Jack & Hill: A Beauty Blog - make-up, cosmetics, perfume, and the substance of style

Aveeno Ultra-Calming Foaming Cleanser

For some reason, the switchover from Long's Drugstore to CVS means that those stores no longer carry my tried and true Clean and Clear cleanser and toner for sensitive skin. This was very inconvenient, especially as I was using the last of my travel-sized, self-decanted cleaner last week.

In desperation, I decided to try Aveeno Ultra-Calming Foaming Cleanser. I knew that a foaming cleanser might leave my skin feeling a bit tight, but I liked the "ultra-calming" claim. Plus, Aveeno has a solid reputation for living up to its claims to soothe skin. If I didn't buy it, I'd be washing my face with shower gel that night.

It was a risk worth taking. For less than $8, this product really does do what it says on the label. It's a real pleasure to use - light and somewhat creamy, but without the barrier cream effect of Cetaphil or Physician's Formula Gentle Cleansing Lotion (which contains mineral oil that just doesn't seem to rinse away).

I'm still going to keep looking for the Clean and Clear products, especially as the toner is now almost gone. Time to go treasure hunting online...

Washcloth Alternative: Aveeno Daily Cleansing Pads

I like using a wash cloth on my face, but only do so when I'm staying in a hotel, because I don't like reusing them more than once, and I am not temperamentally equipped to to fuss over laundering the damned things.

I am also a reluctant nightime face washer, especially in the evenings when I can become positively hydrophobic--the idea of all that splashing and dripping, the wet sleeves and hair, puts me off when all I want is to get cozy in bed with a book. So I like to keep a stock of no-rinse cleansing towlettes to handy. Normally I buy Oats Makeup Remover towlettes when I am at Trader Joe's, but yesterday I forgot them, so picked up a jar of Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Cleansing Pads from Target instead.

I was disappointed at first to discover that they are messy, foamy pads that require one to rinse, thus defeating my purpose. But in the shower, for the morning face wash, they turn out to be a superb, disposable washcloth-alternative. The pads are as substantial as a cloth, with a soft side and a slightly scrubby side, and they foam up something fierce despite being soap-free (ie, no sulfates). I grew so hypnotized scrubbing my face just now that I completely forgot to wash my hair.

Aveeno Eczema Care

I don't have eczema, but I know plenty of people who do, so this product grabbed my attention right away. (I was made aware of it by Aveeno's PR firm, which also supplied me with the products for this review.)

My stepmother suffers from eczema and is always on the lookout for products that will give her some relief. I mailed her the Aveeno Eczema Care Moisturizing Cream and Eczema Care Body Wash to see what she thought of them. Here's an excerpt from her email to me:

I didn't even know Aveeno made a product for eczema.  I started using Aveeno over a year ago and I like the regular product.  So I was thrilled to open it and see that they now make a product especially for me!  I started using it immediately and I like it very much.  It is creamy and yet not greasy, which is often a problem.  It didn't burn, another common problem. I'm very encouraged after just using it two times.  Many thanks from me and my dry skin.

This was a few weeks ago; I saw her shortly after and she was still happy with the products. I noticed during that visit that my father was showing symptoms of eczema, too, with red, blotchy skin around his nose. He'd complained a few months back of dry facial skin, so I'd supplied him with a moisturizer, but what I saw a fortnight ago made me encourage him to try the Aveeno products.

I spoke to my dad on Sunday night, and he said that he's been using these products and notices a big improvement. My stepmother is still singing their praises, too. So I'd recommend these even if you just suffer from parched winter skin. Even better, since several of my friends' children have been afflicted with eczema: These products are safe for use on babies as well as adults.