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4You Beauty Board Tests Face Wash

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 11, 2007

If you've given yourself a migraine wandering the drugstore for hours in search of the perfect beauty products, relax. Kick up your feet. All you need is 4You.

We've got some veteran testers onboard, ready to try the latest and greatest when it comes to all things beauty. We'll share what worked and what bombed in the hopes of making life a little easier.

This week: men's shaving cream. That's right. We had our men put their shaving cream/foam/gel to the test to see which made the cut and which fizzled out. Find out what worked for them.

Jack Black Pure Clean Daily Facial Cleanser with Aloe & Sage Leaf

"A unique 2-in-1 facial cleanser and toner that removes deep-down dirt and oil for clear, smooth, shave-ready skin."

Rating: A

Dennis says: I've never used a men's facial cleanser. Never used anything but bar soap, and Phisohex for acne way back in the '70s. I like this stuff. It makes my face feel smooth, firm and refreshed. Is it sucking up the bad stuff from beneath the surface, as advertised? I dunno. But I'd rather spend the money on this than on a shaving lotion. Jack Black's is billed as a shaving primer. It seems to penetrate the skin and do some good. Shaving lotion is just surface slick, gone with the blade. Two suggestions if you spend the money: 1) Lather up after it's on your face, not in your hands, or there won't be any, and 2) Keep your eyes closed. It hurts, like the label says. How manly.

Dennis Joyce, 51, is the Tribune's senior editor for Continuous News, helping guide the work of staff members who provide breaking news for TBO.com. He has a mustache and a beard along his jaw line, but shaves the rest of his face and neck — most weekdays, anyway.

Nivea for Men Energy

"Invigorating and effective deep cleansing that refines and brightens facial skin."

Rating: B

Anthony says: At first, I hated it. The cream is rough, so it feels like you're rubbing sand on your face. But after using it a couple of times, it didn't feel that bad, and the cream does a good job of flushing out pores that regular soap and water don't. I already have pretty smooth skin, so I didn't notice much of a difference. But I did the other things it promised — a cleaner face and, on groggy mornings, a bit of a pick-me-up.

Reporter Anthony McCartney, 28, covers Hillsborough County government for the Tribune. He's been shaving since middle school, when his Catholic school superiors got tired of staring at his peach fuzz.

Neutrogena Skin Clearing Face Wash

"This gentle formula cleans deep into pores to minimize breakouts and ingrown hairs while also improving skin clarity."

Rating: C

Anwar says: As a guy who thinks it would be better to cleanse your face with dish-washing liquid than bar soap, I looked forward to trying Neutrogena's face wash for men. The product claims to prevent breakouts, but two weeks into my usage, I suffered the worst pimple outbreak since my teenage years. I don't blame the product, but it did not help. I will say it does not dry out your skin or leave it oily, which is rare. You do need to couple this face wash with your favorite toner for maximum results. Neutrogena's product is good for men who need to upgrade from bar soap, but those pimples made me wish for Palmolive.

Anwar Richardson, 33, is a sports reporter at the Tribune. He uses various products to wash his face but needs a peppermint-flavored soap to wash out his sarcastic mouth.

Derek Jeter Driven Oil Control Face Wash

"Attacks oil to leave skin looking clear, clean and healthy. Penetrates pores to eliminate most blackheads and acne pimples. Refreshes with a tingly after-feel."

Rating: B-

Marty says: The stuff smells good. It does clean and refresh, though I must have missed the ''tingly after-feel'' part. I'd give this the edge over budget facial soap, but I'm not sure the difference in quality justifies the difference in price. In Jeter's world, call this a sharp single rather than a game-winning home run.

Marty Strasen, 40, is senior editor for entertainment for The Tampa Tribune and TBO.com. He began his career as a sports reporter and, thinking back to a spring training interview, does not recall Jeter smelling any better than other Major Leaguers.

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