Product Review: Olay Pro X Anti-Wrinkle Protocol

I am so interested in anti-aging products lately. Mostly because I'm getting to that age, but also because there are so many options out there that are available to everyone - not just those who have an extra $500 to spend at the beauty counter.

Olay will always have a place in my heart. I remember my mom always having a bottle of the pink Oil of Olay lotion when I was growing up, and the Regenerist line has been very good to me. While I have temperamental, breakout-prone skin, I can usually count on Olay products to calm my skin down and provide great moisturizing, especially in the cold winter months.

I was fortunate enough to be able to try the Pro-X line when it was just being released. I had heard through the beauty grapevine that people were having a hard time with it, and I was a bit worried. I shouldn't have been, though. I managed to make it work quite well for me.

The Anti-Aging Starter Protocol kit includes Age Repair Lotion SPF 30, Wrinkle Smoothing Cream, and Eye Restoration Complex. The Age Repair Lotion SPF 30 is to be worn during the day, applied in the morning after cleansing. The Wrinkle Smoothing Cream is applied in the evening after cleansing, and the Eye Restoration Complex goes on the eye area after the Wrinkle Smoothing Cream.

I really like the Age Repair Lotion because the SPF is high enough to actually make a difference. It also incorporates the SPF into your daily routine, which is something we all need, but most of us don't really do. SPF 15 in your moisturizer or makeup really isn't the same, and we all need sun protection. It isn't overly greasy, and goes on well. A simple two step routine in the morning - cleanse, apply lotion. That's it.

The Wrinkle Smoothing Cream is a rich cream that is applied in the evening. I thought it was extremely moisturizing, and the eye cream was also quite rich. It almost bordered on greasy, but a good exfoliation before application will help with that problem a lot.

While many people reported breakouts with this regimen, I managed to avoid it by using a 2% salicylic acid cleanser both morning and evening. While there is no cleanser in this kit, and none is recommended, the only way I would have avoided problems was to hit it hard with the salicyclic acid. I am not sure a glycolic acid formulation would have been as successful.

I don't have many facial lines or fine lines on my face, so I can't report any change in wrinkle reduction. It is important to note that it takes up to 24 weeks to see changes (check out their information on clinical trials). I used the product for four, and was quite happy with it. Will I continue using it? I'm not sure. Probably not, since I don't think I need this kind of intense protocol just yet. I may very well come back to it in a few years when I'm ready for some serious wrinkle fighting action, though.

All in all, I think this is an amazing anti-aging program for someone who needs it at an incredible price point.