Sometimes simpler really is better.

As a diehard product junkie with very oily skin, I’ve experimented with many skin-care formulas over the years, from face washes to masks to gels. But after straying, I’ve always returned to the plain Jane of the bunch – Neutrogena Transparent Facial Cleansing Bar, original formula. This no-frills soap may not be as trendy as the overpriced “designer” products, but it gets the job done with minimum fuss and maximum results.

Neutrogena Transparent Facial Cleansing Bar’s packaging mimics its simple philosophy. The transparent, dark-orange soap comes in an easy-to-open cardboard box and is wrapped in a clear plastic wrapper. Using it is easy: Wet hands, rub bar in hands, massage into face. The soap doesn’t provide lots of lather, but I’ve found that it works just as well as bars and washes that create heavy bubbles. As the previous reviewer mentioned, there is a slight medicinal smell to the soap – it’s in no way floral or musky. If you’re looking to combine face washing and aromatherapy, you might want to pass this product by. But the lack of strong fragrance may appeal to a lot of people, particularly men who want to take care of their skin but don’t want to smell “girly.”

Unlike most products, it doesn’t claim to do anything magic and wonderful for your skin. It doesn’t promise to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, improve skin’s firmness or tighten your pores. It promises a “pure and gentle” soap that will rinse clean and won’t leave any pore-clogging residue. And I’ve found that it lives up to those promises. The soap cuts oil and removes makeup quickly – but never dries skin out. In my experience, it’s also been very good at preventing those occasional blemishes that I’ve often had while using other products.

Rubbing the soap into your skin for several minutes CAN make your skin feel tight, but that’s only temporary and my skin “loosens” after about 5 minutes when that happens. (But as I mentioned above, I have oily skin, so those with drier complexions might get a different result.)

As with most facial bars, this soap tends to last longer than liquid skin-care products. I bought my current bar more than two months ago and it’s just now wearing down to a small nub – it would have lasted longer, had my father not mistaken it for regular soap during his visit and taken it in the shower with him. The bar usually runs about $1.99 for the regular 3.5-oz. size, so it’s a very good deal for cost-conscious beauty mavens. You can get a single 5.5-oz. bar for about $3. I recently bought a pack of three 3.5-ouncers at Target for $5, which is probably the best value.

However, as was mentioned previously, the soap IS made with animal fat, so those opposed to animal-based products should keep this in mind.

According to the Web site, Neutrogena also makes this facial bar in four other formulas – Original Fragrance-Free, Oily Skin, Dry Skin and Dry Skin Fragrance-Free. The box also mentions an Acne-Prone Skin Formula, but it’s not mentioned anywhere on the Internet site.

Ingredients, Original Formula:
TEA-stearate, Triethanolamine, Sodium Tallowate, Glycerin, Purified Water, Sodium Cocoate, Sodium Ricinoleate, TEA-Oleate, Cocamide DEA, Fragrance, Tocopherol

Ingredients, Original Fragrance-Free Formula:
TEA-stearate, Triethanolamine, Sodium Tallowate, Glycerin, Purified Water, Sodium Cocoate, Sodium Ricinoleate, TEA-Oleate, Cocamide DEA, Tocopherol

Ingredients, Dry Skin Formula:
TEA-stearate, Triethanolamine, Sodium Tallowate, Glycerin, Purified Water, Sodium Cocoate, Sodium Ricinoleate, TEA-Oleate, Laneth-10 Acetate, Cocamide DEA, Nonoxynol-12, PEG-5 Octanoate, Fragrance, Tocopherol

Ingredients, Dry Skin Fragrance-Free Formula:
TEA-stearate, Triethanolamine, Sodium Tallowate, Glycerin, Purified Water, Sodium Cocoate, Sodium Ricinoleate, TEA-Oleate, Cocamide DEA, Polysorbate 80, Trideceth-9, PEG-5 Octanoate, Cetyl Acetate, Acetylated Lanolin Alcohol, Tocopherol

Ingredients, Oily Skin Formula:
TEA Stearate, Triethanolamine, Sodium Tallowate, Glycerin, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Purified Water, Sodium Cocoate, Sodium Ricinoleate, Witch Hazel, Fragrance, Tocopherol

Ingredients, Acne-Prone Skin Formula:
TEA-stearate, Triethanolamine, Sodium Tallowate, Glycerin, Purfied Water, Sodium Cocoate, Sodium Ricinoleate, TEA-Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Oleate, Cocamide DEA, Cethyl Acetate, Sodium Stearate, Trisodium HEDTA, Sodium Etidronate, BHT, Tocopheryl Acetate, Acetylated Lanolin Alcohol, Fragrance

Recommended: Yes