Neutrogena Pore Refining Exfoliating Cleanser Review

First of all was very surprised at how much cleanser is in the tube ,it will last awhile.thank goodness when you squeeze it it doesn't come pouring out so there is less waste and get a nice amount . I reckon it has the right amount of exfoliant its not to gritty. My skin feels softer and a lot cleaner and because you can use it every day is a great benefit .easy to wash off.I have had no break outs . Has a very pleasant smell . I would get this again thats for sure

Thanks BR for picking me to review :)

This product has both good and bad points (mainly good), first off, value for money - yes it's worth it! You don't have to use much product so the tube will last a long time.

Packaging, a little boring, but not offputting at all.

I found it to do everything it said it would, except for refine pores, I don't notice anything more than a minimal reduction after using for 7 days, but all other properties, definite thumbs up. It removes makeup and dirt off your face very very well and it does appear to have smoothed any rough patches I had. I did find it could leave your skin feeling a bit tight if you rub too hard, so don't do that. Same problem if you use it twice a day, I'll be sticking to once per day. Perhaps if you have younger oily skin this would be absolutely perfect. The smell was neither here nor there, it wasn't pleasant, nor was it horrid. I'm picking it smells like apha hydroxy. I also like that the exfoliating beads were not great big rough things, they are nice and fine.

I was so happy for this trial as large pores around my nose area has really been a constant and embarrassing struggle for me. The day I received this cleanser I was going through a major acne attack, and I was really scared to use it. My face does not do well with new products so I wasnt expecting good results.

First impression: The tube is a jumbo size compared to my normal cleansers and for $15 it is definitely good value for money. My usual cleansers of about 100ml last me 1 month so for 198ml you would be in the running for a 2 month usage. I smelt the cleanser and I hated it. It reminded of the smell of hair dye and I was concerned that if the smell was strong, what was it going to do to my sensitive skin?

Usage: I used it twice a day as directed eventhough I wasnt too comfortable because over exfoliating turns my face oily. I used the amount almost the size of a cashew nut and massaged it into my face for about a minute. I would rinse the cleanser off my face and then apply a pea size amount just on my nose and inner cheek area and concentrate massaging for another minute because this is the area I struggle with the most.

I loved the feel of those microbeads on my skin and I could feel it pulling out the dirt from my skin as I massaged my face. The cleanser is thick and creamy and feels luxurious during use.This cleanser doesnt lather but it distributes itself evenly across your face. I absolutely hated the fact the cleanser was burning my eyes during washing. When drying my face, my skin was so soft and supple and very hydrated. I was very surprised because I thought the strong Hydroxy formula would strip my skin leaving it dry, tight and taunt but I was very happy this was not the case.

Effects on my skin: I've been doing this washing routine for 8 days in the trial period and my acne is so much better which means the strong smell was nothing to be concerned about. I have noticed that my face is no longer oily which is great for me when using a new cleanser. This cleanser definitely helps keep oiliness at bay. I've also noticed a slight difference in the pores on my nose and inner cheek area but nothing drastic I must admit.

I think someone with really bad and big pores should see a small difference because this cleanser seems to work slowly. I have only noticed some differences in day 7 and 8.

Does it live up to its promises? "Penetrates deep into the pores to visibly reduce their appearance" Well after 8 days I would say I think so. My pores werent visibly reduced by I do see some potential for this happening with constant usage.

I'm definitely going to keep using this cleanser in my routine eventhough there are two negatives of burning eyes and strong smell but the rewards my skin have reaped, especially healing my acne far outweighs these negatives. My expectations were definitely wrong in the beginning I the results have been good.

Normally when purchasing an exfoliating cleanser I would opt for something with slightly bigger beads to really work the scrub. This can easily be remedied by using a face scrubber/loofah with the cleanser.

The smell isn't unpleasant - it's faintly chemical/detergent.

As a cleanser it works great and really worked on my oily T zone. My face definitely felt clean after each wash. I can't comment on its pore refining properties yet - it probably needs a few more washes.

Don't get it in your eyes - it stings like hell!

1st of all, thanks to BR for sending this product! This time was a full size one, so hopefully I'll write another review in a few weeks!

I think that it is watery compared to other exfoliatings I’ve used, but it might be because it is a cleaner as well. Easy to apply, and smells quite nice, a bit sweet, not a strong fragrance. I use it after using the Neutrogena foam cleanser. I only use it with hot water, when having a shower, but when I go out and dry my face, it’s amazing how I don’t have open pores anymore. The package size will last more than a month for me (198ml), for sure, and it also works for the product, although I was expecting something smaller (I might not be using enough hehe but it seems to be working well for me). Price is reasonable if you really find it for $15. My skin now it mist, oily on cheeks, chin and forehead. I would definitely recommend it, as I would any Neutrogena product.

I was surprised the first time when I used this cleanser, it really does what it says, refining and minimizing pores, and also made the blackheads appear less on my nose too. I wasn't expecting such an instant result from a drugstore line cleanser. The micro-beads are the finnest I've tried in the drugstore cleanser range (normally the drugstore ones always have chunky beads and over-exfoliate the skin), so this is definitely a bonus point.

Although after I've used it for about a week I found the product sting my eyes a lot when I rinse the cleanser off my face. I don't use this cleanser directly around my eye area but it just doesn't get rinsed off completely and there's always something goes into my eyes afterwards. I feel like there's still some product left on the face after washing my face.

Overall I think this is a great drugstore refining cleanser for those who wants to minimize their pores. Although I found myself don't like the formula that much due to the leftover still on the face after rinsing. And it's such a pain to have eyes stinging after washing face...

To be honest I rather keep using the Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser instead, it's a lot more gentle, clean my face well and doesn't have any leftover on the face after rinsing.

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.

A big thumbs up from me, thanks BR and Neutrogena for the full sized product. It's now part of my morning shower routine. I love that you use it daily it has very fine exfoliating particles a pleasant almost chemical scent which isn't strong by the way. Incredibly my pores on my nose and chin which are obvious to me do look less noticeable, my makeup is sitting better on my skin as a result, and I haven't had any break outs after using this for 6 days solid. My slightly sensitive skin gets a little bit pink after use but this disappears within a few minutes. I also love how it exfoliates my dry lips. I will definitely repurchase this, my old Neutrogena face scrub is now at the back of the shelf.

When I started using this product 7 days ago I had break outs on my chin which have totally vanished. The pores and oil on my nose have remarkably reduced also. Great to use in the shower just a small amount goes a long way. I am used to using a harsher scrub three times a week and was a little worried that there didn't appear to be many coarse micro-beads to remove dirt and oil, however after using for a week I can see and feel the difference. Certainly haven't felt the need to reach for the other exfoliate. My skin feels very moisturized after use unlike other scrubs that may leave my skin feeling dry or tight. It lathers up nicely (not to soapy) and the micro-beads create a gentle exfoliate that can be used daily. I find it great to use to help remove make up to get the last traces out of your pores. There is also no harsh smell to the product it is very neutral. All over skin tone feel much smoother and will most defiantly continue using this product.

I was surprised at the size of the product when it arrived - most cleansers seem to be in small, wide tubes, this one was in a longer thinner tube which actually fitted in both my shower caddy and my hand perfectly (yay!). The tube was easy to open, and squeeze the product from one handed while in the shower - always a good thing. I loved the wee micro beads that were in the cleanser, they were lovely and gentle and left my skin feeling and looking fantastic. I was a little sceptical about the effectiveness of the pore refining but only after a few days I was noticing a difference. My skin was looking clearer and brighter than it has previously, I also noticed that I had less blackheads in the areas where I had experienced larger pores. Unfortunately I also noticed that my skin was feeling a bit tight, so I cut back the use from twice daily to one a day and the tightness went away. Overall loved this product and will definitely keep using it - the shape and size of the bottle is perfect, and it definitely did what it said it would.