Clearasil Daily Clear Vitamins & Extracts Scrub

Howdy once again fellow beauty lovers!  Here’s another product that was sent on to me to trial and review from Tammerly over at Spoilt.  If you read my previous post about the Clearasil Daily Clear Vitamins & Extracts Wash then you would know I had reservations about this range, but I must admit when it comes to new skin care, as always, I was still eager to try!

This facial exfoliator is a part of the new range from well-known anti-acne brand Clearasil.  With a skin conditioning formula, the Clearasil Daily Clear Vitamins & Extracts Scrub (can't seem to find this product on the Australian website at this stage??) is enriched with Avocado and Vitamin E to nourish, along with the antioxidant benefits of Pomegranate, plus hydrating Glycerine to help retain moisture.  Unlike the existing Clearasil line-up, this range has been designed with a lower content of Salicylic Acid (a powerful pimple-fighting ingredient) to make it kinder to the skin, yet still efficient enough to target and prevent breakouts, delivering a deep-pore cleansing action that sloughs away dead skin cells and removes impurities, to unblock pores and encourage cell renewal, without drying or stripping the skin.

I usually shy away from granular exfoliants myself, based on the advice of my therapist that my sensitive prone skin will end up red, raw and angry after using an abrasive skin care product too often.  On the rare occasion that I do use a facial scrub, I’m armed with the knowledge that I must carefully avoid the fragile/delicate areas around my inner cheeks and nose to prevent any further aggravation.  I still exfoliate, opting for non-abrasive chemical exfoliants, with the potential to clean deep down, minus any inflammation to the surface.  This particular scrub has the dual–action capabilities of a physical + manual exfoliant, due to the Salicylic Acid, which is incorporated into the formula, along with microbeads, giving it the power to work twice as hard to dissolve dirt, oil and bacteria from my skin.  As long as I use very light pressure, I am able to gently apply this scrub and benefit from a thorough cleanse, without it causing irritation or upsetting my skin.  The actual grains in this formulation are only sparse, which suits me better, as they don’t scratch my skin or provoke facial redness, instead I’m left with a clean, smooth, soft complexion.

The scrub has an ultra thick, glossy, pearlescent texture and is pale green in colour, speckled with random dark green beads that I imagine would be too abrasive if they were in abundance.  It also spotlights the same refreshing fruity fragrance as the cleanser in the same range, which stimulates my senses, yet isn’t too overpowering and doesn’t linger once it’s rinsed off.  While the instructions claim this scrub can be applied twice daily, I don’t think my fragile skin is suitable for such frequent exfoliating.  Not to mention, my research has lead me to believe that over-exfoliation can compromise and damage the protective barrier, disrupt the pH balance, trigger inflammatory and/or sensitised skin conditions and even accelerate premature ageing.  Therefore, I only exfoliate a couple of times each week and would stress, depending on the individual skin type, the need to be cautious at the beginning before determining how often to use this scrub.

Over the past month, I’ve incorporated this scrub into my regime twice a week and have determined that whilst it’s one of the better physical exfoliators I’ve ever tried, I don’t consider it a crucial to my skin care plan and regard the partnering cleanser, which is infused with the same ingredients, bar the beads, delivers the same results with no risk of any side effects, as a better option for my needs.  However, I’m confident these two products adequately targeted my pimples, cleared congestion and removed bacteria, so my skin is now looking buff and bright and any new pimples are becoming few and far between.  I would recommend the Clearasil Daily Clear Vitamins & Extracts Scrub to people with resilient, breakout prone skin, as it’s ideal for all budgets and readily available at supermarkets and pharmacies Australia wide.  Especially those who are fond of manual exfoliants, then it’s worthy of a test-drive, promising instantly cleaner, tighter, firmer and smoother skin, that’s nourished and conditioned, rather than dried out or robbed of moisture.

Presented in an easy-to-squeeze upside-down tube that boasts the same green and white colour scheme across the range with eye-catching Avocado and Pomegranate images decorating the front of the packaging, it’s chic and modern, appealing to both men and women of all ages in lieu of the typical teenage audience that Clearasil usually attracts. The tube has a large opening so lots of product comes out at once when dispensing, which is not only messy, it also results in using more product than needed, so it runs out quicker than it should.  The snap-shut lid is quite flimsy and needs to be handled with care to avoid breaking it off altogether.  On the plus side, the lower half of the tube graduates toward being translucent so it’s easy to see how much product is left before it’s finished.

TIP:  Instead of wasting any incompatible facial scrubs, try using them on your hands and feet to eliminate unsightly rough, dry skin and to keep them super soft and supple.  The invigorating properties can help stimulate circulation to revive and nurture stressed out, overworked hands and feet after a long, tiring day and makes for the perfect way to relax and unwind.

Rating: I am rating this exfoliating scrub with 3 stars out of 5. It loses 1 star for being, in my opinion, an unnecessary addition to the range, delivering the same results as the cleanser, but with added granules.  Also I’m not certain why anyone would need to scrub their skin twice a day, so I’m taking off another ½ star as I’m concerned that over exfoliating could damage already sensitive skins.  The final ½ star is subtracted due to the poor quality packaging.  I will continue to use this product for the time being, but only as an occasional scrub, to effectively maintain problem skin such as pesky pimples and congested pores.  I am sure it would make a great addition to any bathroom beauty arsenal, for anyone wishing to benefit from the reliable zit zapping qualities, although I doubt that I will purchase it again for myself, as it doesn’t meet my current skin care requirements.

Well, no doubt you have heard of Clearasil, but have you ever tried it yourself?  Do you think the products have come along way from the first Clearasil products that were on the market years ago??  Please comment with your thoughts and opinions!

Cheers guys xx oo

Clearasil Daily Clear Vitamins & Extracts Wash

Hi peeps, I’m back!  The next product was forwarded to me by the lovely Tammerly author of Spoilt.  I must admit I had a few reservations when I first saw the brand in question was Clearasil, because it was one of the first skin care lines I recall being familiar with as a teen and over the years as I got older I moved away from what I considered to be a range appropriately suitable for teenagers.  However, I still do battle with the spots quite often, so I decided to give them another try now, after all these years……

This 2-in1 cleanser/mask is a product featured in the new range from well-known anti-acne brand Clearasil.  The energising Clearasil Daily Clear Vitamins & Extracts Wash (can't find this range on their website at all??) is enriched with nourishing Avocado and Vitamin E, along with the antioxidant benefits of Pomegranate, plus hydrating Glycerine to help retain moisture.  Unlike the existing Clearasil line-up, this range has a lower content of Salicylic Acid (a powerful pimple-fighting ingredient) making it kinder to the skin, yet still efficient enough to target and prevent breakouts, delivering a comfortable deep-pore cleanse that removes impurities, without drying or stripping the skin.

I never suffered acne as a teen, however I have had a bout of adult acne a few years ago and even more recently, my skin has gone a bit berserk, leaving me battling an onslaught of whiteheads that I was keen to get rid of fast, so the new Clearasil products arrived at an ideal time.  I’m actually thrilled to find a targeted spot cleanser that I can tolerate, because it isn’t too potent or harsh for my sensitive prone skin and clears up breakouts without robbing the skin of its essential moisture.  I was impressed with the blemish control properties of this product after frequent, daily use over a four week period, it helped to rapidly reduce the swelling, redness and tenderness associated with existing pimples, allowing them to heal quickly, minus any long-term damage to my skin.  When used for the sole purpose of cleansing, I didn’t succumb to any aggravation and have since noticed a positive improvement of my overall skin health, including the return of my blemish-free complexion.  The Clearasil Daily Clear Vitamins & Extracts Wash is available at various major retailers in Australia, for an absolute steal of a price, affordable for all budgets.  For anyone who leads a busy lifestyle and is struggling to get control of their skin, then this cleanser is worth consideration.  It’s effective enough to treat problem areas, clearing congestion, thoroughly cleaning dirt, excess oil and bacteria that gets lodged deep inside the pores, all the while being gentle enough for even the most fragile skin.

The lightweight wash has a pale green, super creamy texture, so about a 10-cent coin sized amount works up into a non-foaming, mild lather.  It’s then gradually massaged all over my wet face and easily rinses straight off omitting any tacky residue.  The pleasant fruity fragrance is both refreshing and invigorating.  It’s not overly perfumed, nor does it linger on the skin, but acts as a perfect pick-me-up to ensure I start each day feeling instantly recharged.  I like to use this cleanser every morning, as it adequately cleans my skin, but it’s not at all dry or taut; instead it’s surprisingly conditioned and feels soft to touch.  Due to my sensitivity issues, I found using the product as a mask unsuitable for my personal needs and after leaving it on my skin for longer than a minute or so, I experienced an unusual reaction with a tingling/stinging, almost burning sensation and the sudden discomfort sent out warning bells and I had to wash it off straight away, afraid it may lead to irritation and trigger redness or other side effects.  After that one occasion, I simply continued using the product solely as a cleanser for the remaining duration of the test drive.

Presented in an easy-to-squeeze upside-down tube that boasts the same green and white colour scheme across the range with eye-catching Avocado and Pomegranate images decorating the front of the packaging, it’s chic and modern, appealing to both men and women of all ages, in lieu of the typical teenage audience that Clearasil usually attracts.  The tube has a large opening so lots of product comes out at once when dispensing, which is not only messy, it also results in using more product than needed, so it runs out quicker than it should.  The snap-shut lid is quite flimsy and needs to be handled with care to avoid breaking it off altogether.  On the plus side, the lower half of the tube graduates toward being translucent so it’s easy to see how much product is left before it’s finished.

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TIP:  Even though it’s suitable for cleansing purposes, if you suffer from sensitive skin problems at all, then you should patch test prior to a mask application, just to avoid exasperating the condition.

Rating: I am awarding this clever cleanser with 4 stars out of 5.  Basically, it loses ½ a star for the poor quality packaging, with the lid just hanging in there, whilst the inability to control the amount of product that is dispensed from the tube is totally wasteful.  I’ve deducted the other ½ star because the mask function could prove to be too potent for people like me with more delicate skin and really needs to be pointed out.  Despite those minor negative points, I would definitely look at buying this product again.  It makes for a great staple cleanser that the whole family can use whenever they need a little help zapping some stubborn zits.

So, did you ever try the famous Clearasil products when you were a teen?  Have you tried them since??  What are your thoughts on this new range, would you be willing to use it yourself??  Please comment below with any feedback!

Thanks xxx ooo

NIVEA In-Shower Body Moisturiser

Hello to everyone in the blogosphere who maybe reading this.  I’ve been very quiet on the blogging front lately, so thought I’d take the opportunity to add a few reviews that have been sitting in limbo on my PC for ages, while the time allows.

The lovely ladies at Beauty Heaven sent me this product to test out and review for their Trial Team.  Here are my thoughts:

When I first received this product, I was under the impression that is was just another moisturising body wash, so when I discovered that it was a completely new and different concept all together, I was keen to try it out!  The NIVEA In-Shower Body Moisturiser is a time-saving, convenient way to nourish and hydrate your skin, whilst enjoying your regular daily shower.  Simply wash as normal, then slather all over your body, rinse, dry as usual and you’re good to go!  It features glycerine, sea minerals and caring skin oils, which are water activated and prevent the skin from becoming dry.

It’s presented in a large, white and blue 400ml flip-top bottle that typically represents the NIVEA brand and fits perfectly in my shower caddy.  It boasts the standard crisp, clean NIVEA fragrance that isn’t too bold or overpowering and would appeal to both men and women alike.  The moisturiser itself is white in colour and has a fluid-like texture, with a medium consistency, so it isn’t too runny.  The creamy formula is however quite difficult to spread, so I realised that I needed to use a large amount per application to work it all over my slippery wet skin, but as long as I’ve got enough product it does glide on with ease.  It rinses straight off with water and absorbs well, leaving a silky protective film on my skin.  Afterwards, my body felt smooth, soft and comfortable and the lasting moisture seemed to lock in all day long.

I don’t have overly dry skin, so after using the moisturiser for the past month, I’m pleased that it provides my body with the essential hydration it needs each day and as a result my skin is definitely looking healthier.  I have sensitive skin and the dermatologically proven formulation didn’t cause irritation and in fact I found it very soothing and relaxing instead.  I am really impressed with my experience using the NIVEA In-Shower Body Moisturiser, as I have often neglected my body and skip the daily moisturising step, especially if I were short on time or just couldn’t be bothered having to wait around for the lotion to dry, but this handy shortcut only takes an extra minute when I’m already wet and in the shower, so it keeps my skin healthy and happy!  The only thing I would change about this product would be to introduce a variety of fragrances, which would definitely make it even more appealing to me as I do love indulging in beautifully scented body products.  Otherwise, it’s brilliant and makes the ideal, effort-free alternative for those who are always in a hurry and don’t give their bodies the attention it deserves.

Ideal For: Anyone with a busy lifestyle would benefit from this time-saving, hassle-free body moisturiser.

TIP:  Be sure to wash your hands properly with your normal hand wash after using this product to completely remove the film left on your skin, because if you accidentally touch your eyes or mouth it can be quite uncomfortable or even irritating.

Rating: 5/5

 So, what do you all think?  Does this sound like it would be a product that would make your life easier or is it just another gimmick???  Have you tried it yet and if so please share your thoughts!

Cheers xxx ooo