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Happy 60th Birthday, Olay!

October 1, 2012 at 12:26 pm
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Olay is such an iconic beauty company so it’s hard to imagine a time when bottles of its cleansers and creams didn’t line the drugstore aisles. Today, as the brand celebrates its 60th birthday, we take a look back to its creation: In 1952, South African chemist, Graham Wulff, developed Oil of Olay to replace the greasy creams that were on the market at that time. He and his wife, Dinah, mixed the first batch by hand (and eventually, he sold the company to P&G). Since then, Olay has become both a household name and the number one skincare brand in North America. I have a personal relationship with some of the products—I can remember my grandmother using Oil of Olay when I was younger, and when I smell the signature fragrance today, it brings back happy beauty memories. To celebrate its 60th birthday, Olay is opening their vaults to share some vintage advertisements to bring back that nostalgic feeling for everyone:

Read on to see more vintage ads and our favorite Olay products.

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Olay’s Handy Guide to Navigating the New SPF Rules

May 24, 2012 at 2:33 pm
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Our friends at Olay just shared this fun infographic explaining the FDA’s new sunscreen rules— plus protection tips— right in time for Memorial Day weekend. Here’s to a happy, safe summer!


How Actress Thandie Newton Gets Glowing Skin, Stays Fit & Says No To Snacks

February 23, 2012 at 11:28 am
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It’s no wonder that actress and Good Deeds star Thandie Newton is the new face of the Olay Total Effects skincare line: When we sat down with her yesterday morning, the first thing that struck us was the incandescence of her flawless skin— even at 9AM! We asked the sweet, down-to-earth star to share the secrets to that enviable glow, as well as her must-have foods and workouts for on-the-go.

FITNESS: What’s the one beauty product that never leaves your bag?
Thandie Newton: When I was a little girl, my mother, who’s from Zimbabwe but has lived in England for a long time, had to deal with the change from the warm climate to the very cold coast of England, so would never wear makeup. We were working-class and didn’t have money for frivolous stuff, so the only thing she used to used was Oil of Olay, as it was called then. I just remember the little pink bottle up on the shelf of the bathroom. You watch your mom as you grow older, and that really became the symbol of the most glamorous woman. So I’ve used Olay for a long time and I was still using the original one when they got in touch with me. I think I mentioned it in an article or something, and then when they approached me I was incredibly personally touched by it because it was really authentic. I don’t carry it in my bag all the time partly because it’s such an affordable product, so no matter where I travel, I can just go to a pharmacy and it’s there. I do always carry a great lip balm, though: My favorite is from Neal’s Yard Remedies— it’s practically edible!

FITNESS: You’re so busy traveling for work. Is there a routine you try to keep in terms of your makeup, skincare and your hair? Or does it change depending on where you are?
Thandie: I try not to wear makeup if I don’t need to. Just undereye concealer, a little bit of rouge and lip balm. I’ll use those moisturizers with a little color in them, like Olay Total Effects Tone-Correcting UV Moisturizer SPF 15, then I’ll add a few drops of turmeric powder, which is naturally anti-inflammatory and gives a slight sun-kissed look. I have really curly hair so I need a good moisturizer for it. I like John Masters Organics, because it has no harmful chemicals.

FITNESS: You’re always getting your picture taken and jetting from place to place. What are your secrets for looking great on the go?
Thandie: I always make sure I have at least a tinted moisturizer on. There are really great pot rouges by Julie Hewett that come in amazing colors, which I can literally dab on with my eyes closed. Or I’ll pinch my cheeks: l love those old-fashioned little tricks. Apart from that, I just try to remember to smile!

FITNESS: How do to stay active and in shape no matter where you are?
Thandie: Jivamukti Yoga is my absolute go-to temple of wellness. Not only is it a wonderful, energetic, active workout, but it’s also incredibly soothing and relaxing.  I’ve tried a lot of different yoga practices and that one was a bit of a life-changer for me.

FITNESS: What types of foods and snacks do you gravitate toward to stay healthy?
Thandie: I just try to eat well. Anything that makes you feel bad is actually aging for your body. I also love juicing. Because I have a very busy schedule, I’ll have a juice with ginger and lemon in the morning and a green juice in the afternoon. Within 20 minutes you feel the difference; it has a direct impact on your system. I’m not a snacker— I just don’t graze. I think three meals a day is plenty, and then I have the juices in between.

FITNESS: In terms of beauty indulgences, is there anything you splurge on?
Thandie: I think a good massage is really beneficial. I really like a hot stone massage, but as with anything it has to be in combination with other things, like if I’ve done a yoga class and I want to feel soothed afterward. I feel like every little thing that I do, whether it’s taking care of my skin or eating well, is a gift to myself.

FITNESS: What’s the best tip you’ve picked up from a makeup artist, skincare expert or a hairstylist? 
Thandie: I was complaining about my hair being really dry and the ends were ratty because I’ve been relaxing it since I was a teenager, when a friend suggested I grow the relaxer out. It occurred to me that these are incredibly harmful chemicals, so I grew my hair out, and I’m so thrilled that I have. It’s healthier and more lustrous than it’s ever been.

Carrie Underwood’s Secrets To Great Skin, Smart Snacking & Workouts On The Go

February 9, 2012 at 2:54 pm
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Country star and Olay celebrity ambassador Carrie Underwood is famous for her catchy, go-girl songs—plus her glowing skin, perfect shape, flowing hair and miles-long legs. We asked her to spill her secrets for getting— and maintaining— all of the above on the set of her new ad campaign shoot. Take a peek:

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Olay’s Newest Face: Kim Cattrall

January 23, 2011 at 3:33 pm
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Congrats to Kim Cattrall, who is now the face of Olay’s new Total Effects 7-in-1 Advanced Anti-Aging Body Wash and Lotion that will be launching this spring. Recently, I had the chance to interview her over the phone. Here are some fun tidbits I learned about her:

  1. She has very dry skin on her body. “I take a ton of showers and baths, which I really enjoy as a way to decompress. My skin always felt tight and dry, and I would even scratch it so hard that I would break blood vessels. This Olay body lotion leaves it incredibly moisturized, and I apply it two times a day. I love that it’s lightweight, and I don’t have to wait to get dressed after I slather it on.”
  2. She squeezes in quick workouts every day. “Even when I’m working, I try to do something active for about 20 minutes a day, such as biking at the gym or taking a vigorous walk through Central park with my iPod.”
  3. She exfoliates her skin daily. “I buff my skin by putting a little bit of lotion on a mitt and rubbing it over my body gently when I’m in the shower. I always do this when my skin is damp, and it makes my skin feel supple and luxurious.”

Behind-the-Scenes Beauty

August 6, 2010 at 8:36 am
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From delivering racks of workout clothes to interviewing experts, the Fitness interns know how to work up a sweat in the city! They shared their favorite beauty products for girls on the go!

Get the look:

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil

Olay Daily Facials Express

Laura Mercier Foundation Powder

MAC Lipstick in Sandy B.

John Frieda Frizz-Ease Secret Weapon Flawless Finishing Crème

Fresh Soy Face Cream

Oscar Blandi Pronto Invisible Volumizing Dry Shampoo Spray

–Catherine Q. O’Neill, beauty intern

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