown

Here’s what the Review Crew® loved about Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Essence Water.

The lightweight, hydrating finish: Our members were impressed by how hydrating the essence was whilst still being lightweight, easily absorbing into skin, and layering well under other skin care and makeup products.

The price point: Reviewers LOVED the super low price point. In fact, one of our members is a dedicated user of the exxy SK-II essence and was more than happy to swap this dupe into her routine saying, “amazing price, great bottle and lovely experience so far.”

The addition of niacinamide: Members who had never used niacinamide before said they found the ingredient to be effective at hydrating and toning skin, as well as helping to minimise the appearance of premature ageing.

The verdict

“I like that it's a very light and watery consistency as some essences are thicker and gel like. The light consistency makes it great for layering. If you're starting to feel like your skin is getting dry, but you don't want to use thick creams, then this is a great step to add in hydration without feeling heavy or breaking you out. I love how big the packaging is. It's really great value for money.”

Amy S

REVIEWcrew® Member

“I have used the SKII Facial Essence Treatment for many years and so was excited to be able to trial this product to see if the results were on par at a much lower price tag… It feels very nice on my skin and glides on, drying quickly. It does not irritate my sensitive skin in any way (yes!!). The bottle is huge... so I don't feel bad going to town splashing it on my face for a skin treat. Amazing price, great bottle and lovely experience so far.”

Lucy E

REVIEWcrew® Member

“I was happy to be able to try and review the Olay Essence. I’m 40 years old and I’m starting to notice my skin ageing. This is a great product that makes my skin feel hydrated, smooth overall fresh. It literally nourishes your skin and allows for all day hydration even with makeup on. It was an easy addition to my morning routine and I highly recommend it.”

Gabrielle K

REVIEWcrew® Member

Like the sound of this anti-ageing essence? Read more Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Essence Water reviews.

The products for this Review Crew® trial have been provided by Olay to Bauer Media and BEAUTYcrew for the purpose of trial and review by Review Crew® members.

*This combined average star rating for Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Essence Water is based on a total of 40 reviews submitted and is correct as of 23/10/2020.

Main image credit: Bauer Media

Briar Clark

Briar is the Beauty Editor at BEAUTYcrew. Her 'down for anything' attitude has resulted in more than a handful of hair transformations, and she doesn't mind being used as a guinea pig for the industry's most unusual products and treatments. Her work has also appeared on Refinery29, Girlfriend and beautyheaven.