On a rotation with my favourite shower gel (Bath & Body Works Vanilla Bean Noel that I reviewed way back in 2010), for many years, I’ve been using the Neutrogena Body Clear Body Wash (Pink Grapefruit) because I love the refreshing scent first thing in the morning.

There have been some shower gels I’ve tried that smell too strongly of floral perfume or of the sea. I can’t get down with those. When I lather up, I always seem to gravitate toward scents that smell edible. 😉

This Neutrogena body wash is specially formulated to help those who have blemish-prone skin on their body. Even though I don’t, I still use it because the smell really wakes you up. Plus I like how it doesn’t leave behind any residue. (You know how some shower gels claim to moisturize, but then just leave a gross film of product on your skin? I really dislike that because it makes my skin feel dirty, even though I just stepped out of the shower.)

My favourite time to use the grapefruit Neutrogena Body Clear Body Wash is in the summer, especially when it’s humid. However, I still like using it in the winter because, as I’ve said, the fragrance really hooked me!

When my father was alive, I actually got him into this Neutrogena shower gel, too! He loved it for the same reasons I do: the scent and the clean-skin feeling.

Haha, if I can make a believer out of a man who was all about no frills, perhaps I can convince you to give this shower gel a shot! 😉

Neutrogena Body Clear Body Wash Pink Grapefruit Picture 

Neutrogena Body Clear Body Wash Pink Grapefruit Ingredients

Medicinal Ingredient: Salicylic Acid 2%

Non-Medicinal Ingredients: Acrylates Copolymer, Agar, Alumina, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Benzalkonium Chloride, Butylene Glycol, C12-15 Alkyl Lactate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan), Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Fruit Extract, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamidoproply PG-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Disodium EDTA, Glycerine, Iron Oxides, Mica, Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Parfum, Polyquaternium-7, Polysorbate 20, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Propylene Gycol, Red 30 Lake, Red 40, Sodium Benzotriazoyl Butylphenol Sulfonate, Sodium C14-16, Olefin Sulfonate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Titanium Dioxide, Violet 2, Water.

Claims: TRUSTED

• Refreshing (Yes)
• Clean-rinsing (Yes)
• Treats & helps prevent body breakouts (No idea, since I’m not using this for breakouts.)
• Won’t overdry (Yes)
• Smells like grapefruit (Yes)
• Oil-free (Yes)

Key Notes

• Name: Neutrogena Body Clear Body Wash Pink Grapefruit
• Products Available in the Collection: Body Wash, Face Wash & Cleansing Cloths
• Amount: 250 mL (8.5 fl. oz.)
• What I Paid: $5 CAD (I got it in a holiday value pack that included the body wash, face wash, and cleansing cloths for $15 CAD.)
• Where to Buy: Shoppers (this is where I got the value pack), Rexall, Loblaws & select grocery & drug stores

Neutrogena Body Clear Body Wash Pink Grapefruit Review

Fragrance

For me, the way a shower gel smells can be a deal breaker. If it smells powdery or too strongly of a floral perfume, it’s a no-go in my book. Also, it matters whether or not the scent lingers after you dry off or if the main scent is enjoyed in the shower.

I much prefer the fragrance to explode in the shower and not linger much afterwards, since I wear an eau de parfum on a daily basis and don’t want the scents to clash like the Titans. 😉

The first time I tried the Neutrogena grapefruit body wash, I remember being blown away by the strong burst of grapefruit. It’s a very natural smell, and it immediately reminded me of biting into a wedge of cold, fresh, juicy grapefruit. (It actually contains 100% naturally derived grapefruit extract!)

Haha, I’m not even the biggest fan of eating grapefruit, but the scent makes me drool! In the shower, when I smell this, I start to get hungry. No joke! (Don’t worry, I haven’t lost my marbles. I haven’t tasted this shower gel. I ain’t no freak! Just a polish freak.) 😉

The refreshing burst of citrus helps me wake up, and it also adds to the psychological feeling of being clean.

While the grapefruit scent is strong in the shower, I’m pleased to report that after you’ve dried off, you won’t really be able to smell it, so it shouldn’t clash with a perfume.

Efficacy

The second major selling point about this shower gel is that it rinses clean. You don’t feel like you have something sticky like residue on your skin.

My skin didn’t feel dried out after using this, but it also wasn’t moisturized. It just felt like it was clean.

There are tiny, round beads that help to exfoliate. They won’t scratch your skin, and you don’t really notice them when using a mesh sponge.

Ingredients

It’s nice that it’s oil-free, and those who are using it to clear up body breakouts, you’ll probably like how there’s 2% salicylic acid in the formulation.

I can’t comment on how great the salicylic acid works, since I don’t have body acne and breakouts.

Value

If you can find the 3-product value pack at Shoppers Drug Mart, I suggest you snatch it up, because at $15 CAD, it’s a great deal.

Normally, I’ve seen this shower gel go for anywhere between $8.99 – $10.99 CAD. For me, this is fairly pricey, since my beloved Bath & Body Works Vanilla Bean Noel cost way less than that (I stocked up when they had their after-Christmas sale!).

That being said, I still think that if you paid full price, it’s worth every penny, especially during the hot summer months. You’ll love it! But it’s also nice to use any time of year.

Triclosan

If you’re concerned about the use of Triclosan, you’ll want to steer clear of this product because I found it on the ingredient list.

Pros Smells exactly like a real, fresh, juicy grapefruit, when you bite into a wedge Doesn’t leave behind any gross residue Makes your skin feel clean Scent is the strongest in the shower & fades after, so it doesn’t compete with your perfume

Cons Fairly pricey, so try to get it on sale or in a value pack, if you can Contains Triclosan

Final Verdict: 10/10

The fact that I’ve been using this body wash in rotation for several years should speak volumes. I keep using it because the formula hasn’t changed, and hey, like they say, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

Do you use shower gels or bar soap? Is there a shower gel or bar soap that you’ve continued to use for years because it works? What is it?