A weak force in the war against blemishes (Neutrogena Visibly Clear Blackhead Eliminating Cushions)

Member Name: mezer3000

Product:	Neutrogena Visibly Clear Blackhead Eliminating Cushions
Date:	14/04/09 (265 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Quick, convenient, great for travelling

Disadvantages: Not brilliant at fighting blackheads

I used to suffer quite badly from teenage acne, but as I have got older this has cleared up and I now only get occasional spots. I do still however suffer from blocked pores and the occasional blackhead.
I was in Superdrug a few months back looking for some make up remover, when I noticed they had a 3 for 2 deal on the Neutrogena Visibly Clear range. Being the sucker for an offer that I am, I picked up some face wipes, make up remover and these blackhead cleansing cushions. I've got through a couple of boxes of them now, so figured I could now accurately write a review.

***Neutrogena Visibly Clear Blackhead Eliminating Daily Cleansing Cushions***

The cushions come in a grey and orange box, with a lift up lid. The pads are in a cellophane wrapper within the box. The box isn't exactly waterproof, so I wouldn't recommend storing them in your bathroom if it gets particularly steamy.

You get 22 cushions in a box, so enough for daily usage for 3 weeks. This seems slightly strange to me - I would have preferred that they come as 30 in a box, that way there would be enough for a month.

***Ingredients***
Side 1: Glycerin, Aqua, PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate, PEG-8 Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Disodium Lauromaphodiacetate, Decyl Glucoside, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Lauryl Methyl Gluceth-10 Hydroxypropyldimonium Chloride, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Parfum, CL77891, CL15985.

Side 2: Glycerin, Aqua, Cocoglycerides, Myristyl Alcohol, PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate, PEG-8, Glyceryl Laurate, Stearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Disodium Lauroamphodiacetate, Decyl Glucoside, Menthyl Lactate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Distereal Ether, Salicylic Acid, Lauryl Methyl Gluceth-10 Hydroxypropyldimonium Chloride, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone.

***Price***
Depending on when/where you buy them, a box is around £4.50. That works out at about 20p a pad - which isn't horrendous.

***Promises***
The box promises that the pads will prevent and eliminate blackheads, and leave skin "softer, smoother and clearer." According to the box, one side of the pad exfoliates, and the other side contains blackhead fighting ingredients.

***Appearance***
The cushions come in a grey and orange box, with a lift up lid. The pads are in a cellophane wrapper within the box.
The pads are about 8cm across. The first side (the exfoliating side) has raised orange dots. The second side looks like a cotton pad with a wave pattern on it. There is a pocket between the two sides, which allows you to easily put 3 fingers in to use the pad.

***Use***
The pads are really simple to use. You put your fingers into the pocket, and then put it under warm water, until it's wet. You use the beaded side first to exfoliate and then use the other side as this contains "blackhead fighting ingredients". When you feel sufficiently clean you rinse your face of the soap.

***Personal opinions and uses***
I tend to use these pads in the shower - just makes my morning routine a bit quicker. I find that the pocket in the pad is a bit too big for 3 fingers and a bit too small for 4 fingers; this means when it's wet it does tend to slip about on my fingers a little bit.
When you use it, the first side does put a sort of soapy substance on your face so that it cleans your face. The second side is really soft, and feels more like you are just washing your face with a cotton pad.
After rinsing, my skin did appear a little bit red - but then my skin reacts to everything! My skin felt soft and smooth - so it lived up to that bit, but it did feel a little bit tight too due to the salicylic acid. It didn't magically get rid of my black heads, but after using it for a little while I did notice that my pores were less visible, and less blocked, and I was getting fewer blackheads.
These pads are great as a quick and convenient way of cleansing your face, and have the added benefit of slightly reducing the appearance and occurrence of blackheads. They're great to take for an overnight stay or holiday as they're light and just need water to work. However they are not good enough at reducing blackheads that they should be bought just for this purpose.

Summary: Good for a quick clean, but not great for a deep clean.