skin cleanser

olayBrand: Olay

Product: Daily Facials Hydrating Cleansing Cloths (Normal to Dry)

Sometimes we stumble upon great products completely by accident. Case in point: Last week I stormed Costco, coupon book in hand and gleam in my eye, eager to buy those fabulous Olay pre-moistened cloths that I have become addicted to. That night, I dragged my lazy self to the bathroom mirror with the intent to wipe away my makeup only to discover that I had not actually bought the pre-moistened cloths that I had thought I had. I purchased dry cleansing cloths (in bulk) by mistake.

Costco has a great return policy, but the nearest one is about a half an hour away, which reeked of effort. So I did what any other lazy woman would do, I said “eff” it. In this case my laziness paid off. Even though they are not as easy and convenient as the pre-moistened cloths, I really liked the product. Each dry cloth once moistened, produces enough lather to cleanse you face and neck, and even your whole body if you are so inclined. As the packaging indicates, the cloths really can be used every day. I have been using them for about a week and my dry skin looks and feels great. The cloths are soft and textured, and the raised weave seems to act as an exfoliator. Bonus!

The downside of these cloths is that if you buy them at a retail chain like Target, they can be a bit pricey. There they retail for $5.89 for a package of thirty. That may be a lot for some to spend on a product that is supposed to be used daily. I think they would be a great item to tuck into your gym bag or weekender though.

Cut Costs Cuties!

Gemma

4 lips

neutrogenaBrand: Neutrogena
Product: Facial Cleansing Bar

So, maybe I tend to review products that have been on the shelves forever rather than the new, hip, so very NOW product that everyone is talking about. It’s just that I think sometimes we are tricked into believing that if it is new on the market, and requires an equity loan to buy, than it MUST be better. Perhaps there is a theme coursing through my entries, and that theme is, if it has been on the market FOREVER, there MUST be a reason! Case in point…Neutrogena’s facial cleansing bar.

Back in April I was rushed to the hospital in the throes of labor, and (surprise, surprise), I had not packed an overnight bag. The lovely nurses of Centrastate graciously gave me a complimentary overnight toiletry kit which contained the Neutrogena facial cleansing bar. I had been a faithful Cetaphil customer for more than ten years, but I recognized the little bar in the kit, and was eager to try it. Now, as if torn between two lovers, I am torn between these two products.

Neutrogena’s facial bar comes in fragranced (original) and non-fragranced versions. It retails for $2.24 for a 3.5 ounce bar. The key to usage is restraint! A little goes a long way, and thus, the bar lasts FOREVER. The gentle, glycerine-rich bar does not clog pores and leaves skin so fresh and clean that I don’t find a separate makeup remover necessary. Daily use does not irritate my dry, sensitive skin as long as I follow with a rich moisturizer. A woman with oily skin might only need a light water-based moisturizer to follow. I flirted with giving the product 5 stars, but I don’t love how “tight” my face feels after each use, even though I no longer feel the “tightness” once I moisturize. So, perhaps Cetaphil has a slight edge over Neutrogena’s cleansing bar, but the cleansing bar is a workhorse, and a very fairly priced one at that.

Cut Costs Cuties!
Gemma

4half lips

cost cutting, cutie, drugstore cosmetics

 

 

 

 

Product:  Cetaphil

 

     The most awful year of my life was spent living in a tiny house in the woods with an insipid and characterless young woman and her manipulative boyfriend.  At times, over the years, I would be reminded of that horrific time in my life and the terrible treatment that I suffered.  In an effort to put the experience behind me I decided to think about what I learned from it all.  After some considerable thought I finally seized about the one positive aspect of that period.  It was Lisa who introduced me to Cetaphil.

     Along with being meaner than a snake and dumber than a bag of hammers, Lisa also had the fashion sense of a fishwife.  She did, however, have lovely skin.  Her shelf in our bathroom revealed her secret…..Cetaphil.

     You’ve probably seen Cetaphil products in the drugstore a thousand times and no doubt passed them over in favor of better advertised products from lines like Olay and Neutrogena.  Indeed, trusting Cetaphil to give you gorgeous skin seems as wise as trusting Edith Bunker to pick out your wardrobe.  The product seems so ordinary.  Well, the product packaging may be dull (and even duller since it’s been redesigned, if you can believe that), but the products themselves are outstanding.

     Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser comes in a regular and a sensitive skin formula.  The product claims to “soften as it cleanses”, and it does, in fact, do just that.  It is non-foaming, a quality that may lead one to believe it is a poor cleanser.  Most dermatologists agree, however, that foaming cleansers strip skin of essential oils.  Cetaphil removes dirt and makeup without leaving your face tight.  It does not clog pores and it is fragrance free.  As far as I’m concerned the lack of scent is a huge bonus because the alcohol used in fragrance can be drying. 

     At first glance, Cetaphil may seem a bit expensive for a drugstore brand.  Careful investigation reveals that it is possibly the best value at the drugstore.  A 16 oz bottle retails at about $10.99.  Compare that to an 8 oz Neutrogena cleanser which retails at $8.99 and Cetaphil suddenly seems like a great deal.  Oh, and by the way, a 16 oz bottle of Cetaphil lasts for-ev-ah!

     I’ve been washing my face with Cetaphil for a decade now and I have no itch to switch.  My skin is consistently clear and soft, and I have Lisa to thank.  So, Lisa, if you are reading this, thank you.  Ten years of great skin has been worth every miserable moment living with you.

 

Cut Costs Cuties!

 

Gemma