I'm a huge fan of facial washes although I cannot admit to seeking out any brand in particular, as I tend to purchase those that are on offer at any given time. A few months ago when browsing in the beauty aisle in Tesco I was attracted to the Nivea range and whilst I've had considerable experience with their body products, I was unfamiliar with those belonging to the facial skin care range. It was the refreshing vivid blue packaging that caught my eager eye, which resulted in me purchasing two products with this review discussing their Daily Essentials Refreshing Facial Wash Gel, which is suitable for normal and combination skin.

We are presented with 150 ml of gel, which is contained within a sturdy blue plastic bottle; the colour of which emphasises the wash gel. In addition to the clean and fresh image that the bottle portrays, the other deciding factor for my purchase was the marketing blurb displayed on the front of the bottle where we are informed that the gel purifies and invigorates the skin.

The gel was easily dispensed onto my finger tips where it offered a very delicate clean and fresh aroma although I'm undecided whether it's Nivea's familiar fragrance. On the first occasion I squirted out approximately one centimetre in length, which is the amount I generally use with other brands of face washes. Unfortunately, it proved to be too much, which resulted in a mass of lather that I struggled to rinse away from my skin. As a result, for my next use I dispensed half the amount, which was easily applied and massaged into my skin where a sufficient creamy lather was created. I found that rinsing away with warm water still proved to be an issue, as it took a considerable time to be totally removed due to the fact that the product seemed to have adhered itself to my skin.

Whilst there was no sticky residue or any tackiness remaining, I cannot admit to feeling confident that my skin was thoroughly cleansed and that any dirt and impurities were removed despite the gel containing vitamins and natural lotus extract, which is known for its antioxidant properties. I'm not sure why I feel this way although it may be due to the fact that other brands offer freshness and sometimes a pleasant tingling sensation, but in my opinion, the gel resembled that of something I would use on my body in the bath or shower. Consequently, I would argue with Nivea's claims that this product is both invigorating and hydrating, as although I did not experience any dryness or tightness, which can often be the case with face products, I cannot admit to my skin feeling hydrated due to the lack of smoothness on its surface.

It seems that I am being very negative about this product, but it did not live up to my expectations as I expected more from such a long standing and trusted brand. Due to the small amount of gel needed for each application, the bottle will last a considerable time although I ended up using the remainder on my body in the shower. For the reasons discussed above, I am unable to recommend Nivea Visage Daily Essentials Refreshing Facial Wash Gel and it receives only two stars from me.

The gel, which has been dermatologically tested, should be used within 12 months of opening and the packaging can be recycled once empty. The gel normally retails at around £3, but at the time of writing and until 28 August 2012 you can make a half price purchase from Tesco for £1.49.

I hope you found my review useful and thanks for reading.