Clean & Clear Deep Cleaning Astringent for Sensitive Skin Review

I know beauty products can't always smell like roses, but I'm pretty sure Clean & Clear tried to make their astringent smell bad.  Deep Cleaning Astringent for Sensitive Skin has a very strong medicinal smell that, coupled with the alcohol in the product, left my eyes watering.  That's not the worst of it.

As far as clearing up my skin, I am not impressed.  I have been using this product twice a day for nearly three months and all I have gotten is dry skin.  I am not convinced that alcohol in toners and astringents is a beneficial thing whatsoever . I have always struggled with oily skin and forever I thought using drying products [like astringents and alcohols] would help me.  I learned much later that the dryer my skin gets, the more oil it produces, so by three o'clock in the afternoon, I am having lovely "oily breakthroughs" and needing to powder my nose.  Clean & Clear's astringent did not help me with this issue.  In fact, it only made it worse.

Upon contact with my skin, it feels refreshing [despite the unpleasant fragrance].  I also like that the dirt removed by the product is visible on the cotton ball, which means it is cleaning relatively deeply.  On the other hand, it isn't good to strip your skin of all of its dirt and oil, otherwise it is left without any defenses against the elements.  Also over time, it does nothing to combat acne and only dries my skin more which contributes to extensive breakouts.  I have concerns about the blue dye in the product; why is it necessary?  I don't feel very happy about lathering my skin with harsh dyes [isn't it just psychologically better to clean with products that are clear in color?]

Overall, I have been unsatisfied with the Clean & Clear product line.  I have very sensitive skin, however, so perhaps these products work for people with more normal skin types.  Clean & Clear keeps luring me back with their low prices at the drugstore, but if I haven't learned my lesson about buying cheap products by now [I have Forever 21 clothes in my closet. Ick] then I guess I never will!   This Deep Cleaning Astringent for Sensitive Skin did not boost my confidence so I think I will be sticking with my tried and true face wash and toner.  

I wish all of you the best of luck in finding a product that works as I know how important clear skin is to everyone.  I wish manufacturers would stop toying with our images!