Somewhere between trying to squeeze in as much outdoorsy time as possible in the second half of summer, a bunch of stressful side projects, a particularly bad bout of insomnia (I keep waking up around the Witching Hour and then can’t fall back asleep) and the steady stream of ice cream I’ve been eating after dinner (even though I know what happens when I have too much dairy), I’ve started breaking out.
It’s nothing too bad…yet (knocks on wood), definitely not as bad as the huge humdingers I get sometimes along my jawline. These are just little whiteheads on my chin and around the edge of my forehead, and a couple of body breakouts on my chest and booty.
Yes, girl, booty — specifically, my left butt cheek, if you must know.
Is that TMI? Probably, but it’s not like I’m the first person (or the last) to get a painful pimple on their bum.
Anyway! When Neutrogena and Walgreens asked if I was down to switch up my acne-fighting game with their #LetsSolveIt campaign and take the quiz at SolveMyAcne.com, I thought, “Good timing!”
I’ve had great luck with Neutrogena skin care over the years, and I dig Walgreens (I used to go there on my breaks every day when I worked in SF), so I said “sure!”
Getting back into the swing of things at school after summer break is stressful enough. Who needs the ADDED stress of a bad breakout? Get expert skin care recs with the Neutrogena #LetsSolveIt campaign by taking the Acne-Fighting Quiz at SolveMyAcne.com, and feel fabulously confident in clearer skin.
First step: the quiz. And it’s not one of those quizzes that they say is only going to take two minutes but ends up taking 20. It really is just a handful of easy questions.
Like so…
Based on my answers, here are the four products the quiz recommended for me and my combo dry/oily skin:
- Oil-Free Acne Stress Control Power Cream Wash ($8.99): This creamy, oil-free face wash works without stripping or drying the skin. It contains salicylic acid (2%), and cucumber and green tea extracts, to fight breakouts while reducing redness and clearing up oil.
- Rapid Clear Maximum Strength Acne Treatment Pads ($9.49): These soft, textured oil-free pads also contain salicylic acid (2%), and they’re soaked with something unique to Neutrogena called MicroClear, a proprietary technology scientifically proven to push medicine deep into pores to both fight the acne you can, and the acne you can’t, see.
- Oil-Free Moisture Sensitive Skin ($10.99): This lightweight water-based moisturizer doesn’t contain alcohol or any fragrances, so it’s ideal for sensitive skin.
- Body Clear Body Wash Pink Grapefruit ($8.49): Pink grapefruit. Those are the magic words for me right there. 🙂 This gloriously grapefruit-scented wash also contains chamomile, green tea extract, vitamin C and 2% salicylic acid to treat body breakouts on the shoulders, back and chest while keeping new breakouts from…breaking out.
I like the idea of a whole acne regimen that only involves four products. I can handle a four-step process, so I put my regular skin care favorites aside, and I’ve been using these for two weeks.
Step 1: Acne Stress Control Power Cream Wash
Every morning and evening, I washed my face with the Acne Stress Control Power Cream Wash (which smells mildly minty). I like how it leaves my skin feeling slightly tingly (it’s a good pick-me-up in the morning!), and that it doesn’t make the dry parts of my skin feel tight or otherwise uncomfortable.
Step 2: Rapid Strength Acne Treatment Pads
Then, right after using the face wash, I wiped one of the Rapid Strength Acne Treatment Pads all over my face, paying special attention to the little whiteheads along my jawline and around my forehead. At that point, there was usually some leftover product on the pad, so I’d also wipe the areas where I was breaking out on my chest (as well as that one annoying pimple on my bum).
Step 3: Oil-Free Moisturizer
After using the pad, I finished up my face routine by moisturizing my face and neck with the Oil-Free Moisturizer.
And I did this every morning and night before bed after my shower.
Step 4: Body Clear Body Wash in Pink Grapefruit
Lastly, while I was still IN the shower at night, I used the Body Clear Body Wash in Pink Grapefruit all over my chest (and, again, my booty), and then my regular body wash to wash everywhere else.
The results
As I said earlier, I’ve had really great luck with Neutrogena skin care products over the years, so I was stoked to try these four, and the only one of them I think I’ve tried before is the Pink Grapefruit Body Wash.
I’ve definitely noticed an improvement in my skin over the past two weeks, especially with the pimples around the edge of my forehead, which are — YAY! — nowhere to be found.
Take that, zits!
I still have one tiny little whitehead on my chin…but it’s at the point now where I know it’ll be gone within a couple days.
I was a little concerned that the face wash and pads would dry out my cheeks (which are already so, so dry), but they haven’t yet. I really like them both and plan to continue using them.
Oh! And guess what? I figured out that you can get more bang for your buck if you cut the pads in half. Yes, I use a pair of scissors that I keep in my medicine cabinet.
Hey, Walgreens and walgreens.com shoppers! Earn 3,000 Walgreens Balance Rewards Points with the purchase of $15 or more in select Neutrogena products through August 28, 2015.
As for the Oil-Free Moisturizer, the oilier spots on my face really like it, like my forehead, nose and chin. My cheeks, however, which are always epically dry, need more moisture than this, so I have to layer an additional, richer moisturizer on top.
I may still use it on occasion when my skin is leaning more toward the extra oily side, but I think it’ll probably work better if you have straight-up oily or normal skin.
As for the Body Wash, WOW! — it smells amazing. I love crisp citrusy scents, and this one rocks.
And it works well, too, because the breakouts on my chest are almost completely gone. No more aggro red pimples, and the few non-aggro pimples that are left are tiny and look like they’re on their last legs. Plus, it didn’t dry out my skin.
The zit on my bum (am I crazy, or wouldn’t that be a GREAT name for a band?) is also less painful and smaller.
All in all, I had a great experience with these acne-fighting products, and I feel more confident in my clearer skin.
I’m ready for you, fall!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
jessica says
I might try the pad thingies, as I have been getting teeny breakouts on my chin.
Sorry about your bum zit… that has never happened to me and I truly hope it never will. Yikes!
Karen says
Hi Jessica,
The pads really helped with my tiny whiteheads. Totally addicted to them now!
And I hope you never, ever get a bum zit. It’s not fun!
sarahc says
*inside voice* omg she just admitted to getting a zit on her bum! 🙂
haha! That’s ok I get them too. Team Body Clear all the way.
Karen says
Doesn’t it smell amazing? Grapefruit scents are the best.
Rhia says
I will probably take this on too after knowing your results so far. Neutrogena has always been good to my skin as well. Curious about the body wash now!
Karen says
Hi Rhia,
Yeah, I have quite a few products from them that I use and love. Have you ever tried their Ulta Gentle Cleanser? It’s my fave.
Holly says
Honesty about the booty breakout–you go, girl! I think we all get them on occasion…Anyhow, I’ve been eyeing the body wash as I LOVE the scent of pink grapefruit. I wander through my local Walgreen’s every couple weeks to see what’s new & what’s on sale. I prefer to browse in person & chat with the salesclerks who are always helpful & eager to offer me coupons.
Karen says
Hi Holly,
Walgreens is THE BEST. I spent practically every break there when I worked in SF (I was within walking distance of THREE of them!). The one in the next town over (which is the closest one to me now) is great too. The salespeople are always so helpful.
You will love the scent of the body wash, by the way. Pink grapefruit is one of my favorites too. 🙂
Chelsea says
My new condo is like, a quarter mile from Walgreens, so I’m there ALL THE TIME. Love. I might try the body wash for my neck / upper back, which gets broken out.
Fancie says
I have a ton of new skincare products to try but I’m already eyeing that cleanser and those pads lol. I don’t really suffer from acne but I wear so much makeup now for work that it’s easy to get that pesky rash of small bumps everywhere. I’m already close to polishing off my Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Cream (which is amazing!) so I think I’m gonna give the cleanser and pads a try sometime soon too. Neutrogena’s skincare line seems to be pretty good so far
Katherine M says
I have also gotten the booty zits! I use the Clean and Clear treatment pads on them, and also benzoyl peroxide (10%) if they are particularly stubborn. I equate it to having good Italian olive oil skin. Sorry I’ve been MIA in the comments – I just moved a week ago and we finally got internet on Thursday. Still in kind of the same area, but in a beautiful split foyer with land and a lot of privacy. It’s a haven here! Hope all is well 🙂
Trudy Erickson says
I live in Arizona & it’s still 105! Zits and rashes are part of life here I’m afraid. Then insanely dry skin in winter. It’s high maintainence for us. A butt zit is nothing ? don’t feel bad….