Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Foam Cleanser: a Perfumey, Foamy Mess!
Written: Feb 18 '04 (Updated Feb 26 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Doesn't overdry, non-irritating, gentle
Cons: Awful scent, foam has no "substance", doesn't feel like it's cleaning, $6, lots of chemicals
The Bottom Line: Compared to other Salicyclic Acid cleansers, there are products that are way better in terms of scent, consistency, effectiveness, etc.
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| Javelina's Full Review: Neutrogena Acne Wash Foam Cleanser |
I generally haven't bought Neutrogena products, but I have been looking for a good facial cleanser, and one with Salicyclic acid. Most are available in 2% or 2.5% strengths, so I scanned the shelves and found Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Foam Cleanser. I don't like the cream cleansers as much, and I had just tried the Clean & Clear Blackhead Clearing Scrub with no success, so I thought a foam might be a better way to go. This bottle cost me about $5.50 at Walmart.
Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Foam Cleanser
The cleanser comes in a clear, 5.1 oz bottle with a white pump, which has a clear lid over it. The product is visibly orange, sort of like the citrus-flavored Listerine, or more obviously like your typical Neutrogena product line. This has 2% Salicyclic Acid.
You press down on the pump and the cleanser comes out in a foam. The foam is very, very light (in weight) and is also light in color - near white, not orange.
The product directions are:
Use twice a day. Wet your face. Dispense into your hands and massage onto face gently. Rinse thoroughly. If bothersome drying or peeling occurs, reduce application to once a day or every other day.
They say this product is available in gel, cream, clothes, and mask scrub.
There is a definite scent, which is very perfumey. I don't know if all Neutrogena products smell the same, but this is a sweet, almost cologne-like, mediciney, perfumey scent.
Ingredients
Salicyclic acid, Purified Water, Sodium Laureth-13, Carboxylate, PEG-8, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Tearate, Sodium C12-15 Pareth-15 Sulfonate, Methyl Gluceth-20, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Tocopheryl Acetate, Neem (Melia Azadirachta) Leaf Extract, Cocamidopropyl PG-Dimonoim Chloride Phosphate, BHT, Panthenol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium PCA, Betaine, Glycolic Acid, Benzophenone-4, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Citrate, Fragrance, Yellow 5, Red 40
From the Neutrogena website: "What is the Neutrogena animal testing policy? The ingredients in Neutrogena products have been proven safe historically, so instead of using laboratory animals to assess the safety of its formulations, Neutrogena performs a number of predictive tests in humans. However, since there is always the possibility of a regulatory requirement due to the discovery of an important new compound that might require expanded safety testing, Neutrogena does not wish to preclude the possibility that it will ever use lab animals in product safety tests.
This statement is very vague, but it sounds like they perform animal testing. Looking at the ingredients and seeing the obvious shade of orange of their products, it is obvious that there are plenty of chemicals.
The Good Points
I like the fact that this cleanser rinses clean. As I mentioned before, I am now sort of veering away from cream cleansers, and it's for that reason. I like the feeling of the cleanser washing off clean, with no residue. At the same time, the Neutrogena Oil-Free Foaming Cleanser doesn't overdry my face. I am glad that this isn't oil based, because it doesn't leave a greasy filmy feeling. My skin doesn't dry out, and it doesn''t cause irritation the way some other soaps manage to do quite well!
The bottle with a pump is sort of a nice design. It doesn't actually need the clear cap, or at least I don't think so. The pump is handy and convenient, making dispensing very easy.
The Bads
The first time I tried this product, I didn't like it (and, I still don't). First of all, I don't like the scent. It is like a sickly-sweet perfume or cologne, and I don't like it. It is overwhelming and a little too strong. I wish the scent were different, and even with a different scent, the strength could be toned down a little bit. It seems like overkill for something that is supposed to clear my face, and I can't imagine that all that fragrance is formulated to clear my skin!
Secondly, I hate the consistency. As I read DGTurtle2's review, I couldn't agree more with what she had to say. It honestly feels like you aren't putting anything on your face. I get a little puffy foamy blob on my hands, and put them on my cheeks. As I rub, it really feels like I'm not cleansing my face at all. I have tried rubbing my hands together before applying the foam, in an attempt to reduce the foaminess, but it doesn't help. I just don't feel like I'm washing my face.
Ironically, because I don't feel like I'm washing my face, I tend to use a lot of this stuff. I ended up going through the bottle quite quickly, which probably had a lot to do with excessive use. However, even though this put me out about $6, I'm glad to see it go, so wastefulness was actually a benefit! (Unlike the Clean & Clear Scrub, which sits in the shower, completely unusable).
On mornings that I just need to wash my face but not my hair, this stuff gets messy as well. It usually ends up in my nose or on my hair (which is pulled back). Fortunately, this stuff washes off easily, so at least I can get it off my face, nostrils, and hair!
Overall
As far as performance, my skin was alright with this product. It didn't overdry or irritate my skin, which would probably be my biggest concern about a cleanser. It is very gentle, although that is probably a reflection of my thoughts on how it doesn't even feel like it is washing my skin!
I really think this stuff would be better as a body wash. All those commercials that tell you that your face isn't the only skin that needs acne care? Well, this would make a great body wash - not a face wash.
There are plenty of salicyclic acid acne cleansers out there on the market, so it's all sort of relative. This Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Foam Cleanser is nothing special. I don't like the foam consistency, I don't like the scent, and it didn't perform any miracles on my skin. The ingredients are full of chemicals and dyes as well, which I can't imagine is good for problem skin. In terms of a cleanser, it sort of just kept my skin the same - didn't moisturize or dry out my face, didn't irritate it but didn't improve my skin's condition either. The consistency (messiness, lack of a "cleansing feeling") and smell were just something I really don't like. I always use a salicyclic acid cleanser, and I definitely don't like this one.
*Note*: I have found that a regimen of washing my face (twice) daily with a salicylic acid cleanser, and then using a benzoyl peroxide cleanser every other day (or every three days, because it is harsh on the skin) works wonders for me. The salicyclic acid isn't enough to ward off acne, but the benzoyl peroxide is way too strong to be used every day (but works well as a "maintenance" cleanser). I am therefore quite familiar with these two cleansers, and have tried quite a few products containing these ingredients, which is why I give this one so few stars.
Neutrogena: http://www.neutrogena.com
My other related reviews:
Clean & Clear Blackhead Clearing Scrub
Clearasil Icewash
Biore Blemish-Fighting Cleanser
Biore Pore Perfect Ultra Strip
Recommended:
No
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