From Concept to Counter: P&G Drives Skincare Innovation with OLAY Cleansing Melts

P&G's OLAY Cleansing Melts are a testament to our relentless pursuit of breakthrough innovation, reshaping the skincare landscape through patented technology and sustainable design. This deep dive reveals how our decades-long R&D investment and consumer-centric approach are driving market leadership and delivering tangible value for consumers.

We all have products we rely on daily, but have you ever considered the journey they take to your bathroom counter? We're pulling back the shower curtain to show you how we developed and delivered OLAY Cleansing Melts, a breakthrough innovation in a skincare category that hadn’t seen significant advancement in decades.

From Insight to Innovation

Many women struggle to find a facial cleanser that delivers a deep, fresh, clean without compromise. Traditional liquid cleansers can be too gentle to be effective, or so harsh that they dry and disrupt the skin barrier. This leaves women in a frustrating, unending cycle of dissatisfaction, constantly rotating products that never quite feel right. How could we reimagine the daily cleansing ritual to create a better solution? Our answer was to rethink everything, leading us to develop a solution that’s unlike anything you've experienced before.

The Science Behind the Suds

For a decade, P&G skincare scientists tackled a fundamental challenge: how to deliver a powerful clean without tradeoffs. They realized that removing water from the formula could eliminate the need for filler ingredients like stabilizers, a discovery that would allow for fewer, more intentional ingredients to deliver superior cleansing while being gentle on skin.

This intensive research culminated in OLAY Cleansing Melts – solid, water-activated squares that dissolve into microbubbles that melt away dirt, oil and sweat.

How Our Patented Technology Works

At the heart of our Cleansing Melts is our proprietary Facial Cleansing Technology, backed by over 50 patents. This innovation enables us to combine previously incompatible ingredients in a versatile, water-free format. Each Melt is woven from nearly two miles of incredibly fine fiber threads, leveraging our patented spun fiber technology to ensure rapid dissolution upon contact with water.

This unique approach allows us to craft Cleansing Melts with just eight or fewer ingredients – an incredible up to 8X less than some traditional cleansers – providing a deep yet gentle clean. The precisely dosed individual tiles ensure you get the perfect amount of product every time.

To perfect the product design, P&G R&D collaborated with data scientists to leverage advanced computer modeling and simulations. These powerful digital tools enabled us to precisely adjust our solution’s composition, transforming the soap from a liquid to a solid form, and deepened our understanding of how air dynamics influence fiber properties, ensuring Cleansing Melts rapidly dissolve upon contact with water.

The Result

Cleansing Melts offer a superior cleansing experience with clear, measurable benefits:

• Visibly improves skin’s tone, look, and feel in just seven days.
• Lightweight, single-dose product, customizable for various skin concerns.
• Validated efficacy: We tested Cleansing Melts with 1,100+ people and 100% of participants agreed Melts left them feeling clean all day.

From Science to Store Shelves

To ensure Cleansing Melts are always available, our product supply teams employ advanced, data-driven strategies:

• Leverage advanced technology to understand shopping habits and anticipate needs.
• Integrate systems and operations with retail partners.
• Utilize digital tools to predict demand and manage inventory effectively.
• Proactively identify potential availability issues and ensure backup plans.
• Track product movement from warehouses to store shelves for faster, more accurate delivery.
  
  

OLAY Cleansing Melts: A Better Product for a Better Planet Too

The innovative spun fiber technology in OLAY Cleansing Melts represents our commitment to advancing sustainability through:

• Purposeful, minimal ingredients and an amino acid–based cleansing system.
• Utilization of biodegradable thread technology.
• 100% recyclable container.
• Single-dose, dry format for lighter and more efficiently shipped products.

OLAY Cleansing Melts exemplify P&G's commitment to advancing not just product efficacy, but also sustainable practices and operational excellence. This innovation, fueled by robust R&D, patented technology, and a digitally optimized supply chain, strengthens our market position, delivers superior consumer experiences, and reinforces our long-term shareholder value.