Question:
Does anyone know if this actually works? I've bought it, and it was only $12.95, and I used it before and my skin feels really nice and soft and clean (there's no moisturiser is on it as yet either, and it feels like there is), but I sort of expected some tingling or redness, as my skin is a bit red/slightly scarred as it is, and it says AHA and beta whatever you're not supposed to be exposed to the sun, etc, and I haven't, but it seems that it'd be more harsh on my skin were it going to work...
So now I'm scared it won't do anything. I was basically looking for a cleanser to make my skin more smooth and even toned...to actually get rid of old skin cells that seem to stubbornly cling to my face. (I find a lot of scrubs are either too harsh or too gentle and don't do anything)

Answer:
I've used the Pore Refining cleanser which is AHA/BHA, is that the one you mean Stevie 23? It has fine exfoliating beads and made my skin really super-soft and glowy.....
I used it along with RHO and I was getting compliments about my skin Hmmm, might have to go back to that combo again!

Answer:
Do you mean the Pore Refining Cleanser or the Skin Clearing Wash/Mask with Salicylic Acid? Plus there is the Blackhead Cleanser which has granules and IMO is a bit rought. I have used them all in the past and all are OK. For me the best was Skin Clearing Wash/Mask which I used with a cleansing loofah thingo - worked well.

Answer:
Mm. This one is the Pore Refining one. I've used the other one with Salicylic acid for a while, and although quite liked it, I thought more would come from using something with Salicylic acid, but...nah.
I don't actually think I need my pores refined, but I just wanted something with the AHA/BHA in it. I don't have blackheads (or none visible without the "help" of a magnifying mirror anyway), so wouldn't go for the granule cleanser one...
Does anyone know of any other sort of cheap or mid range cleanser that has AHA/BHA in it?
Also, does anyone know if using these too much can lead to permanent skin irritation, injury or redness? I want to avoid this obviously, since my skin is prone to slight redness already.

Answer:
For a chemical exfoliant to work effectively, it has to be in a sufficient enough concentration in a product base that has the correct pH level. If its concentration is too low, and/or the product's pH level is too low or high, then it will not be efficient as an exfoliant. I'm not sure if the Neutrogena cleanser satisfies these requirements.
In any case, the benefits of using an exfoliant in a cleanser would simply be washed down the drain as the cleanser would not be in contact with your skin long enough to make a real difference in the long term. There is also the possibility of the cleanser getting into your eyes and being an irritant. You'd be better off using a gentle cleanser and then following with a leave-on chemical exfoliant product.

Answer:
Yeah I'd try using a normal cleanser then following up with a Neostrata product such as the Ultra Smoothing Lotion.