Neutrogena's Advances Solutions at Home MicroDermabrasion System How Well Does it Work?

Every morning I wake up to a new zit, it's annoying! I have used nightly zit banishing creams, lotions, and patches, and still I would wake up to a new growth. When I came across Neutrogena's Advances Solutions At Home MicroDermabrasion System for $30 I figured I may as well give it a try. Besides I have used creams that cost more.
I bought this kit at Costcos because it came with extra accessories. There is a smaller kit that can be found in Walmart or Target comes with Micro- Oxide Crystallized Cream. 2.6oz. A system applicator, 2 soft sponge heads, 2 AA batteries, and a stand to place the wand in when not in use.
Costco's larger kit came with 2 jars of cream and 4 sponge heads. You always get more when you buy at Costco, and in this case, I got more for the same price as a smaller kit.
Promise Taken From The Box:
(I read the box and figured that this was what I needed. If it worked, yay! If not, my loss. Sigh.)
Day 1: Immediately enhances surface cell turnover for visibly fresher, smoother, baby soft skin.
Week 1: Boosts skin clarity for visibly brighter skin that glows with youthful radiance.
Week 4: Diminishes the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and sun damage.
The system set up was a cinch, you simply clip one of the sponge heads onto the wand, insert the batteries, dip the sponge head into the micro cream, and dab it onto problem areas before turning the wand on and massaging the cream in.
There are only 2 settings on the wand, one setting is for a softer scrub, and the other one is for a deep scrubbing. After choosing a setting you simply massage the wand around on your face in slow circular motions.
I thought the high setting would irritate my skin, seeing how the cream is somewhat abrasive. At low speed though it felt like nothing was really happening, so I amped it up to high speed. All I felt was a slight tickling sensation. Basically it didn't hurt at all.
If you have sensitive skin though, I would test the low setting before jumping to the high one. You may also switch between settings as you are using the wand.
Use cream sparingly:
I realized I had applied too much cream to my face, and as I massaged it in a lot of it gathered to the sides of the sponge head resulting in the cream falling onto my shirt and floor. So to warn you all now, use only a small amount of the cream. Dab it lightly on your forehead, cheeks and chin. Huge globs of the cream just make huge messes.
The instructions say to massage your problem areas for 5 minutes.
I was confused by this direction, were they saying to massage each problem area for 5 minutes, or massage my entire face for 5 minutes? I choose to massage each individual problem area for 5 minutes, turning this exfoliation session into a 20 minute massage fest. It actually made my arm tired.
The last and final step is to rinse your face of with warm water, and pat dry. I figured once I rinsed off my face would be really red from the gritty cream, but after rinsing off it actually looked more like a slight beginning of a sun burn. It actually gave my face a healthy glowing appearance.
I was also supposed to rinse off the sponge applicator with warm water, they boldly state not to wash the sponge head with soap, and to let it air dry. I guess not following these directions could ruin the applicator.
HOW WAS IT?
It was exactly what the box promised, my skin felt brand new and baby soft. However this baby soft feeling was hiding a dirty little secret. The soft feeling was only present because it was greasy.
It was not a nasty dripping sticky greasy feeling, but I could surely feel something else coating my skin other than my very own baby soft skin. I feared that this greasy coating on my skin would make me break out in more pimples if I were to leave it on.
I let it slide, and figured I would have to wait and see for myself, but after about 4 hours I could no longer feel that baby soft skin, it felt like my regular skin again. So basically I had soft skin, that didn't even last till lunch time.
I didn't want to give up on the product just after one try though, like any beauty regime, it takes time to see a result. So I began following the Neutrogenas system schedule.
SCHEDULE:
It was the one thing I disliked about this kit. I have to follow a schedule written by Neutrogena. It is recommended that I use the kit for 5 days straight, every night, and then I am to skip a week. After skipping a week I should then use the system 3 times a week.
The whole schedule sounded easy, but I will admit to being annoyed for the most part . I would have liked to use it whenever I wanted to, but I know that if you don't follow the rules your outcome will be crap. Frigging rules!
After about 5-6 months of use, I sadly come to report that their was no long term effect. I followed the stupid schedule, and my skin is the same. The system leaves it soft for a few hours, and once the cream is completely absorbed, your skin goes back to feeling the same way it always had. Break outs also still made their grand entrance every other day. My pores were still the same size, my fine lines were still the same fine lines they ever were.
WARNINGS:
If you experience irritation or discomfort, use less frequently. If irritation continues, consult your dermatologist.
Hah! That would good to know if I actually had a freaking dermatolobolologist BLAH!!! How many people do you know out of a handful of 100 have a dermatologist? Most people these days are lucky to have a doctor.
Neutrogena also gives you a number to call in case something goes wrong. It's on the box. 1-877-399-2525. I bet they'll tell you to call a dermatologist, or discontinue use all together. What other advice could they possibly offer?
Ingredients found in the Micro- Oxide Crystallized Cream:
Micro-Oxide Crystallized Cream Contains: Aluminum Oxide, Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Safflower Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Wheat Germ Extract (Triticum Vulgare), Wheat Bran Extract (Triticum Vulgare), Lecithin, Cetyl Alcohol, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Phenoxyethanol, Retinyl Palmitate, Fragrance.
WHERE TO BUY IT:
You can buy it at Neutrogena's website www.Neutrogena.com or at any local drug store. I recommend picking it up at Costco's though, the price is cheaper, and you get more. However, the product sucks, but in case you don't want to take my word for it, go ahead and waste your money.
OVERALL:
The system does work; I'll give it that. However the glowing baby soft skin last for only about 4 hours, and does not show any long term permanent changes. My fine lines are still just as visible as they were when I bought the machine, and my pores are the exact same size as they ever were...I know; I've been studying this big one I have like a maniac!