Aveeno Positively Radiant vs. Positively Ageless Cleansing Pads Review

I wrote a review on Aveeno Positively Radiant Cleansing Pads and said I really liked them and I do. Recently, I saw that Aveeno also sells a similar cleansing pad called Aveeno Positively Ageless. Since I'm 44 and want to be ageless, well not ageless but certainly not aged, I decided to try the Ageless pads to see if I liked them better than the Radiant pads.

I compared the two over the course of several weeks and I have a winner. A winner that surprised me!

You could go with this of you could go with that...

These pads are pre-moistened and both come in a plastic tub with 28 pads each. Both have plenty of cleansing solution in the tub and both pads are large. The Radiant ones are round, thick, and well over three inches in diameter. The Ageless pads are also round but have a small indent, I think so that you can get your finger in and pull one out easier. These pads are exactly three inches around, smaller than the Radiant ones by about a half of an inch. Both have a smooth and a textured side for gentle cleansing and exfoliation.

But there are differences.

Ingredients

Aveeno Positively Radiant Cleansing Pads are oil free. soap free, and hypoallergenic.  The main "active" ingredient in these pads is soy. Soy has been thought to aid skin in looking more radiant and to make skin glow.

Aveeno Positively Ageless Cleansing Pads are also soap free and oil free. They, too, are hypoallergenic. The main "active" ingredients in these pads are skin-conditioning cleansers and natural Shiitake complex. This mushroom complex supposedly makes aging skin appear younger. Aveeno claims that regular use of these pads will reduce fine lines and wrinkles and improve skin texture.

The Winner: Whichever ingredient you prefer. There is no clear winner or loser here.

Effectiveness

Radiant pads are super foamy, large, and clean deep down. They have a soft side and a textured scrubby side that very effectively exfoliates my skin. The cleanser removes makeup, dirt, oils, and anything else on the face. The cleanser rinses off well and leaves skin very fresh. I experience slight tightness on my face after using these pads. My skin is dry and tends to feel tight when I use deep cleansers. Still, after use, my skin glows and looks very fresh. The textured side of this pad is pretty harsh but I like that. I like to really get deep down and remove dead skin cells and oils that may be trapped in my pores and I feel these pads do that well.

Ageless pads are slightly smaller than the Radiant ones but still are large at three inches. They are slightly thinner pads and the textured side is less harsh. No matter how hard I scrub, I don't feel the same exfoliating proprieties as I do with the Radiant pads. The cleanser foams up well and removes makeup and dirt every bit as well as the Radiant pads. It rinses off with no residue. My face doesn't feel as tight after I use Ageless pads but it still feels slightly so. My skin looks clean and fresh after I use these pads. 

The Winner - Cleansing: Both

The Winner - Exfoliating: Aveeno Positively Radiant Cleansing Pads

The Winner - Gentleness: Aveeno Positively Ageless Cleansing Pads

Cost

The cost of these pads is similar but, at the three places online that I looked, Aveeno Positively Radiant Cleansing Pads were about .75 to $1.50 less expensive per tub than the Ageless pads for the same amount of pads.

The Winner: Exfoliating: Aveeno Positively Radiant Cleansing Pads

My Overall Preference

After using both types of pads and liking both quite a lot, when I go to buy the next tub of Aveeno Cleansing Pads, I will be buying Aveeno Positively Radiant Cleansing Pads. The reason for this is that I like the more textured pads and the way my skin glows after I use them. While the Ageless pads are certainly marketed more for my age range and are very good, I just like the results I get with the Radiant pads better. I don't see any difference in the reduction of fine lines when I use the Ageless pads or else I would stick with them exclusively.

I now alternate using these pads and I use other cleansers as well. I will continue using the Radiant pads but, if the Ageless ones go on sale or I can't get the Radiant pads, I have no issue using the Ageless pads. I only slightly prefer the Radiant pads.

I suggest that, if you have very sensitive skin, that you go with the Ageless pads or use either only on the untextured, soft side. If your skin is normal or even slightly sensitive, it really is a matter of how scrubby you like your pads and what ingredient you prefer: soy or Shiitake complex. You really can't go wrong with either cleansing pad. Cut them in half and get double the pads without losing any effectiveness! That's what I do!

Thanks for reading!

Patty