Nose Strips - The Good, The Bad, The Ugly
Written: Sep 02 '00 (Updated Apr 26 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Biore Ultra Pore Perfect Is A Gift From God
Cons: Ponds Pore Strips Are A Gift From Satan
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| kristinafh's Full Review: Neutrogena Deep Clean Pore Strips |
This is a part of a write-off between my two beauty buds: Elorraine and Jennull. Check these chicks out!
It’s not like me to get sucked into the latest beauty fad. After all, I’m the girl that resisted make up, skin care regimes, and hair color until eighteen months ago.
As I hang my head in shame, I confess that I have a beauty addiction that concerns my husband enough that I may need to seek professional counseling.
My beauty addiction? Nose Strips. Yes, you read me right - nose strips. Now sit back and enjoy your long read (because after all, it is me writing this epinion).
History of Kristina's Unnatural Addiction To Nose Strips
You’ve seen the commercials. Bleck! What is that crap that they show on the strip after the actress pulls it off of her nose? Hello! We know that really isn’t her blackhead crap on there – it’s gotta be someone else’s. That commercial grosses everyone out. And you would think that this would be the end of the story but no…….
At first, I purchased them out of curiosity. My usually perfect skin had been freaking out lately and I wanted to see if I could get as much crp to show up on my nose strip as the model did on hers. Guess what? YUCK! I was grossed out and disgusted at what I pulled out. I wondered how long these creatures had been living in my skin.
That Was Then, This Is Now
Trial and Error. That's how I found "the" perfect nose strip. Yes, you heard me. There’s only one strip that I highly recommend and if there was a category for it, I’d be writing about it and only it at this moment. But since the only category that exists is a competitor, I thought I’d do a compare and contrast for you on the different brands available.
All Nose Strips - The 411 On
Warnings and Precautions
This is with just about any skin care product that you use. Avoid using these strips on sensitive areas of your face. For me, that’s my cheek area (very dry and sensitive) and areas where I have pimples and blemishes. Yes, I know, they're supposed to be for your nose, but you'll also find them handy for other T-zone areas like your chin and forehead. If the strip adheres too strongly to your nose (or other part of your face) or is too painful to remove, thouroughly wet strip and facial area and carefully peel off.
Directions
Wash your face but do not dry it. Remove the strip from it’s package. Depending on the brand, you will either apply the strip directly to your nose or you may be asked to take the extra step of wetting your finger and moistening strip before applying. Apply strip to nose. Smooth out air bubbles. Let dry about fifteen minutes.
Now, let's review all of these nose strips alphabetically!
Biore Pore Perfect Nose Cleaning
What They Promise You
Biore Pore Perfect Deep Cleansing Strips are designed to thoroughly clean those pores that are most likely to become clogged with dirt and oil - the pores on your nose. And they clean with results you can see instantly. Biore Pore Perfect Deep Cleansing Strips contain C-Bond,a remarkable ingredient that bonds with the dirt in your pores and literally lifts it away. Immediately after using the cleansing strips, you'll notice cleaner and less visible pores. Dermatologist tested hypo-allergenic Biore Pore Perfect Deep Cleansing Strips will leave your pores visible cleaner when used once per week. Do not use more often than once every three days.
The Kristina Test
These were the strips I tried first. I set all of my standards on nose strips against this particular brand and kind.
When I first opened the box I wondered what I had gotten for my buying price of $5.99. Only six strips??? I think all of the money was the packaging necessary to individually wrap each one :). Each strip had a plastic strip on the side of the strip that contained the ingredients that would miraculously pull those creatures out. I appreciated this feature (see review on Ponds product).
In the beginning, these strips worked great, I followed the directions and ta-dah! Like a driver watching the aftermath of a tragic car wreck, I cautiously enjoyed pulling my first strip off and carefully examining the crap that was hidden deep inside my skin. Off those creatures came. I was a happy camper. So happy, that I applied them to my other T-Zone areas and was overjoyed at the thought that I was setting my pores free! Free from those nasty, nasty blackhead!
Word of caution - do not leave on your face for 10-15 minutes. Once you feel like the area is dry, then remove it. Leaving it on for that period of time could be extremely painful for you.
When I ran out of my last box of a different brand of nose strip, I went back to Old Faithful. Twice, I tried them (different boxes) and twice I was disappointed. While it did a decent job of pulling the blackhead crap out of the forehead and chin area, the strip just didn't do it's job on the nose area. Maybe my nose area had become immune to the ingredients? Who knows.
Grade: B-
Biore Ultra Pore Nose Strips
Ingredients
Polyquarternium-37, Silica, Water, Glycerin, Dimenthicone, Copolyol, Titanium Dioxide, Butylene Glycol, Methylparaben, Tea Tree Oil, Menthol, Witch Hazel
What They Promise You
Maximum pore cleansing. Larger size for better fit. Cleans so deep you can feel it! Biore Pore Perfect Ultra Deep Cleansing Strips are designed for maximum pore cleansing power. These strips are specially formulated with tea tree oil to ensure pores are left squeaky clean. In fact, it cleans so deeply you can feel Biore Pore Perfect ULTRA working as it dries. Only the Biore Pore Perfect ULTRA strip has the Pore Target System which actually seeks out dirt and blackheads and pulls them out like a magnet. Other strips stick to your skin and to dirt, but the Biore Pore Target System actually attaches more strongly to dirt and oil than it does to your skin. The result-Biore Pore Perfect ULTRA Strips are the best at cleaning clogged pores for a cleaner, clearer complexion. Dermatologist-tested. Hypo-allergenic.
The Kristina Test
Gosh, I don't want to bias your opinion but I swear, these strips are like heaven on earth.
I initially bought this box because I couldn't find the regular, less expensive ones.
WOW!!!!
It adhered better to my nose. Instead of having to worry about air bubbles or ensuring that every square inch was adhered to a part of my face, the strip just naturally did it on it's own. Okay, not totally but I wasn't in a race against time. I didn't have to worry that the strip would dry before I had it on the right areas of my nose.
The feel of this product is so much different from any other. When I pull the strip off, not only does it remove more crap than any other brand, it also leaves the area feeling clean and tingly.
This eighth wonder of the world, will set you back $6.49 for a six pack. Ugh! That's a hefty price but well worth it.
Grade: A+
Johnson and Johnson's Clean and Clear Pore Clearing Nose Strip
Ingredients
PVP/VA copolymer, Silica, Alcohol, Water, Vinyl acetate, Titanium dioxide, Methylparaben, Polyvinyl alcohol, Benzalkonium chloride
What They Promise
Clinically proven to remove blackheads. Designed to contour forehead, nose, and chin to provide an amazing way to remove unwanted blackheads. Work deep down to the pores to remove dirt, oil and dead skin cells that clog pores.
The Kristina Test
I had high expectations for this strip based upon Johnson and Johnson's solid reputation in the beauty field. While they went through the effort of trying to mimic Biore strips, their heart wasn't in it.
The strips have a plastic backing to them as Biore does. The main issue is the adhesion to your nose. What I found was that when it did adhese to your nose, what it was able to pull out was spotty at best. It was almost like main ingredients were missing in parts of the strip.
Grade: D
Neutrogena Deep Clean Pore Strips
Ingredients
PVP/VA copolymer, Silica, Alcohol, Water, Vinyl acetate, Titanium dioxide, Polyvinyl alcohol, Benzalkonium chloride, Methylparaben
What They Promise You
Deep Clean Pore Strips works 2 ways to remove blackheads. Controls excess oil. Clean deep down and actually bonding with dirt and grime that can clog pores, so you can instantly and effectively lift it away. The oil-controlling formula absorbs excess oil on the skins surface.
The Kristina Test
I also had high hopes for this product. Where it went wrong - there is no "bonding" that goes on. Yes, it adheres to your face but when you go to pull it off, the strip separates. You read me correctly - it separates. Instead of pulling the crap out of your nose, a thin layer of the strip stays on your nose and separates from the actual paper part of the strip.
At first, I thought I had a defective box. (Side Issues: I wrote Neutrogena online. Don't do this because they'll tell you that they can't help you - you have to write snail mail. So much for technology). I purchased another at a different retailer, crossed my finger, tried them again. Still had the same results. In talking with my other friends about this, they say that this could be chalked up to one of three things: 1) Humidity in the air 2) Too much moisture on my nose 3) Defectiev product. Regardless, I'm ticked and never trying this brand again.
Grade: F
Pond’s Clear Pore Strips
Ingredients
PVM/MA, Copolymer, Aminomethyl Propanol
What They Promise You
A deep pore treatment so amazing you won’t believe your eyes. Introducing a revolutionary way to truly unclog your pores and remove unwanted blackheads. Pond’s Clear Pore Strips for your nose – contoured strips you apply for cleaner, smoother skin with smaller pores. They’re so effective, you’ll immediately see and feel the results.
The Kristina Test
Before you read my official grade, let me tell you that I really wanted these to work. Why? Cheaper than Biore Strips. I like not spending a bazillion dollars. I tried these strips 6 different times and with each time, I got the same results.
ACK! UGH! Pppfffffft!
Problem Number One: Try to figure out which is the smooth side. If you move your finger across the strip, whichever side you pick, they both feel the same. So, does that mean you can use either side? I was hoping that was the answer.
Problem Number Two: Maybe you’ve figured out (cross your fingers) which is the right side. Woo Wee! Now, you apply it to your nose, but it’s not sticking. It’s sort of sliding everywhere. Maybe you applied to much moisture to it? Maybe your face is too oily? You’re left guessing.
Problem Number Three: If you can get past the first two problems, consider your third and painful issue. Leave this puppy on for fifteen minutes and you will be in a considerable amount of pain trying to pull it off. Ouch and oooch will be frequent words rolling out of your mouth as you try to pull this off of your nose.
Problem Number Four: Sometimes, I managed to pull stuff (i.e. blackhead crap) out of my nose but most of the time, there would be no pay off for all the trouble I experienced in problems 1-3. And not for a moment was I fooled into believing that miraculously, I had no crap to remove.
Grade: F
Recommended:
No
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kristinafh
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Member: Kristina Frazier-Henry
Location: Indiana
Reviews written: 1342
Trusted by: 1176 members
About Me:
Cannot breathe. Missing Barbara.
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