Olay Total Effects- One of the Effects Could Be That You Win $100 Visa Gift Card!

This is sponsored content from BlogHer and Olay.

As usual, I was very excited when BlogHer contacted me to be a part of the program to review Olay's newest product, the Total Effects Moisturizer with Cooling Hydration.  But I also approached trying something new on my skin with some trepidation.  As a creature of (expensive product) habit, I'm always a little hesitant to introduce a new product to my highly reactive skin.  In other words, when my face does not take to a new product, it REALLY doesn't take to that product.  It lets me know with all kinds of fun things like excessive greasiness, forehead and chin break outs and to top things off, a nice daily oil slick on my face.  However, having just turned 30, I figured it was probably time to try out a daily moisturizer than wasn't just about SPF, but also had some anti-aging properties.  I take good care of my skin, but as I get older, I am recognizing that it is indeed time to start thinking about wrinkle prevention and all the fun stuff that comes along with getting a (little bit) older.  

So, the first thing I did was check out the product page on Olay.com.  Just what were the alleged anti-aging properties?  According to the product page, Total Effects fights aging in 7 different ways:

-  minimizing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles

-  smoothing skin with cooling hydration

-  fighting dullness

-  gentle exfoliation

-  minimizing the appearance of pores

-  protection from free radicals

-  hydrating to increase the appearance of firmness.

Since I'm lucky enough to not yet be in the "fine lines and wrinkles" phase of my skin's life, I decided to focus my review on the matters that are most important to me- smoothing skin and minimizing the appearance of pores, fighting dullness and hydration with firmness.  And well, one particular criteria of importance to me that was not listed- product scent.

So let's start there- scent.  I'm happy to report that I really enjoyed the fresh scent of Olay Total Effects.  There is a definite scent, not overpowering or overly floral, it is just nice and fresh and clean, which is exactly what I'm looking for at the start of the day.  I also really enjoyed the cooling effect.  My morning get ready routine is spent in the bathroom, which is full of steam from my morning shower.  I am always fighting getting my face all sweaty while I put on my makeup before work.  The cooling effect was nice- nothing drastic (in the manner of say, muscle cream), just enough to cool off my face from getting out of the shower.  And it lasts long enough for me to get ready grease free.  Point- Olay!

I have oily skin, so it is always a balancing act for me- going overboard with oil reducing products is always a risk, and I have plenty of times ended up with a pasty, dried out look to my face by going overboard with oil free products.  However, as I get older, I have begun to recognize that while that dewy fresh glow isn't really in the cards for me, I can still create a nice hydrated look with the right products.  The Olay product did a great job of balancing between dried out and greasy- this product provided a nice happy medium.  Hydrated skin that didn't go into oil slick territory.  I am also a big fan of makeup primers to smooth out pores and this moisturizer did not get in the way of that!  Olay Total Effects provided a great base for my primer and foundation, and my makeup went on just as smoothly with this product as it did with the more expensive products already in my collection.  This product is oil free and non-comodogenic and after two weeks of using it, I have not noticed any increase in clogged pores, which is very important to someone with oily skin.  And just as advertised, the product was nearly immediately absorbed into my skin.

The one down side?  NO SPF!  This is certainly one thing, and really the ONLY thing I would change about this product.  But overall, Olay Total Effects is a welcome addition, and an affordable one to add to my skin care repertoire.  

I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to check out this wonderful product, and now you can feel fortunate too because BlogHer and Olay are providing you with a chance over the next four weeks to win a $100 Visa gift card!  All you have to do is leave a comment on this post- what are your current biggest skin care concerns?  Oily?  Wrinkles?  Feeling too sweaty during your morning routine (no shame!)?  Let me know, and you will be entered, easy-peasy.  And lucky you, 14 other bloggers will be offering you the same chance, just check out the BlogHer roundup page for more offers!

YOU MUST INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS IN YOUR COMMENT TO WIN!

And don't forget to come back over the next 4 weeks for a chance to win again!

And now here's fine print:

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

a)      Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post

b)      Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post

c)       Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post

d)      Read the official rules for alternate form of entry. 

Sweepstakes ends 5 PM PST on 12/6/10.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older.

Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail.

You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.