Avril Lavigne has perfect skin – and is a fan of Olay Definity, according to the June 2, 2008 issue of OK! Magazine. Photo source: ChrisOnRails.Wordpress.com

Olay Definity Deep Penetrating Foaming Moisturizer ($11.69, Amazon.com) claims to “penetrate 10 surface layers of skin” to treat “discoloration, dullness, brown spots, and wrinkles for luminous skin.” Sounds great…and affordable too!

Unfortunately, this is an instance of a great product with a claim that frustrates me. The statement “penetrating 10 surface layers deep” is actually an impossibility. The epidermis, the surface layer of the skin, only has five layers: stratum corneum, stratum lucidum, stratum granulosum, stratum spinosum and stratum granulosum. To imply “10 surface layers” indicates that the company is employing its own skin layer-numbering system, and really, who knows how deep each of these 10 new layers even goes?!

Which is unfortunate, really, because Olay Definity Deep Penetrating Foaming Moisturizer is actually a great product. It contains a fairly high concentration of niacinamide and glucosamine, two ingredients that have been proven in numerous studies to reduce the appearance of age spots and increase skin’s brightness with regular use over time. Niacinamide has also been shown by Bissett et. al (amongst others) to increase skin’s hydration levels and reduce the appearance of fine lines wrinkles over time. The moisturizer further rises to greatness with the inclusion of aloe and vitamin E, both of which have been proven to soothe and hydrate the skin.

After using Olay Definity Deep Penetrating Foaming Moisturizer the first time, dry skin flaked off like crazy, which I thought was especially great, considering that I keep my skin very well-moisturized! It was a nice, completely unexpected effect! The texture of the foam is very light, which I also liked a lot, making the foam perfect for applying before sunscreen each morning and a heavier moisturizer at night. In fact, the moisturizer is designed before morning use with Olay Definity Deep Penetrating UV Moisturizer SPF 15, which has a thicker texture and offers some sun protection. Personally, because I like a higher SPF, I use Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunscreen SPF 85 after [Skinceuticals CE Ferulic and] Olay Definity Deep Penetrating Foaming Moisturizer, but Olay Definity Deep Penetrating UV Moisturizer SPF 15 works well too.

Overall, although the “10 layers of skin” claim initially bothered me, when I realized that the product has effective, scientifically-proven ingredients, hydrates, and works very well under sunscreen, I was willing to give Olay Definity Deep Penetrating Foaming Moisturizer a break — and a permanent place on my bathroom shelf! Definitely a winner, and a must-have for skin care fanatics. Product rating: 8.5/10 (High concentration of proven ingredients: 3/3. New technology: 3/3. Value for the money: 3/3. Sunscreen: 0/1. And a -0.5, just because, let’s face it, I had to do something about the “layers of skin”!! )

Active Ingredients: Octisalate (3.8%), Avobenzone (1.9%), Ensulizole (0.95%), Octocrylene (0.95%)

Inactive Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Isopropyl Isostearate, Isobutane, Propane, Acetyl Glucosamine, Pentylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Polyethylene, Triethanolamine, Panthenol, Polysorbate 20, Benzyl Alcohol, Ethylparaben, Cetearyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG 100 Stearate, Propylparaben, Tocopheryl Acetate, Disodium EDTA, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Methylparaben, Pentadecalactone, Carthamus Tinctoria (Safflower) Seed Oil, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Fruit Extract, Soluble Collagen, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Lecithin, Plankton Extract, Phosphoric Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tin Oxide, Titanium Dioxide, Mica