Alma Jones

Question: Does the L’Oreal Pure Zone Deep Purifying Gel really work?

Dr. Alma Jones says: Consumer life is riddled with questions and uncertainties. You might have once asked yourself, “Which anti-aging cream is better?” or perhaps “Which diet will work wonders for me?” And the misleading advertisements, meant to sucker you into buying their products, are no help.

I then made it a small personal mission to use what I have learned in my practice as a physician to help consumers choose wisely.

Recently, I have been studying the research done by L’Oreal. I have also personally been using the products. I have ventured into Neutrogena and Ponds as well.

L’Oreal Pure Zone Deep Purifying Gel comes from L’Oreal’s Pure Zone line, which is supposed to target acne and oil control. The Deep Purifying Gel is a facial wash which comes in a clear gel form. It does not lather much, but this does not mean it isn’t a good wash. (Do not make the habit of judging facial washes based on the amount of lather.)

To give you a lowdown on what L’Oreal Deep Purifying Gel claims to do, here are a few noteworthy points on the bottle:

• Isobacter Technology (Antibacterial action: salicylic acid)
• Deeply cleanses pores
• Purifying action
• 82% purer skin
• Tolerance dermatologically tested
• Non-comedogenic

What do these things mean?

1. Isobacter technology
   
   Loreal capitalizes on salicylic acid to give consumers better skin. Salicylic acid has known antibacterial properties.
2. Deeply cleanses pores
   
   This is their claim on the product. According to their own research (which, of course, I won’t be able to verify unless I launch my very own study series), this product deeply cleans pores. Remember that all research work done by this company is of course funded by the company itself, as is the case with most researches done for beauty products. Eventually, it will be up to us consumers to gauge the truth in these claims.
3. Purifying action
   
   Simply put, this product is supposed to give you a purer looking skin: less blemishes, less acne. I have used the product for over two years now and I have noted less breakouts. It is important for me to mention that I am also concurrently using topical prescription drugs to counter acne.
   I will give L’Oreal credit, though, because this product is really effective in reducing sebum production. The face is really noted to have less oil production during the entire day. With regular use, oil production is greatly reduced. Of course, I follow up with moisturizers (if you have overly dry skin, your body compensates by producing even more oil, so do NOT skimp out on moisturizing because it actually helps combat oiliness!) which I have chosen specifically for breakout-prone skin. (In a separate post, I will be divulging moisturizer secrets, especially for those with oily and acne-prone skin).
4. 82% purer skin
   
   This is according to their own (company-funded) research. A good research or study follows certain criteria: it should be placebo-controlled (a certain number of participants use a placebo, or a product with absolutely no effect), double blinded (both the participants and the study crew should be “blind”, or unaware, of which product is being used by whom), etc. I believe that their study is not double blinded, nor is it provided with a control or placebo group.
   The consequences of not having double-blinded or placebo-controlled studies is that since the participants know that they are using a product that’s supposed to make their skin look better, this knowledge may have a psychological impact. They may become biased and believe that their skin looks better, although there has been absolutely no improvement.
5. Tolerance dermatologically tested
   
   Nowhere in the bottle does it say that the product is hypoallergenic, and with good reason. There are people who are allergic to salicylic acid. There is a list of allergens that should NOT be included in a product for it to be labeled as hypoallergenic. Because this L’Oreal product has one of those allergens, it made do with saying that most people can tolerate the product.
6. Non-comedogenic
   Ah, yes, this is the winning claim. Any product you apply on your skin, if you are prone to breakouts or acne, must be non-comedogenic (meaning it does not cause pimples). Comedogenic products block pores, facilitating bacterial growth inside the pores. The result: pimples. This L’Oreal product is non-comedogenic, so it is ideal for those who have oily, acne-prone skin.

Okay, now that I’ve dissected what the product claims to do, I want to share what other things you should know about L’Oreal Purezone Deep Purifying Gel.

Read what L’Oreal Purezone Deep Purifying Gel can really do.