My 28 Day Skin Care Challenge + The Reveal

A few months ago, I was asked to participate in a skin care challenge. 

Now, anybody who knows me knows I am a skin care fanatic. I do have my favorite, tried and tested brands and products that I have used for a decade or so now, but I’m always up for trying something new. The same way makeup enthusiasts are always game to try a new brand of makeup maybe. 

The deal was, I had to use two mystery products – an essence and a moisturizer for 28 days on one side of my face only, keeping one side untreated.

Based on the packaging, I kind of had an idea as to what these were, but I couldn’t get a confirmation from the challengers no matter how hard I tried to pry, heehee 

Rather than being worried about leaving one side of my face untreated, I got excited and I found myself up for the challenge. I was curious to know how my untreated skin would hold up if I left it to the ravages of nature.

Because we were asked to journal the changes in our skin, I managed to chronicle the experience and I’m sharing it here with you. To manage expectations, I have to share that I have combination skin and my main problem is skin texture. I have some rough patches due to dryness and have some bumps on the oilier section of my face like my forehead. I have brown spots on my face due to sun exposure. My pores, wrinkles and skin tone is pretty much normal.

Day 1

Understandably, there is no difference in terms of difference in texture, pore size, skin tone, and wrinkles between the treated and untreated side. What I do notice is that my skin feels hydrated, moisturized, soft and smooth. I like that the essence and moisturizer (even if rich and thick) have a non-greasy feel.

Day 7 

After using the product for a week, I compared the size of my pores, color, wrinkles and the overall skin texture and there is no visible difference at this point.

I have noticed though that the rough patches on the treated side of my face has softened considerably. The untreated side has a slightly tight feeling and nothing changed for the rough patches on the untreated side. Also, the treated side feels more supple and plumper.

In terms of product, the treated side feels like it is covered in a barely traceable film that feels like moisture is locked in on that side. I also like that the products are:

- Not greasy
- Absorbs well and dries reasonably fast
- I don’t need to use a lot
- Skin feels nice and soft after use
- Skin feel moisturized and plump in the morning
- I get the same effect from the luxury skin care products I use

Day 14

 no makeup, just skin care 

After two weeks, I am happy to share that rough spots have practically disappeared and the treated side feels plumper. 

I like that the products are not greasy and don’t make me break out. Plus, I don’t have to use a lot yet face feels moisturized. 

If there is one thing that bothers me about the products, I find that the fragrance can be a bit strong, although it disappears after I apply on my face. 

I look forward to applying the serum and moisturizing cream after I wash my face in the morning and before I go to bed. It makes me happy applying it. I feel like I’m taking good care of my skin.

Day 28

In 28 days, rough spots have disappeared and my skin feels smoother to the touch. The treated side seems plumper, and more moisturized. I also think it looks firmer and more taut than the untreated side. When I look at my jawline on the left, it seems to have started to sag whereas the treated side looks sharper and even on the mirror.

Overall, I’m very pleased with how this experiment turned out. I’m used to using luxury skin care products and I’m both relieved and excited about the fact that my skin can work with and benefit from a product that isn’t as expensive as what I am used to.

I would be happy to recommend the product to friends. It’s a great product that feels like that of a luxury skincare brand but does not cost as much.

Want to know what it is? Watch this!



Olay scientists re-engineered the powerful formulas of Olay Regenerist, White Radiance and Total Effects to include even more scientifically proven ingredients that can make more women look ageless no matter their DNA.

MFO’s Verdict on: The Olay Regenerist Night Ritual

I admit it, I’m a skincare snob. To say that I invest in my skin is an understatement. I don’t mind spending on derma treatments, expensive skincare products, even my shampoo. Everything that has to touch my face, even just the periphery of my face (case in point: shampoo), has to pass my scrutiny, and I don’t mind the cost as long as it is justified.

That said, when it comes to my skin, I’m willing to pay the price if it means it won’t bring back the horror of my late teens/early 20s. So yes, I spend on skincare. They’re no longer luxuries but a part of my regular basket of goods.

You see, I had a really bad breakout then, inflamed zits and little bumps all over, that really scarred me for life. Literally and figuratively. I have no pictures of maybe 2 years of my life because it was so depressing for me to see my skin at its worst.

I guess the beauty of that horrible experience forced me to not take my skin for granted. I’ve learned to be happy with good skin, that being able to face the world with my bare skin, was enough for me.

The thing is though, while I’m quite happy with the general state of my skin, there is still room for improvement. Olay recently launched their new breakthrough products, which make up the Olay Night Ritual, last June 15 together with their newest face of Olay, Charo Santos-Concio and I was lucky enough to try them out.

After all, when Olay Regenerist says they can help boost the skin’s repair process to reveal youthful skin in 5 days, hey, I’m down with that! Here’s my review.

The Product: Olay Regenerist Miracle Boost Youth Pre-Essence + Micro-sculpting Cream

The Promise: Night is the “Golden Time” for skin repair. In 2012, Olay initiated its largest ever ongoing trial research program exploring the links between gene expression of skin and its physical changes with age.

The study led by Dr. Alexa Kimball, Professor Dermatology at Harvard Medical School, discovered that natural skin repair decreases as we age, requiring a boost in skin renewal at night.

With this golden timeframe in mind, Olay formulated the Overnight Miracle, consisting of Olay Regenerist Miracle Boost Youth Pre-Essence + Micro-sculpting Cream to help boost skin reneawal at night.

When used together, they deliver 2x Advanced Anti-Ageing actives penetrating up to 10 skin surface layers deep.

In just 5 nights, it boosts skin renewal by 60%, renewing millions of skin cells. Skin looks firmer, plumper with visibly reduced wrinkles.

Put to the Test: The Olay Regenerist Miracle Boost Youth Pre-Essence is a boost that allows the serum and moisturizer to work its magic deeper into the skin.

It is meant to be used after cleansing and toning, and spread all over the face avoiding the eye and lip area. It is recommended two apply two pump dosage per use.

I like it for the following reasons

• It’s not greasy and it absorbs into the skin without any sticky afterfeel 
• The packaging is quite novel and secure. When you screw the cap back on, it locks the pump button. 
• You know you’re using just the right amount of product because when you unscrew the cap, it automatically draws up enough into the dropper 

The Micro-sculpting Cream is thick and rich with a blend of PAL-KTTKS (Amino-peptide that helps reduce wrinkles, helps firm up and repair skin), OliveM (anti-oxidant), Niacinamide (accelerates renewal of skin surface cells and reduces wrinkles), Lyslastine (increases elasticity), Hyaluronic Acid & Glycerol (moisturises) that works together to help skin perform at its youthful peak. 

It is recommended that we massage it unto skin in an upward circular motion, focusing on the brow and jaw line which are the first areas that tend to sag as we age.

I did use these over a course of two weeks and I did see results. There was a huge improvement in terms of the state of my wrinkles and skin texture, based on results of the Olay Visia machine, which is not bad given the short time frame. See my results, HERE.

Passing the Verdict: For somebody accustomed to using expensive skin care products, I’d say the Olay Regenerist line is quite the miracle product. It works just as well, maybe even better, in delivering its promise of hydration and less visible wrinkles.

A closer, unfiltered look at my 40 year old skin 

The Miracle Boost Youth Pre-Essence feels light and is a delight on the skin. It’s a skin care step I am willing to add to my routine, given that it helps absorb the cream into the skin better. It would be perfect if it were unscented though.

The Micro-sculpting Cream is a tad thicker and greasier on the skin compared to my usual night cream, I’d prefer it unscented too, but given that it costs a small fraction of the cost of my cream, it’s great value for those who want the same results without spending a fortune.

SK-II on the left, thicker Micro-sculpting Cream on the right 

Price + Point of Sale: Php1,499/set at Lazada, Php3,000/set in drugstores, grocery stores and supermarkets.