Neutrogena Clear & Defend: Facial Scrub vs Wash Mask

As much as I dislike pitting two really great face washes against each other, sometimes a decision must be made. I would like to make it clear from the outset that I really do think highly of both of these products, as with most cleansers it just depends what you're looking for in your wash. Unfortunately for the Scrub, I'm team Wash Mask but I'll discuss the benefits of both and then tell you why I'm rooting for Mask over Scrub.

The battle between Scrub and Mask symbolises the age-old conflict between exfoliators everywhere: is it physical of chemical? And which is best for me? Anyone with acne-prone skin like myself will want to do all they can to help all those fancy (and often expensive) anti-acne products to work. For this, exfoliation is key. It helps to make room on your face so the good stuff can get to work on your skin as well as getting deeper than the ordinary cleanser to reach and purify more than just the top layer of your skin. Although not necessarily marketed as exfoliators, both of these cleansers do perform that oh so essential function which of course can only be seen as a positive.

During the creation of my skin-care routine, many products, combinations and elements have been used to make my process what it is today. Despite this and somehow throughout the changing routines, exfoliation always seems to have been left behind. I assumed that as an acne sufferer, exfoliation just wasn't for me. I thought it would be too harsh or too irritating or too stripping. Just too spot-provoking for my liking. Most of the time however, it is knowing your own skin that means picking the right exfoliant will not worsen the skin condition but instead, enhance the clearing process. This means that bearing in mind whether your skin type is dry, oily or a bit of both can really help to influence which kind of exfoliation is best suited to you.

Of course, as with every product you put on your face, the less irritating the better. In my experience physical exfoliators, so cleansers with beads or exfoliating purpose flannels, tend to cause my skin to flare up and existing blemishes to worsen. This may be down to the fact that I have sensitive skin or just simply a case of my acne not liking the coarse treatment this method can provide. Either way, for me, chemical exfoliators were the way forward, and this is where Neutrogena's wash mask comes in. Firstly, one thing I love about it is that you're getting a two-for-one! A relaxing face mask is always a gratefully appreciated step in a routine, especially when you know it's really doing you some good. More than this of course, it is a beautiful face cleanser that feels creamy and purifying, something that is an added bonus. For me, exfoliation is not an everyday thing which means that as I am using the product as a simple cleanser half of the time, it being as great as it is feels really good! The Wash-Mask is a great example of a salicylic acid containing chemical exfoliator that really feels as if it is getting to the deep rooted causes of my acne in a way that is not over-harsh or exposing.

A point of praise I can offer for the Scrub is that in comparison to other physical exfoliators, it didn't appear to cause many of the classic affects of the typical physical exfoliator. In fact, it held no short term negative consequences for my skin, just that it didn't hold any positive ones either. This is why, if unlike me, sensitive skin is not an issue, this may be the exfoliant for you!

Whether you opt for the Scrub or the Wash-Mask, Neutrogena is always a positive brand for acne-prone people. It's developed with dermatologists and in my opinion, the Clear and Defend Wash-Mask is a must have exfoliating cleanser in the skin-care routine toolkit.