For many years, I was an avid fan of Neutrogena Deep Clean Cream Cleanser, because it made my face feel nice and cool after I rinsed it off. Recently, I was shopping for a new face wash, and I decided to check out my old favorite, to see if I wanted to try it out again after many years of absence.

I find drug store versions of name brand skincare products to be pretty fascinating. Recently I saw some pretty bold anti-aging claims on two SPF 70 sunscreen options at CVS. One was from the name brand (Neutrogena), while the other was CVS’s generic version, under a very similar name (Age Defense rather than Neutrogena’s Age Shield). A shield is a type of defense, so I think this is pretty much a case where the marketing team looked up “shield” in the thesaurus when it…

At first glance, gel-based moisturizers seem like a virtuous choice for oily/combination skin. They tend to market themselves with appealing terms like oil-free, non-comedogenic, lightweight, and hydrating. But beneath that innocuous messaging lives a dark, untold truth…many of them contain fragrances and dyes, making them less than ideal for those of us with sensitive skin.