Review: Neutrogena Extra Gentle Cleanser

Since I have dry skin it can be very difficult to find a cleanser that is good for my skin, one that does not strip away moisture while still cleaning. I have a ton of skincare products and still hasn't found what really "works" for me. I trust Neutrogena as a skincare company and have tried many of their products. Recently I picked up this Extra Gentle Cleanser. I've used up about 3/4 of the bottle and think I can now write a review.

This comes in a white bottle with an awesome pump that locks. I got this for about $11 as a bonus with the Neutrogena Ageless Intensives Deep Wrinkle Moisturizer (review on that later). It says on the bottle that it "adds moisture every time you cleanse". Also it's fragrance-free, hypo-allergenic and dermatologist recommended. On the back it says how it's a non-soap formula which adds moisture back to your skin, so skin retains resiliency and suppleness. It's rich and non-irritating, and does not leave a residue that can clog pores. I think this all sounds super duper! It sounds like something that would be excellent for those with dry skin. But we all know that companies make products sound better than they actually are, or maybe I am just skeptical.

How did it perform for me? I actually really like this. It did not make my skin feel tight, irritated and red like a lot of other cleansers do. Normally I have to apply moisturizer or cream right after I wash my face because it feels so agitated, or else I will be very sorry the next day. I don't think it "adds moisture back to your skin" as a cleanser should not really take moisture away in my opinion. A cleanser that is right for your skin type should cleanse it gently while not irritating and stripping moisture in the first place. But I do appreciate that this cleanser does not leave my skin feeling terrible afterwards, and that is a plus for me.

As you can tell in the picture above, the texture of this cleanser is quite rich, but it has a milky feel to it. It does not lather at all and has no scent. It is a very basic cleanser, it feels like you are cleaning your face with lotion, leaving it soft afterwards. That's a giant glop on my hand but once blended into the skin you can tell it's quite watery and light. It says in the directions to apply this in circular motions on a wet face and then rinse with lukewarm water. Or it may also be used as a "tissue off cleanser". Actually after putting it on my hand I did remove it with a tissue (instead of washing my hand) and it came off easily and left my hand feeling smooth and no residue was present. So perhaps a better way to use this would be to remove it with a damp cloth, that way you don't irritate your skin with water. I think I may try that out from now on.

I would give this cleanser a go if you have dry or sensitive skin, it is very gentle as the name suggests . I use this as a everyday cleanser, but also a few times a week I exfoliate using the Neutrogena Acne Stress Control Power Clear Scrub, which is a favourite of mine. I also want to point out that I do not use this to remove my makeup, I always remove my makeup with Neutrogena's Oil-free Eye Makeup Remover and then wipe all my face makeup off with the Kirkland Brand Cleansing Wipes, then I wash my face with a cleanser to remove any remaining residue. I do not know if this would take all your makeup off on it's own, because I do not use it for that purpose.

Have you used this Neutrogena Cleanser? Did you like it?