Choosing the right moisturizer for your face sounds like it should be an easy decision, but it can be enough but simple. There are so many factors to take into consideration. You may need a facial moisturizer with a high SPF, or perhaps a non comedogenic formula is on your priority list. Some people want to avoid fragrance and color, and skin type plays a huge role in narrowing down your decision.

Anyone with drier skin may prefer the feel of a thicker, richer cream while lightweight creams and gels work best for anyone with oily skin – and lighter creams also work well during the hot, humid summer months. Texture can also be a matter of personal preference and what feels good on your skin.

But there’s a new kind of texture to consider when it comes to face creams. Drugstore staple Olay recently introduced an innovative formula called a Whip. Here’s a look at Olay’s Whip line, what makes them different and are they right for you?

What’s Inside Olay Whips?

The ingredient in all of the Whips which give it its unique texture is the Active Rush Technology, which allows the formula to change from a cream to a liquid upon contact with the skin. Other key ingredients include:

Niacinamide
One ingredient that Olay loves to include in their formulations is niacinamide. Niacinamide is the amide form of vitamin B3 (niacin) that provides many benefits to the skin.

For instance, a publication in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, states that niacinamide can repair the skin barrier and improve skin moisture, as well as reduce inflammation, blotchiness, hyperpigmentation, excess sebum, and wrinkling.

Niacinamide is also an antioxidant that helps the skin combat free radicals, the unstable molecules that contribute to the formation of premature wrinkles and fine lines on the skin.

We recommend Carrot & Stick The Repair Serum because it combines niacinamide with seven plant-based neuropeptides and soothing, brightening botanicals to promote a youthful glow. 

Peptides
As you age, your body’s production of collagen and elastin slows down. These two proteins are responsible for your skin’s structural support. As a result, the skin loses its natural plumpness and smoothness. 

While collagen is necessary for maintaining youthful-looking skin, the collagen protein is too large to absorb into the skin topically. That’s why applying skin care products that contain collagen won’t provide the anti-aging benefits you’re looking for.

This is where peptides come into action. Peptides are the building blocks of protein, and they are easily absorbed into the deeper layers of skin due to their smaller size. 

The Olay Whips products contain palmitoyl pentapeptide-4, or what the brand calls an “amino peptide”.

Palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 is a matrikine, a messenger peptide that regulates cell activities through cell signaling. For example, when the collagen protein is degraded, matrikines send signals to fibroblasts to produce new collagen.

Since matrikines have the ability to increase the production of collagen, elastin, and other macromolecules in the ECM, synthetic peptides like palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 have been created to mimic these effects.

If you’re looking for a peptide serum, we recommend Carrot & Stick The Repair Serum. It contains 7 plant-based peptides to promote plumper and smoother-looking skin. It also has skin-loving ingredients like hyaluronic acid and niacinamide.

Vitamin E
Vitamin E is an antioxidant that helps protect skin from free radical damage. 

Another function of vitamin E is to help the skin retain moisture by strengthening the skin’s barrier function. When vitamin E is delivered to your skin through the sebaceous (oil) glands, it improves water-binding capacity and hydrates the stratum corneum (the uppermost layer of skin). 

We recommend Carrot & Stick The Repair Cream for dry skin because it combines vitamin E with probiotics and soothing plant extracts to keep the microbiome balanced and skin looking hydrated.

Glycerin

Glycerin is a humectant, which means it draws moisture to the skin. It’s used throughout the Olay Whips collection.

Related: Best Wrinkle Creams

What is Olay Whip?

Olay introduced its Whip line in 2017 after conducting research into how women’s faces felt after applying moisturizer. The company discovered that women wanted a hydrating, anti-aging cream that absorbed quickly into the skin without feel sticky. The result? Olay created Whip, a formula that is designed to feel lightweight on the skin.

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How Do Olay Whips Work?

Many creams work by creating a barrier on the skin which seals in moisture and other active ingredients, but many people don’t like how this makes their skin feel coated in product. The Whip works differently. The formula is lightweight and changes from a cream to a liquid upon contact with the skin, thanks to something Olay calls Active Rush Technology. The Whip contains tiny bubbles which burst on the skin and release ingredients such as niacinamide. Olay named the face creams “whips” as they are meant to be as light as air (think whipped cream). The consistency of the cream is fluffy – as the name suggests, as if it has been whipped. Because the cream is lightweight, it is absorbed into the skin quickly which means makeup can be applied quickly. The lightweight texture is meant to leave skin hydrated but also matte.

What Products are in the Whip Line?

Olay offers a few different products in a Whip texture including:

Olay Total Effects Whip Face Moisturizer- The Total Effects Whip is aimed at anyone who is looking for extra hydration and an overall boost to the skin. The formula contains vitamins C and E, and is designed to keep skin hydrated, even out the skin tone, improve brightness, minimize the look of pores, restore firmness and help fade dark spots. Total Effects Whips comes in a fragrance free formula as well as an SPF 25 option.

Olay Luminous Whip Face Moisturizer- The Luminous Whip is designed to leave skin looking glowing without looking greasy or overly shiny. The formula contains skin brightening ingredients, and is designed to hydrate the complexion and minimize the appearance of pores. Two versions are available- one that is fragrance free, and one has an SPF 25. Olay Regenerist Whip Face Moisturizer- Olay’s Regenerist line is aimed at tackling the signs of aging, such as fighting fine lines and wrinkles. This cream contains Amino Peptide Complex II, which is thought to help skin cell turnover. The Regenerist formula comes in a fragrance free option, and one containing SPF 25.

Where Are Olay Whips Sold?

Olay is a drugstore brand, and the products are easily available at drugstores such as CVS, Target, Walgreens and Walmart as well as supermarkets. They are also available at Ulta and Amazon.

How Much Does Olay Whip Cost?

Olay’s Whip products are certainly on the pricier side, especially for a drugstore brand. The Whips retails for $38.99 for a 1.7 ounce jar. By comparison of other drugstore brands, Neutrogena’s Hydroboost Gel Cream is $21.49 for a 1.7 ounce jar, and Garnier SkinActive 3-in-1 Soothing Face Moisturizer with Rose Water is $15.49.

Do Olay Whips Work?

If you’re wondering whether a product works, it’s important to keep in mind that every skincare product can react differently on different people. One person’s miracle product could do absolutely nothing for someone else, or it might make the skin worse. A little trial and error and an open mind is always involved when testing new products.

Olay Whips made a big splash among beauty editors and consumers when they debuted. Olay Regenerist Whip was the second best selling anti-aging cream of 2017, according to a Nielsen report. InStyle named the product the Best Lightweight Wonder in 2018, and it scooped up a joint People magazine and Today show beauty award for being the best anti-aging cream that same year.

On Ulta, Olay Rgenerist Whip has over 700 customer reviews, with a 4.5 star rating. Reviews are largely positive- 556 people give it a five star rating—and most users praise the product’s smooth texture. “I received a sample of this in the mail. I cleaned my face, dried it, then applied this moisturizer. The product felt so refreshing going on! It’s not quite like lotion, but more like a gel. Or a mixture of both. Every time I use this after exfoliating my face and neck, I feel refreshed, more awake, and my skin looks healthier. I’ve always been skeptical about expensive moisturizer, and if it wasn’t for the sample, I never should have purchased it. I’m so glad I did!” Another user sums it up with, “Goes on smooth with no residue. Doesn’t mess with the makeup application.”

Customers who tried it and were not fans either had a bad reaction to the Whip, or said it did nothing for them. “I wanted to love this product so much! It smells nice and went onto my skin so well without feeling greasy or oily. At first my face felt soft and smooth. But it didn’t take long and my skin looked red and blotchy and felt extremely dry. At the same time, I was breaking out even though my skin feels so dry. I haven’t had problems with breakouts for a very long time. I know others do well with this product, unfortunately I am not one of them.”

Another common complaint is the product’s hefty price tag. Beauty vlogger Jenifer Jenkins points out it is a little expensive for a drugstore product, and says she doesn’t like that it comes in a jar form, which doesn’t keep a product as clean as those packaged in an airless pump.

What Are Some Alternatives to Olay Whip?

If you’re looking for skincare products to address the signs of aging, we recommend Carrot & Stick. Carrot & Stick maximizes the use of powerful ingredients and minimizes the use of superficial ones, resulting in advanced skincare solutions that help promote healthy, more youthful-looking skin. We recommend this cream.