For Thumbelina's Face Only
Written: Apr 01 '01 (Updated Aug 13 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: they absorb oil well
Cons: who's face is this small?
The Bottom Line: There are better sized and more discreet blotting papers available, that work just as well.
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| thatsmytake's Full Review: Clean & Clear Clear Touch Oil Absorbing Sheets |
The good news?...after DECADES of searching for a basic skin care routine and products that truly help manage the constant annoying flow of oil from my pores, I've finally gotten it down to a science. The bad news? ... it's not an "exact" science... in other words, oil is not as huge a problem for me now, but it still manages to sneak through during the day.
In fact, despite my arsenal of oil controling concoctions, my T-zone is slightly shiny within three hours after my face is "prepared," and most of my face is a downright oil slick by the end of the day.
What to do? Enter the "blotting paper" concept. If it were not for blotting papers, I would want to wash my face three times a day. I still prefer to do that, actually, but when I don't want to take the time for a re-wash, blotting papers are THE face-saver. I keep them tucked in my purse, so I can freshen up anywhere, any time. I sometimes use them up to three times a day; yep, matte skin has become an obsession.
Why not just use powder, you say? Oh yuk! Powder on top of oil only creates a dull greasy mess. No, powder should only be used atop fresh, clean skin. Using it on top of oil, perspiration, or a day of pollution can also be a pore clogging recipe for the disaster of acne.
Soo... how do Clean+Clear Oil Absorbing sheets stack up?
The Good:
- They WORK. They absorb oil very well. Which surprised me, since these are not "papers" at all but rather very thin sheets of some plastic-y material. Truly bizarre, but effective. You'll see the oil on the sheet. Also, these are, like most blotting papers, fragrance free.
- They're a drugstore /grocery store product. This means easy access... just pick 'em up while shopping for other stuff, what could be easier?
- They're pretty cheap at $5 for 50.
- The dispensing method is SHEER GENIUS. The inside of the package close-flap has a bit of sticky stuff on it, so that every time you close the cardboard envelope, the flap adheres to the next sheet, so that ... you guessed it... when you open the package, one sheet pops out, attached to the flap and at your service!; it's then ready to be quickly snapped up by your nimble fingers, just before the red light you're at turns green... now that was a close call! This is infinitely more convenient than most other blotting papers, which are just stacked in a case, leaving you the challenge of sifting through manually as you try to extract just one, as opposed to the amount that always wants to come out, which is usually about three.
The Bad:
- The cardboard 'carrying case' is cheap. The package is not elegant looking or even pleasant.
- These things are bright blue! This is pure silliness. The idea of blotting papers is to be able to "freshen up on the go," right? That means other people may at times see you using them. Like in your car, at your desk, or in a rest room. But using these bright blue sheets is like wearing a sign that says " Hey, looka me! Don't cha wonder what I'm doin' to my face with these weird BLUE papers?" Disposing of them discreetly is also a problem, because these things just scream for attention.
The Ugly:
The worst thing about Clean+Clear's version of the blotting paper? THE SHEET IS TOO DARN SMALL. In fact, even calling them a 'sheet'is quite an overstatement. What were they thinking? Gee, could it have been: "Let's make 'em real tiny, so then we can claim to be offering 50 sheets when in actuality the customer is only getting the equivalent of about 25... that way we can save on our production costs." Pretty clever. But not too clever, Clean+Clear, cause I won't be buying these again; the miniscule size is too annoying. I need to use 2 or 3 to get the job done well, which is just a pain.
BLOTTING PAPERS I LIKE BETTER:
-Shiseido. Available at some department stores at the Shiseido counter, these are nice large sheets that absorb oil well. They are very lightly powdered, but the powder in them does not seem to get deposited on the face, it just helps the paper absorb the oil... nice! These are pricey, but come in a plain and elegant (purse-worthy) turquoise envelope that does not "advertise" your oily complexion.
-Almay: Available in many drug stores, this is also a good sized blotting sheet that absorbs well. No powder, and the sheets have salicylic acid in them, which is a skin exfoliant!... clever. The cardboard packaging is nothing to get excited about, but at least the sheets themselves are discreet.
-H2O Plus: These sheets are adequately sized, absorb very well, and tear off from a "book..." convenient!
- Andrea: Available in drugstores, these come in a plastic pouch. They're not easy to separate, but work well.
- Japonesque: these are good sized blotters that come in a handy black plastic pouch that dispenses one at a time. They're available at Ulta and probably other large beauty supply retailers.
if you get shiny skin only on the nose, and if you blot only in the privacy of your own bathroom, Clean+Clear might be a good option for you. Otherwise, despite the nifty dispensing trick, I'd advise seeking oil relief elsewhere.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
thatsmytake
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Reviews written: 84
Trusted by: 64 members
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