Neutrogena Deep Clean Blackhead Eliminating Daily Scrub Review

Neutrogena Deep Clean Blackhead Eliminating Daily Scrub Review

This is a review of Neutrogena Deep Clean Blackhead Eliminating Daily Scrub with blackhead fighting complex. This scrub comes in 40 gms and 100 gms tubes.

Price: INR 110 for 40 gms

INR 240 for 100 gms

Shelf Life: 36 months from Mfg date

PRODUCT CLAIMS AND INGREDIENTS LIST:

Helps to effectively eliminate blackheads from the very first use, and prevents their return, for clear & healthy lookng skin! Microbeads that can effectively, yet gently exfoliate skin. Blackhead Fighting Complex, penetrates deep into pores to dissolve excessive oil to help eliminate stubborn blackheads. Prevents new ones from forming with continuous use. Natural ingredient with proven oil control efficacy. Helps clear and tighten pores. For best efficacy, use in combination with other BHE (Blackhead Elimination) line products (daily scrub followed by warming treatment and cooling toner)

Dermatologist Tested
Oil Free
Allergy Tested
Non-Comedogenic

Click to see enlarged view

I had bought this scrub for my mother, who has a severe blackhead problem on her temples. I had a lot of whiteheads on my nose owing to my oily t-zone. and suddenly developed a couple of blackheads too. My Amway Artistry polishing scrub was not helping, so I gave this one a try and really loved it. I am using it regularly for almost 2 months now. 

MY EXPERIENCE WITH THIS SCRUB:

1. It took some 8-10 uses to eliminate the whiteheads and clear up the excessive oil locked in my t-zone.
2. There was a very hard whitehead on the slant of my nose and recently it helped uproot that too. But it did required patience.
3. Please do NOT expect miracles overnight. It does work with the natural cycle of your skin and helps clear skin with regular use.
4. It does not dry skin like other scrubs. You can feel soft, clean and brightened skin within the first use.
5. The scrub microbeads are neither too gentle, nor too harsh. I was using daily but developed redness on my cheeks due to excessive scrubbing. So I now use on alternate days.
6. There is a noticeable difference in pore size. It does help reduce skin pores. Results may vary if you do not use a toner after scrubbing. Use any good toner of your choice.

Can you see the Orange beads and the White microbeads?

HOW TO USE NEUTROGENA BLACKHEAD ELIMINATING SCRUB?

Shake the tube to ensure the settled beads mix well in the scrub. Wet face with water. Then take a pea sized amount and start scrubbing the target area gently. Do NOT use in the area around the eyes.

How to scrub your face. Move hands as per the directions in the picture

HOW EFFECTIVE IS IT FOR PEOPLE WITH SEVERE BLACKHEADS?

There are two more products in the Neutrogena Blackhead eliminating range: 

Neutrogena Deep Clean Blackhead Eliminating Warming Treatment

Neutrogena Deep Clean Blackhead Eliminating Cooling Toner

For people with severe blackhead problem, it is recommended to use this scrub, then use the warming treatment and finally use the cooling toner. My mom is using only the scrub.

Neutrogena Deep Clean Blackhead Eliminating Daily Scrub alone does not remove stubborn blackheads as such. It helps exfoliate your skin gently, thereby exposing the deep rooted blackheads. You can then follow it up with steaming and cleaning with a blackhead remover tool, just like a beautician does it for you during a facial. 

If you do not know how to use the blackhead removal tool, please do NOT use it without proper guidance. Do NOT try to squeeze out blackheads or whiteheads, though I can understand how tempting it is. Squeezing with nails can lead to scars and marks. Keep using the scrub and then use a good toner to close the pores after scrubbing. If you do not notice any positive results after a month or so, try this scrub along with the warming treatment and cooling toner from the same range.

Neutrogena is owned by Johnson and Johnson. This scrub is definitely better than other similar products available in the market and I really trust the skin care products from this brand (though I hate the kids skin care range from Johnsons and Johnsons).

The Body Shop Satsuma Body Polish Review

This is a review of The Body Shop Satsuma Body Polish.

An almost used up tube of TBS Satsuma Body Polish

This was the first product I had ever tried from The Body Shop. What lured me to buy it was ORANGES: the heavenly citrus fragrance of oranges, the orange color, the presence of orange essential oil, besides the thought of indulging in a natural and chemical free product (at least so I had thought at that time).

Quantity: 200ml (6.75 US FL OZ)
Price: INR 465 (Not mentioned on the package)
Shelf Life: Not mentioned on the pack. To be used within 12 months of opening
Made in UK

PACKAGE DESCRIPTION:

Gentle daily exfoliation and cleansing with zesty Satsuma. With walnut shell and loofah to gently exfoliate and Community Trade Honey to moisturise. Not for facial use. If product gets in eyes, rinse with clean water.

Satsuma (Citrus Reticulata) is a seedless mandarin orange (a citrus fruit) native to the province of Satsuma, Japan.

THE BODY SHOP SATSUMA BODY POLISH INGREDIENTS:

Aqua (water), Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Acrylates Copolymer, Cocamide DEA, Juglans regia (English Walnut, scrub particles), Benzyl Alcohol, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Mel, Citrus Nobilis, Luffa cylindrical, Sodium Hydroxide, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Disodium EDTA, Citral, Citrus Reticulata (Satsuma) Oil, Linalool, Denatonium Benzoate, Citrus Dulcis (Orange Seed Oil), Methyl Paraben (Preservative), Sodium Dehydroacetate (preservative), Citronellol, Geraniol, CI 15510 (orange color), CI15985 (Sunset Yellow Color).

If you think that The Body Shop products are all natural and chemical free, you are wrong. I was totally surprised when I found Sodium Laureth Sulphate, Parabens and other potential chemicals like DEA in the ingredient list. So this body polish is just like most other body polishes in the market.

MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE BODY SHOP SATSUMA BODY POLISH:

1. It leaves skin really soft, clean and moisturised.
2. Even though it is a body polish, it is gentle enough for daily use. Though it is completely up to you to use daily, on alternate days or once a week.
3. The loofah particles are not at all abrasive/harsh on the skin. You just use it like any other body wash.
4. Spreads very easily and smoothly on the skin.
5. Highly concentrated. Only a very small quantity is required for one time bath. So one tube lasts very very long. Value for money.
6. Transparent packaging helps keep track how much of the product is left.
7. Tube packaging is hygienic and helps preserve the contents for long, as you don’t need to touch the product by dipping your fingers inside it.
8. Nice fragrance which elevates your mood and stays for a good 5-6 hours.
9. Contains 'Parfum', the strongest of all perfume variations. So you need not apply a perfume separately. Very refreshing for summers.
10. Product not tested on animals and supports community trading.

THE MINUSES

1. Needs a lot of water to remove. This could also be because the product is highly concentrated and I might have been using more than required.
2. The strong perfume did not cause any irritation on my sensitive skin but may irritate sensitive skinned people in rare cases. It is not mentioned if the 'parfum' is derived from essential oils or is chemical based.
3. The brand engages in misleading advertising. They lure people by advertising natural ingredients and leave it to them to accidentally discover or never discover (if they don’t bother to read) the chemical ingredients. This is a personal minus and should not affect your decision of buying this product.

Do I recommend? Yes, it is a great product and keeps skin radiant. If you are afraid of the chemicals, do not use daily. Otherwise, worth trying and especially good for summers.

AVAILABILITY:

Available at THE BODY SHOP independent outlets in shopping malls. Easily available online too.

Vaadi Herbals Elbow-Foot-Knee Scrub Pedicure Soap Review

This is a review for the Vaadi Herbals Elbow-Foot-Knee Scrub soap also known as the "Pedicure At Home" Soap.

Product	Foot Scrub Soap
Price	Rs 25 for 75 gms packing
Color	Silver Gray
Smell	Between soapy and herbal, slightly strong, but you don't get to know till you sniff it.
Texture	Since this is a scrub soap, it is coarse in texture. It contains almond and walnut micro-particles.
Best before	36 months from mfg. date
Packaging	Comes wrapped in proper plastic wrapper enclosed within a thin cardboard box
Description on the packaging	Removes Dirt, Dark Spots and Dead Skin Cells: A specialized scrub soap, with Almond and Walnut Scrubs, which clears out dead skin cells from your Elbows, Knees and Feet, making them softer, clearner and fairer. Also removes dark spots and pigmentation from affected areas. “PEDICURE AT HOME”
Directions of use	Gently rub the soap on your feet, knees and elbows in slow circular motion. Let the scrub remove the dead cells and dirt. Rinse off with water.
Website	www.vaadiherbals.com

I have been using foot scrub soaps daily for the past three years. While I would love the luxury of regular pedicures, I just can't bear to sit hours in the parlour. So I simply replaced the normal soap with the scrub soap for my feet, in my bath routine. 

The last two years, I was using an oval pebble shaped foot scrub soap that I had happened to discover in Delhi. I don't remember the brand name because it had a small sticker and used to come in a nylon mesh packing wrapped in thick laminated plastic. I used only two because each lasted 10 months to 11 months despite daily lavish use, even though it sounds unbelievable. 

I wish I had a picture to show here, but the pebble shape helped in it's least contact with the surface, which is why it did not melt with water and lasted long. But the scrub particles were very harsh. The recommended use was once a week though I used it daily.

I haven't seen that in Punjab yet, so I was on a lookout for a foot scrub soap when I saw this one online. It is a really good soap for a very small price.

THE PLUSES

1. This soap gives a very thick creamy lather.
2. The scrub particles are gentle and do not hurt the skin when used on the upper side of feet or on elbows or knees.
3. Cleans the feet really easily no matter how stubbornly dirty they are.
4. Despite the soapy smell, it doesn't need a lot of water to rinse off, which I hope, means doesn't have a lot of surfactants/ foaming agents added.
5. Takes very little time to work.
6. Once back in the soap case, dries very quick and no product wastage.
7. Didn't dry the feet even though I didn't immediately moisturize them.
8. Mild enough for daily use. This, plus a good foot cream = soft lovely feet.
9. Very affordable.

HOW TO USE

For including in your daily bath routine, wet your feet and lavishly apply the soap on both the lower and upper sides of feet. Rub on the lower side and heels particularly on the dirty areas. Massage with hands for the scrub to remove dead skin cells. Leave it on for a few minutes while you continue with the rest of your bathing routine. 

Just before rinsing off with water, scrub clean with a foot file to get perfectly neat feet. Alternatively, for your regular pedicure, soak the feet in warm water adding some salt and/or vinegar. Scrub clean with this soap and complete the pedicure as regular. 

HAPPY FEET, hurray!!!

Since scrubbing leaves the skin pores open, you can use a toner to close the pores (optional) and then moisturize with a good foot cream.

THE MINUSES

None :)

Availability: Available at goodlife.com, flipkart.com, urbantouch.com and a few other online stores.