From The Beauty Brains Forum Member: Karen
What’s pink and white and vibrates all over? If you’re Sarah Bellum, you probably have an X-rated answer. But if you said the Neutrogena Wave Power-Cleanser, then you may have discovered a fun and effective brand new gadget you can use to clean your face.
According to Neutrogena, it’s called the Wave because it’s “the next wave in cleansing.” Like the Clarisonic, this product is the next generation of washcloth. Information 
from its marketing company says it will “take your skincare routine to a new level” by sweeping away layers of dead skin cells. But do you really need to go to the next level? What’s wrong with simply washing your face to maintain healthy skin as you age?
Exfoliation Nation
To answer these questions, we have to talk about something today’s beauty-conscious woman thinks about as part of her personal skin care regimen that her mother probably didn’t. That something is exfoliation. Exfoliation, simply put, is the process of removing dead skin cells from the outer layer of your skin. That might sound harsh but exfoliation is actually a natural process of the body.
When you’re under thirty, your skin sheds its dead epidermis about every 25 days on its own. Once you hit 30, however, this process slows down. That’s not a good thing if your goal is beautiful skin. If that top layer of dead skin cells stays put for too long, your complexion may appear dull and uneven. It can also feel rough or dry to the touch.
Exfoliation is an important step in your cleansing routine to expose younger skin underneath. If you do it regularly, you can improve your skin’s texture and help stimulate the production of new cells and collagen. The shedding process also unclogs pores to prevent blemishes from forming and allows your skin care products to reach deeper into the epidermis for better results. Additionally, it provides a smoother surface for your foundation to glide evenly over your face. Simply put, if you want healthy and radiant skin, you need to exfoliate.
Scrub-a-dub-dub
But who should do your exfoliation? You have choices. You can go to an esthetician and pay for her professional services. You can also do it yourself at home using a microdermabrasion kit or a facial scrub. Putting your skin in the hands of an esthetician might be a safe choice but it’s also an expensive one.
On the other hand, do-it-yourself microdermabrasion kits can be intimidating if you don’t have the confidence or experience using them. I use facial scrubs, the simplest of the choices, but I’ll admit that I haven’t always had good results. That’s because my skin is prone to redness and excessive vascularity. My experience has been that if I apply too much pressure, my skin becomes red, blotchy, and hypersensitive. This is sometimes referred to as “Angry Face Syndrome,” and believe me, it’s nothing to smile about.
Love the Wave!
Recently, Neutrogena’s Wave Power-Cleanser with Deep Clean Foaming Pads came into my life. I’ve used it every night for one week and now I’m hooked. Here’s what I like about it:
- It delivers the perfect degree of gentle exfoliation that never damages my skin
- It’s fast and easy to use: I just attach a pre-dosed, single-use, textured pad to the top of it, run it under water, press the button, and glide it gently over my skin
- The gentle vibrating motion and tingly-cool foam gives my skin a nice, healthy glow rather than excessive redness
- My skin immediately feels softer and the dead skin cells that were problematic near my nose and chin are now gone
- It’s ultra light and comfortable to hold
- It can be used at a sink or in the shower
- It only takes up as much space as a bar of soap
- It’s been gentle enough for me to use every day
On the back of the box, Neutrogena says this device is clinically proven superior to manual cleansing in three ways:
- 100% of women showed significantly deeper pore cleansing from its penetrating cool foam
- Its massaging, vibrating action opens pores to remove dirt, oil, and makeup and stimulates the skin’s surface
- You’ll see immediate softer, smoother skin after just one use
While I can’t substantiate their claims, I did find the Wave to be one cool little gadget for consistent and gentle exfoliation with a click of the button. It requires a single AA battery included with the starter kit, as well as a two week supply of single-use, disposable cleansing pads. It comes in pink, turquoise, or apple-green color schemes. And the price? The starter kit sells for $12.99 and a 10-pack of refills pads is $7.49.
So now you know why I’m excited about my new pink and white vibrating gadget. Sarah Bellum, on the other hand, might have an entirely different story to tell you.
Have YOU caught the Wave? Or do you like the Clarisonic system better? Leave a comment and let us know. Or, you can start a thread and talk to Karen directly in the Beauty Brains Forum.
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Hi, I’ve read most of the comments about the neutrogena wave and I wanted to say on the NEUTROGENA WAVE website there’s a $2.00 off coupon AND there’s a $3.00 off coupon for the refills… !
I also saw on AMAZON.com that they sell a 30 pad refill for $19.97 and if you have it automatically filled you save an additioan 15%… With FREE shipping…
ok i am thinking of buying the wave. i am 13 and i have bad acne. i was wondering if the wave clears acne or does it just make the skin smoother? and i was reading the comments about the wave and people said thst it doesnt lather up good enough? is that true? well please respond! thanks.
i am 15 and i have it. it is not that great. it does not lather up. i tried it in the shower.. i tried it while washing my face over the sink too. I tried it on my wrist to see if i could get any lather and it was hopeless. I don’t think it has helped my acne at all ( i don’t have that much, but I do have some). I don’t think you should get it, however I do feel it made my skin a bit softer. It’s a waste of time, just get a nice face wash that you like.
Thanks to everyone for all the great feedback. I read all of this and went out and bought one after my husband went to bed! Anyway, I can only tell you a little, but my face looked and felt SO nice after just one use. My blackheads were almost invisible, and I thought that the minty smell was really refreshing. I can see why people would like to see more lather, but I really felt this was cleaning great without alot. Even when I was done with my face, I turned the pad over to the other side and did my neck and chest. And I think you should definitely go to Walmart to buy this stuff…starter kit was under $12 (I forgot to bring my $2 coupon) and the 30 refills was under $7, and that wasn’t even a sale price. You also get the $3 coupon on your refills, so SUPER CHEAP. It really shouldn’t cost much at all after your initial investment. Anyway, sorry so long, but I’m very excited. Also, I would have loved to have this as a teenager. I didn’t exfoliate back then because I thought it would make me oilier….NOT TRUE!
And a quick note for you grown-ups like me who still get those hormonal breakouts. There is a cheap RX drug called aldactone that decreases the testosterone in your body and it has been a miracle for me. Ask your Dr. about it.
Tried it last night….I really like it! It’s not outstanding or life-changing but a nice change. Love the scent! Living in a humid climate like S.C. and having oily skin, I found it refreshing and tingly. And hey, like I read on another website, if you bore of the face washing buzzer you could probably use the device for other stress relieving tasks…..Just thought I’d mention that…
Katie:
Other stress relieving tasks? Let me tell ya, it’s no Rabbit! lol
hey does your face get red and blotchy if you stop using the wave after like a couple weeks?
Hello,
So from reading everyones answers, it sounds like it might help out my acne a bit, and won’t make it worse. I’m going to try it out. I wanted to let you gals know that ALOE VERA works very well for dry facial skin. It doesn’t make me break out at all, and actually helps my acne a bit. Good Luck to you all.
is the NEUTROGENA WAVE just for women? or can men also use it?
i work at target and spotted the wave the other day there. i remember seeing a commercial a while ago, but forgot to investigate further. it seems like a good deal to me, and what’s $8 a month for refill pads anyway? that’s nothing, people! i went to neutrogena’s website where a $2 off coupon is available for the starter kit. also, they recommend using a facial moisturizer with spf after use. i tend to have dry skin, so i’m hoping that this will help. i’m planning on picking one up in the next few days, especially after all these good reviews!
hey im 13 and i dont have acne at all i just have a few little bumps on my forehead and a few blackheads. do you think this is a good product for me. my friend has it and she says it works. also what is a good mosturizer i could use?
actually its only $7.19 a month after you buy the kit (that comes with 2 weeks of pads) because each refill comes with 30 pads. And I think Lynette is a bit bias because of course she’d rather people buy expensive salon products, since she herself works at a salon.
I love this product sooooo much. Works better than proactiv for me, and it’s very much cheaper. I couldn’t be any happier with the new Wave.
i just bought the wave about 4 days ago im 17 ive never had bad acne maybe one or two small pimples around my period i love the wave my face is brighter everyone noticed that it glows it looks clean and fresh it feels so soft and smooth and its so easy to use its a great product i bought it at wal-mart for $13 with the 14pads and the refill there has 30pads and the new head for about $7 my skin is also very dry and flaky and the wave leaves it aoft but not oily like alot of cleansers ive used made it oily i think everyone should try it its great and i actually look forward to cleaning my face now
hey:)
i’m 15, and i currently use proactiv.
it worked ok but took a while to see effects, and it doesn’t clear my skin all the way, but it is better
my skin is pretty oily and i usually wash it twice a day
i want to try the wave, but i’m afraid it will make my acne worse, any suggestions?
i have VERY sensitive skin but i really want to try the wave. i have a few pimples on my face and a bumpy forehead but no acne. would the wave be a good product for me?
has anyone else had problems with the lack of foaming? i used water and got a watery mess. it did make my face soft and got rid of a few blackheads. will definatley use again!
Hey, I’m also thirteen and I want to try the wave, but that comment about your skin being red if you stop using it scared me!! I don’t have “acne” but I have tiny bumps on like the back sides of my cheeks, and I get like a couple small pimples each week. It is soo cute and I really want to try it though…
Neutrogena tests on animals. that really sucks of them. I don’t know if I’ll buy it now….that is sad!
All cosmetic companies directly or indirectly test on animals. The government gives them no choice.
Na-uh. I thought Avon, Revlon, Almay, MAC, The Body Shop, and most products from Bath & Body Works and Sephora don’t test on animals?
These companies are not any different than any others except that they don’t use raw materials that have already been tested on animals. Nearly everyone in the cosmetic industry says their products are not tested on animals. However, it’s misleading in that all the raw materials they use for their products HAVE been tested on animals. These companies figure since they didn’t directly do the testing, they can tell people they don’t test on animals. They are not lying because they don’t test on animals. They just get someone else to do their dirty work.
I just bought the wave today, and I’m very excited to use it. I have mild acne, but a lot of bumps under the skin and all over. Hopefully this product works for me as I am almost 19 and have tried everything else! Also, I have a combination skin type, and my skin has flared-up whenever I’ve used moisturizers in the past, but my skin is always dry after cleansing. Any suggestions?
As for George, I don’t see why men wouldn’t be able to use this. It’s a cleansing product just like everything else.
I used the wave for a week and a half. I can’t say that it made my skin extremely soft after the first use like some people have said. It did make it a little softer though. My little bumps (not quite noticeable pimples) did not disappear and actually they seemed to flare up slightly after using the wave. I’ve started this regimen from store bought products that I heard about on acne.org After about a week and a half I noticed a big difference in my acne. No new flare ups so far. The only change I did in the “regimen” was not put lotion on my face in the morning because it made my face to oily. I just use clear aloe vera that you would use on a sunburn in the morning to moisturize. If you have acne you should try the regimen, its working for me:-)
I am only about 13, and I love thiss product! No more dirt, clogged pores, or dead skin cells. It’s small and compact to, which for me is a plus!
I would defenitly recommend it!
hey guys.
i use the Wave and i’m only 12 but i have what they call “vanity acne.” which, from what i’ve hear from friends and the internet, is a few pimples on forehead and nose. but i still strive for perfection and i found the wave at target for only about 12 bucks, and it WORKS. if you look into other products and read reviews you won’t find anything as good as the Wave! cleared me up in a week or less. as for lathering, you know what i do? i clean for about a minute with the pad then flip it over and reveal an even cleaner, more soapy side. with is i use another gentle scrub daily neutrogena cleaner and an acne cream and acne-preventing concealer and i’m pimple free.
Responding to lynette as far as the cost of the product per month, I actually just bought the wave last night and a pack of 30 pads was about 6 dollars, so it’s not much at all once you’ve actually bought the wave itself.
Hello everybody! I am a dermatologist and I was reading a few posts about acne “flare ups” after using the wave. This is because you have dirt and oil trapped deep down in your pores and the wave stirs everything up. The acne should be gone in a few days. It is also a good idea to use a light moisturizer after using the wave( or any other product) as having a dry face will cause your skin to produce MORE oil, so moisturizer is your friend! I would recommend the wave to almost anyone, unless your acne is VERY severe or your skin is extremely sensitive. In which case you should consult your dermatologist. Also, I use the wave and I love it!
i know that the pads have sodium laureth sulfate which is really bad for you and your skin. does anyone have any side effects from this chemical found on the pads?
you may have seen my comment above about wanting to try the wave
well i did.
i just used it for the first time
and omg wow i love it already!!!!
i can already tell it’s starting clear up my black heads, it is super gentle and my skin is already so soft
i used to use proactiv, but it stopped working after about 5 monthes, (aparantly you immune system can become immuned to it?!)
and i’m not going back
so if your not sure, try the wave
it’s wayyyy cheaper than proactiv (that was $50 every 2 months!)
hahaha the wave makes me not want to put on my make up:) lol
AMAZING! Seriously this leaves your skin clean (like you can not believe)! I have a soft face to start with but this leaves it only believable soft, smooth and clean. I would recommened to anyone to spend the money. It cost me $12 and is worth it!!!
I love the wave. I cant find the refills for them. its been a month and i still cant find them. I have been to like 6 stores. Can someone tell me whats going on I want to use my wave again bad.
Hey, so i’ve been using the wave for about 2 months now, and i love it!
only problem is, it stoppped working, changed the batteries, tried everything… i think its cuz water got into it… thats just weird cuz isnt this thing supposed to be waterproof? has this happened to anyone?
thnx
Raine.
i dont use it that much, but when i do, my skin is so smoohth. so that you don’t waste the pads, flip it over so you can get two uses out of one pad.
I just bought this product today and I will say that it has it’s ups and downs. I used it and the soap wasn’t released for a while, it was sort of just a thin film at first, but I rinsed it off and it felt very nice and tingly. I will say that it sort of burned though. I’m not sure why, but maybe it’s because of my sensitive skin or something else. It felt good for 2 minutes and then I started noticing that my skin was becoming dried out. It dried out, but it wasn’t like…turning the skin white or killing cells like usual dry skin does. Over all, I’d give this problem a 4.5/5 It’s good for clearing acne and I’ve been rubbing my face for an hour now SO SOFT!!!
i gave no idea what people are talking about the wave is 10 0r 11 dollars and comes with a 2 week supply of pads and a 30 day refill is only 6 or 7 dollars not 21 or 30 or whateva other people are saying
well i just bought the wave today and im gonna try it. sorta nervous cuz it mite not work and it means i wasted $12 on it! but u never know, ill get back to u guys when i try it ;]
i <3 this thing!! n the pads arent all that expensive here in tx. they cost like 7 dollars. ive been using this for 4 months now!
I have been using the Wave once a day in the shower, and along with my skincare products, my skin has never looked better (I am 58)! The pads here are $7.99 for a 30-day supply, but with the $3.00 coupon on the website, cost $4.99. I think this is a cheap price to pay for the results I am seeing!
This is so cool! I just bought it today…and used it like 15 minutes ago…my skin is sooooo soft! I hope it takes care of the acne…cause otherwise my mom is gonna be really mad that she wasted all that money on it…
I’m glad that it has worked for most of you ladies, but I don’t know if you’re posting this after your first time using it or if you’ve used it for a while. For me, my skin felt amazing the first time I used it so I started using it every night before bed. I have NEVER had dry skin and used to have acne…a week later I had a little dry patch on my chin, and the next day my entire nose and chin were dry and peeling and looked as if I had a sunburn. Had to buy a $50 moisturizer to repair the damage. Be cautious! I would never give this product to my best friend because of the damage it has done.
I’ve Heard a lot od things about the neutrogena wave. But i would like to know it help get rid of white spots on the face, because i have some. Reply if you know anything.
THANKS!
i just bought the wave a couple days ago and it is doing wonders! my skin is so soft and raidiant and i love it. defiatley an A plus. and it would only cost 6 dollars a month because that is how much the refils are and there are about 30 days in a month. i dont see how you get $21.
hey wow you got me so so so pumped to try the wave im gonna get it tomarrow and i cant wait see i have like 7 little bumps on my forhead 100000 on my chin and like 6 on my cheek and ive used like oxy and clean and clear face washes and the first 2 weeks it seemed to work but then it took a turn for the worst and acuatly made me break out worse so never use clean and clear and oxy. thanks for listening and but i might be wronge about the washes… but i hope this product will help get rid of my little bumps and some dry skin!
Miranda
oh and before i forget ill get back to yall!
Miranda
hi, i was wondering if the wave would be good 4 me… I’m 11 and I have some pimples and bumps on my face. I’ve heard good thing and bad things about the wave. Should I use it or not?
puh-leez tell me! I’m begging you!!!
Marie
Marie,
You could try the wave. There really shouldn’t be a problem and it might work for you. However, you should try a store brand product like Clearasil first. It may be just as effective.
good luck!
To save on the pads, I just flip the pad around to the other side and get a second use out of it before I toss it…
The first time I bought the wave starter kit I loved it and it worked for about 2 or 3 months. I used it over the sink for about a month and then started using it in the shower everyday. Then, the wave stopped working, not on my face but it physically would not vibrate anymore. So i bought another starter kit and this time it stopped working after a month. It’s very disappointing because it did wonders for my skin but it should not quit working after such a short period of time. Has anyone else has these issues??
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