Neutrogena Pore Refining Exfoliating Cleanser Review

When I first got this refining exfoliant cleanser I read the back as I am always worried about what is in if, and who has tested it. I liked the fact it has been tested by a dermatologist. I also liked the fact it said wont clog your pours. The smell was very subtle not over powering which I like. I really loved the fact it felt like I was scrubbing the daily dirt away, my make up came off and my face get soft and clean. However I don't think I could use this every day as my skin seems to be getting very dry and is producing more oil which makes me think for me I'm better to use it maybe once or twice a week, I have sensitive skin so don't want to irritate it.

I used about a 20c size each time and washed off both with a flannel and in the shower (morning and night).

I had no breakouts in the week that I used this cleanser. My skin feel lovely to touch and definitely felt clean. I didn't notice any difference to my pores. However, I would like to see how my skin is after a month or after an extraction treatment to fully allow the pores to be able to reduce. I believe my skin needs longer than a week to see the true value of this cleanser.

I found it refreshing and a pleasant surprise that this cleanser is not like similar products, when rubbed between the fingers it did not feel sandy or gritted, and I felt encouraged and ensured that the rubbing application on my face to remove dead skin cells would not remove the fine hairs on my face at the same time.

At one point I left it a while after cleansing before I toned, moisturised and applied sun screen. My face did not feel like it had been stripped, tight or dehydrated at any stage.

After all the excitement of this new product I simply had to try it, and so far I haven't been disappointed.

This cleanser is quite thick, but it's got a small nozzle so easy to manage the amount dispensed. The small isn't great, but its not too offputting. The results are smooth and fresh skin that isn't too dry. I have noticed a small reduction in my pores, but nothing overly obvious. Product rinses off cleanly without leaving residue.

I liked this product, but found it quite hard on my skin if I used it every day. It did what it said it would though and my skin felt tighter and smooth.

First impressions upon using it, I found that it did make my pores smaller and it did a great job exfoliating my face overall. The smell is not too off putting and the size of the cleanser is very generous it will last me a long time! However, for some reason the product manages to get into my eyes EVERYTIME I use it and it stings :( I couldn't use it daily because I found it to be too rough. The pores do go back to their normal size if you stop using the product after a day or two so maybe daily use is the key to maintain the effect! Overall, I wasn't disappointed or overwhelmed, guess I'm back to hunting down the holy grail that will help me with my pore problems :)

I have been using this scrub for a couple weeks now after buying it on a whim when my previous cleanser ran out. I use micellar water each night for make up removal and then use this exfoliator every morning while in the shower, a little bit goes a long way and it leaves my skin feeling nice and clean without feeling overly tight or dry (I have combination skin that tends to get oily by the end of the day) I have noticed a slight reduction in pore size, nothing drastic but I'm still giving it time as you can never expect amazing results immediately :) Would consider repurchasing when this eventually runs out but i can see this lasting for a long time still as the bottle itself is huge compared to other cleansers I would usually buy.

When I first used this product, I didn't think it was exfoliating as much as the harder scrubs, but after a few weeks I noticed a big difference in the size of my pores and the softness of my skin. It has tiny micro-beads which gently polish the skin surface to remove dead skin cells. I did notice after using this product I had to use sunscreen during the day as it made me more prone to sun burn? Also noticed that my skin felt quite tender after walking in the wind, almost got a wind burn? The packaging is nice, easy to use and the product lasts a long time!

I have combination skin: oily in the t-zone, slightly dry and acne-prone on my chin (the dryness may be due to the products I use to treat this area), and normal-ish everywhere else. My most noticeable pores are on and around my nose, and some on my forehead.

Prior to trying this cleanser out I was using a gentle non-foaming cleanser in the mornings, followed by a moisturiser (with SPF) for oily skin (which I only purchased a month ago but really like), then makeup if I'm wearing it for the day. My evening routine consists of makeup removal, then cleansing with either the same cleanser or a cream cleanser followed by a washcloth. Then a few times a week I would follow that up with a chemical exfoliating wipe. I end things with a serum containing retinol, niacinamide, and vitamin C, then moisturiser. In order to give this product a fair trial, I swapped it in for my second evening cleanse, but kept everything else the same.

This is of a light gel consistency with exfoliating (plastic) microbeads. It doesn't lather, which I prefer as usually that means the surfactants used are of the milder kind.

I'm generally of the opinion that any active ingredients (in this case, chemical exfoliants like AHAs and BHA) should be in products that are left on the skin rather than in a wash-off product. I would also prefer if the exfoliating beads were made from jojoba microbeads rather than plastic for environmental reasons, plus it's thought to be less harsh when scrubbing the skin.

The first few days I had some peeling on my nose, although that could be due to my extraction of sebaceous filaments (the sebum inside pores) with a face cloth.

Now I'm five days in, and my impression is that it's left my skin evenly but not harshly cleansed -- there isn't that squeaky feeling, which is a good thing! I also like that it doesn't contain sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate, which are comedogenic ingredients sometimes used in products targeted to people who get blocked pores -- for example the other cleanser in this range; not ideal!

From googling I've found that the toner in the same range has a decent concentration of AHAs and BHA, and is at the right pH for it to work. Based on this trial, and online reviews of the toner, I'd be really interested in trying it out. It's rare that a supermarket product contains effective levels of AHAs, so definitely worth a go. The cleanser and toner would probably make a good combination.

I suspect this wouldn't suit sensitive skins -- it is fairly highly fragranced and that's never good. I don't think dry skins will have an issue with it, as the lack of the harsher surfactants, and the inclusion of humectant ingredients like cetyl alcohol and glycolic acid should help avoid dehydration.

I'll update this at the end of the ten day BR trial, plus put some photos up on my blog :D

I have enjoyed using this product. Usually when I try a new product I end up with a breakout (thanks T zone) but with this, nada! It smells nice, doesn't over dry, the microbeads are not too scratchy and it is easy to rinse. I start my days feeling fresh, with glowing skin and end my days like that too.

The tube is an excellent size and the RRP is fantastic, easily affordable. Being able to buy a product at the supermarket is always a bonus.

I was lucky enough to be picked for the trial team on this product.

While I'm hesitant about products that say it'll 'reduce' anything - whether that be fine lines or pores and everything in between, I was genuinely surprised.

When I received the package, I was very, very surprised at the size of the bottle. It's huge! And good value for money for $16.

I used it that first night, after I'd removed my makeup. The texture is creamy and the exfoliating beads are superfine. So there was no irritation whatsoever unlike other exfoliants I've used where the grains are so chunky they literally scratch your skin.

Because there's no soap, it doesn't foam like other cleansers and exfoliants. So you may need to use a little more product to get around your face. There's also hardly any smell which is great. I find products that have a strong scent probably have a lot of perfume, which means a lot of alcohol, which means drying up your skin. And my skin is dry enough as it is!

Now, my head is ginormous (not kidding - it's actually huge) so I used product about the size of a 50c piece, which was plenty.

After washing it off, my skin felt baby smooth, even the next day it felt great.

I didn't notice any effects straight away. I used it every second or third day - as advised on the bottle. I only ever used it at night, as part of a consistent routine. And after about 8 days, I've noticed that my pores have actually reduced in size.

Not a huge reduction, but to me, it was noticeable. I had enlarged pores around my nose, and the area that they cover has noticeably reduced so it doesn't go an inch sideways anymore. I'd say it's reduce about 1/4" in size.

I doubt this would completely reduce them altogether, but for a product that's easily affordable and readily available, I'd recommend giving this a go.

The things I like about it: The size of the bottle | the price | the smell | the fine grain exfoliating beads | no soap | the feel of my skin after | it actually works - to a degree.