Stridex • Maximum Strength Soft Touch Pads Alcohol Free (Red jar/box) • Treatments

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StupidUserNames on 4/28/2013 3:57:00 AM more reviews by StupidUserNames

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

I initially bought these for my milia outbreak I was having on my neck and it did help but I feel these were too gentle on the nasty milia so I stopped using them. Then one day one of my dogs developed ringworm and gave it to another one of my dogs and caught it from her too I was so desperate to get rid of the itchyness that I put put these on the ringworm and this really helped soothe the area and just dry up the ringworm fast and I got rid of it in about a week! If only I knew this sooner I'd probably would have avoided suffering with many ringworm infections that lasted months!

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csann on 3/4/2013 2:54:00 AM more reviews by csann

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Black    

I have dehydrated skin with oily t-zone. I bought this to help with my blackheads and it worked! I used to use clay masks (Queen Helene, Kiehls Rear Earth mask etc), while it helps to absorb the oils, and pore are minimized, it's effect was only temporary and the masks also makes my skin dehydrated. With this, I use half a pad at a time and only use it on my t-zone every other night. I've used this for 2 weeks now and is seeing a significant reduction on my blackheads. Because it's alcohol free, it does not dry out my skin. This will last me sometime, it's cheap and works great! This product does contain menthol, so beware if you are sensitive to menthol. I also use this to prevent razor burn as it contains almost the same ingredient as tendskin. Stridex is not sold from where I live, I ordered this from iherb.com. Use code FPK731 for $5 off your first time order (or $10 off for orders more than $40)

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*TOP REVIEWER* rainshine on 2/19/2013 2:30:00 PM more reviews by rainshine

Age: 56 & Over   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

HG staple for my combo-oily skin prone to breakouts. I use these every night. When I skip a night, I usually break out the next day. If my skin feels dry, I just wash with something milder instead, or use moisturizer after this. Now if they'd only bring back the Stridex PowerPads, my skin would be even better!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* Lomelindi on 2/19/2013 1:40:00 PM more reviews by Lomelindi

Age: 25-29   Skin: Oily, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Black    

After using about half of a tub of Stridex pads, I do believe in their effectiveness. They're also cheap (less than $5 for a tub of 50) and easy to find, so I highly recommend for people on a budget! Just to be clear, this product contains 2% salicylic acid, so it's a BHA (chemical exfoliant) product.


I first tried using the pads by cutting one in half and using half of it in the morning and the remainng half at night. This seemed to be less effective than using a whole pad just once each night (after I wash off my work makeup), so I recommend using it that way. The solution goes on the skin fairly painlessly, even on top of open pimples. Once it dries after a minute or two, it will leave your skin feeling tight, which is normal. I try to give it at least 5-8 minutes before putting on any moisturizer so that the BHA can do its work.


The results I've noticed from this are great. After about 2-3 weeks of consistent use, most of my acne was gone, save for an occasional one along my hairline or my chin (hormonal). It ate away at my cystic acne by drying them out over the course of a few days, so most of my cystic pimples never popped. It IS quite drying on open / scabbed-over pimples, so be sure to use moisturizer liberally because you'll probably notice some peeling around trouble spots the next day. One of the most dramatic effects the Stridex pads have had on my skin is that they made me less oily throughout the course of a day. I used to have to blot at around 12-2 PM, but after using these pads daily, I no longer have to blot. I'm still sort of combo and do get a little shiny, but I no longer look like a disco ball.


Overall, I don't think this is a miracle worker on acne since it didn't get rid of ALL my pimples and didn't seem to work on hormonal pimples, but it did clear up about 80% of my face. Remember, they are DRYING, so if you're more dry or normal skin, you might want to use every other day or occasionally instead of daily like me.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

Poqbum on 8/27/2012 12:42:00 AM more reviews by Poqbum

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

Seemed to make me break out less, and when I did get acne they quickly surfaced and easy to pop. I started using this every morning and every night but my skin started to flake.. right now I'm not going to use them for a few days until the flakiness goes away, then I may just try them once every other night.

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kushiez on 8/18/2012 5:48:00 PM more reviews by kushiez

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

These destroyedddddd my skin. Left my whole face full of redness, sensitivity, and huge pimples.

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*TOP REVIEWER* amyfarrahfowler on 8/18/2012 5:37:00 PM more reviews by amyfarrahfowler

Age: 44-55   Skin: Other, Tan, Warm   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

Glad I tried these, they're nice. I was afraid they would leave my face sticky or tacky but nope, they don't. The pads are a little bit on the super-wet side so I gently squeeze each one out into the tub. Then when I've used up the pads I lightly dip a cotton square into the liquid at the bottom. Glad I tried these, they're nice.
UPDATE: 12/26/2012 - I changed my rating from 5 to 3 as I discovered these leave my combination/oily skin feeling tight and unhappy. When I ran out I decided not to repurchase and instead go with ARCONA's Raspberry Clarifying pads. Yes the ARCONA's are expensive but they leave my face feeling balanced and happy... and they're not nearly as wet as the Stridex.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Klonophunk on 8/15/2012 5:38:00 PM more reviews by Klonophunk

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I developed a few whiteheads on my cheeks and got these after one of them turned into a pimple. These pads have cleared my whiteheads on my cheeks (no longer bumpy) and blackheads on the sides of my nose. They are great for the price. I don't really like the feeling of my skin after the liquid dries, and that's why I took one lippie off. They are a bit drying but it's worth it for the fact that it smoothed out my skin.
Hint: Store these upright at all times. The first time you open the package, get rid of the paper disc in the lid: mine grew mold when I wasn't more careful. I get rid of every paper disc in the lids of my Stridex now!

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kloud04 on 8/12/2012 5:32:00 PM more reviews by kloud04

Age: 25-29   Skin: Oily, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Hazel    

This is another wonderful product I would have never even looked at if it wasn't for MUA. I bought these for $2.45 at my local dollar store. They were 3.00 but had a .55 cent coupon. These have completely changed my skincare routine for the best. I love love love these pads. Let me start off by saying that I do not have really bad acne, just some clogged pores that were driving me nuts and a few had even turned into small pimples. I blame them on the awful summer humidity. I have been using these pads morning and night since 8/7. I am super oily so I feel like I can get away with using them twice a day. I use them instead of my Proactiv toner and already my clogged pores are gone and my skin is super smooth. These have also helped with a red mark from a past pimple ( i sometimes have a picking problem) I am probably one of the few people bothered by the scent of these pads. I have tried sooo many other stinky products far worse than these. They really do not smell that bad. The price cannot be beat, I am going to hoard these pads! I pray they do not ever discontinue!!! This so beats having to pay twenty dollars for toner from Proactiv every couple of months. I also plan on trying these on my feet like others have suggested. Never did I think I would be using the same product on my face and feet. lol TRY THESE PADS!!!!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

minervajulia on 7/14/2012 3:11:00 AM more reviews by minervajulia

Age: 44-55   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium, Cool   Hair: Grey, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

I appreciate that these pads are alcohol-free. My face felt nice and clean after using, without getting that greasy rebound that happens after using an alcohol-containing product. However, it didn't seem to help very much with controlling my break-outs, and it has a really strong fragrance that I don't like. So I've gone back to my more expensive (sigh) product.

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MorganAiden on 6/21/2012 9:12:00 AM more reviews by MorganAiden

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone, Dark   Hair: Brown, Curly, Coarse   Eyes: Black    

HG. I've been using these pads for at least the last 6/7 years. I don't use them daily anymore, but whenever my skin is misbehaving I reach for this. For me it works best when I use it at night after a mild exfoliation or after a steam facial. I wake up to baby smooth, *clear* skin everytime. Sometimes I stray bc I like to try new things but I always, always come back to this. If you do not have a sensitivity to salicylic acid and can incorporate this into a good skin care regimen your skin will glow.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* LilacShine9 on 5/3/2012 10:29:00 PM more reviews by LilacShine9

Age: 25-29   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

I've used this acne treatment on & of for years. The texture of it is a liquid in a jar with soft pads that are saturated. I feel like most of the time when used very sparingly, it's pretty effective and not harsh. I'm not big on the menthol because it's a detergent cleansing agent, which I've read shouldn't be left on the skin. Plus, it has Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, which I doubt is good for the skin.

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windowbird on 5/3/2012 10:04:00 PM more reviews by windowbird

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair, Warm   Hair: Blond, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Green    

I love these pads, but I don't use them on my face. I use them on my feet and they really help my dry, cracked skin there. They keep my legs soft and help get rid of ingrown hairs; they also got rid of the KP on the backs of my arms. I have bought these pads again and again and will continue to do so.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

MbMinx on 4/25/2012 12:14:00 PM more reviews by MbMinx

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Green    

I like these. I'm on my third tub of them with a backup in the closet. These pads are a convenient, inexpensive way to get BHA into my routine. I use them as toner in the morning after I wash my face. They don't have any alcohol and they don't sting and they don't dry my face out. I don't notice any film leftover and my face just feels fresh. Along with the rest of my routine, they keep my skin clear and free from blackheads and clogged pores. I don't notice big improvements to my skin...but I DO notice when I forget them for a few days. The menthol might bother some people, but it isn't an issue for me. Stridex pads are a great daily BHA treatment for me.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

electroTABBY on 1/21/2012 1:09:00 PM more reviews by electroTABBY

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Combination, Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Grey    

Wow I am so happy that I purchased this! Prior to buying these Stridex pads, I had been using Clearasil acne pads for years and that did keep my skin very clear up until this year, when it just wasn't working well anymore and I got huge random zits ONLY on my forehead. Whenever it cleared, two or three more huge pimples appeared in the same spots. I freaked out, stressed out, and that made the acne worse.

Ever since I purchased this 2 months ago, I have NOT broken out with any new acne. It's crazy! But I'm loving it. I can finally feel great when I leave my house, knowing I don't have to worry about my forehead.

I have combination skin so I have a few dry areas on my face but my t-zone tends to get oily and I find that this product has a perfect balance of drying out the acne. It doesn't leave my face stiff and sore, but it does remove the excess oil and it has a slight tingle. The slight burning only lasts a few seconds, it's not unbearable. I like that because I can really feel it working into my skin. It's still recommended to use a good moisturizer after using any skin cleaning products.

It's around the same price as Clearasil, and a very reasonable price because it works so well for me. It's definitely not expensive for the use value of it, there's quite a lot of product so you get the bang for your buck.

The packaging is a pretty standard twist-off container, and I have no problem with that. I think that's the best way to go with these.

Overall, my personal experience with these pads are 5 star, no issues! I HIGHLY recommend for those of you who have consistent breakouts.

6 out of 7 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* Banjos on 1/17/2012 4:22:00 AM more reviews by Banjos

Age: 56 & Over   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Blond, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Hazel    

After finally admitting to myself that Retin-A is just too harsh for my sensitive skin, I went looking for a 2% salicylic acid product without alcohol. This works very well and there is so much product in the jar that cutting the pad in half delivers more than enough. I like this better than Paula's BHA liquid or gel, and it is certainly much cheaper. However, I am having a difficult time finding the red box as Stridex has recently introduced two new product, neither with 2% concentration. Hope they are not foolish enough to discontinue this wonderful product. I also use an Rx topical antibiotic for the acne but it does nothing for blackheads.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

rachaelp on 1/12/2012 7:41:00 PM more reviews by rachaelp

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

These. Are. A. Godsend.
I've always had combo skin and occasionally break out, but for whatever reason, my face went crazy and seemingly overnight I had multiple bumps along my cheeks and around my chin. They were mostly small, pustule looking things. Anyway, I was devastated. While I was reading beauty blogs and getting serious skin envy over one blogger's complexion (blogger: nattyngeorge--I'm not affiliated in any way), I saw she used these. She had before and after pictures of her face and I was really surprised at the difference. I mean, these are kind of a throw back to those angsty, high school years, non? Plus, I remember them being pretty harsh,
The alcohol free formula is awesome. For me, they're not harsh at all. And those bumps? Gone within 3-4 DAYS. I kid you not. I tried Paula's Choice BHA in the past and it resulted in a few deep, scarring pimples. This BHA didn't cause any issues.
Also, they are easy on the wallet.
An all-around winner.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* shazzar on 1/3/2012 9:56:00 PM more reviews by shazzar

Age: 30-35   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Hazel    

I use this on my neck and chest in the evening and this keeps me perfectly clear, but it's too harsh to use on my face - too drying and irritating. It's also really good to use after shaving if you're prone to irritation or ingrown hairs. The pads are really soaked so I cut them in two so a box lasts forever. Highly recommended, just not for the face if you're sensitive or dry.
***
Update 08/12: After trying various other BHA's on my face I have come back to this and it's working great. When I used it in the past I was alternating in the pm with an AHA Toner which I now realise was the source of the irritation.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* Phanatical28 on 11/1/2011 2:52:00 PM more reviews by Phanatical28

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brown, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Green    

This product is AMAZING! I use it twice a day on areas where I'm prone to breaking out. It helps stop new blemishes while healing what's already broken out. I notice that on my skin at least it helps to fade redness as well. My skin cleared up noticeably within the first few days of using these pads. It also has not dried my skin out, although I have normal/oily skin and make sure to use moisturizer on all areas I treat. I switch to a heavier moisturizer in the colder months. The smell is definitely medicinal although not gag-inducing, and does not linger around once you've applied the solution. The pads themselves are very large and absolutely soaked through and through, assuring there is enough solution to cover large, even multiple, areas. The pads also have this cool little cut-out on one side to make them easier to remove from the jar. All this for only $3? A steal! I'm so, so thankful I've found these!

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Oasis93 on 10/27/2011 11:03:00 PM more reviews by Oasis93

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

These are fantastic for my skin. I have had problems with clogged pores on my cheeks, chin and forehead that would result in pimples. I got these and use them after washing my face every morning and every night. They have cleared up almost all my clogs and they dry up existing acne very well. I don't have those annoying bumps in between my eyebrows and acne scars fade quickly with this. My skin is looking great. Love this.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No