The product didn't really do well with skin, left me with red patches & left my skin pretty dry. I think it's because my skin was super sensitive nevertheless, it seemed to work for everybody else around me.

Back in the time when I was in high school, I remember that cleanser was the first skin care product that I have ever bought. I had very oily skin at that time. And I was eager to clean it and keep pimples away as much as possible. However, hormones at that age played a big role in bringing more and more pimples to my face, ah! Therefore, from now and then, I had to visit my dermatologist.

My first cleanser was from Neutrogena. It was perfect for my oily skin, and it helped wash away oil and keep my skin shine-free.

By the time, my skin started to change from very oily to combination skin type, and my cheeks started to dry fast when using facial cleansers for oily skin. Therefore, I needed a product that can penetrate into my pores, dissolves oil and dirt, and still does not irritate the rest of my face.

One day, when I was visiting a local pharmacy, I asked the pharmacist for a gentle yet effective cleanser. She handed me a few products, and Garnier Pure Active 3 in 1 was one of them.

What got my attention first was that it is 3 in 1, and for a busy mom and blogger like me, that seemed a good choice. I also noticed a few ingredients that convinced me to buy it, including:

Salicylic acid, which is one of the most effective antibacterial & exfoliating agents as it helps to purify skin deeply, getting rid of excess sebum and dead cells.
Zinc, which helps reducing inflammation.
Clay, which is good for getting rid of extra sebum.

While Garnier official site describes this product as ” Pure genius“, I was not expecting a miracle, just looking for the clean skin!

Description on the official site states

“Garnier blends more of nature’s best in this triple-tasking solution for oily skin prone to imperfections. Proven effective in dermatologist tests, it’s enriched with active ingredients like natural clay and zinc to absorb oil and improve skin tone. Whether you use it daily as a wash and scrub or weekly as a mask, you’ll call it Pure genius!”

How do I use Garnier Pure Active 3 in 1?
The product has a light texture that dissolves easily in water when you wash it away. You can see the tiny blue particles in the picture below that makes this Garnier product suitable for scrubbing your face gently.

Garnier Pure Active 3 in 1 Wash-Scrub-Mask

Using it as a wash and a scrub can be misleading ( see the instructions in the photo below), since when you either wash or scrub your face you will massage using a circular motion. Either in using it as a wash or scrub, I wet my face with warm water to open the pores (I sometimes do that while I am in the shower since the steam will help open the pores). Then I apply a small amount to my whole face, massage gently for about 30 seconds, and then rinse with warm water and finish with cold water. I use it this way for 2-3 times a week.

I use Garnier Pure Active 3 in 1 as a mask once a week, I wet my face with warm water, apply Garnier Pure Active 3 in 1, use my fingers to massage in circular motion for few seconds and leave it on for around 3 minutes (less or more depending on the weather). Then I rinse with cool water.

Garnier Pure Active 3 in 1 instructions Wash-Scrub-Mask

What do I like about Garnier Pure Active 3 in 1?
No irritation; I have never encountered any skin problems due to using it, even when used on a daily basis. Sometimes my cheeks get a little bit dry after cleansing my face with Garnier Pure Active 3 in 1, but that is normal when you use an exfoliator, and the best solution ever; is always moisturize after exfoliation.
Gentle exfoliating agent, using pumice particles that are tiny have never irritated my skin. Yet, I avoid using it on a daily basis; I usually skip 2-3 times a week and use one of my DIY masks like yoghurt mask or green tea, mint and honey mask.
I need about half a teaspoon of Garnier Pure Active 3 in 1 to exfoliate my face and neck, so it lasts for a long time, and for R102,00 I believe it is a good bargain.
It feels very refreshing when you wash it away since it contains menthol. And I like that refreshing feeling afterwards.
My overall experience
Garnier Pure Active 3 in 1 helps eliminate excess oil, reduces pimples appearing on my face, and cleans my pores

I love this multi-tasking product - I've used it in all three ways and its STILL lasting me months!
Its a good mechanical exfoliator and I would definitely recommend.
I wouldn't repurchase because I've since moved on to chemical exfoliators but still a very nice product.
Check out my Instagram @Shmithi_Beauty or blog shmithi.co.za for more reviews.

This product works well on oily problematic skin. It minimizes blackheads and breakouts really well and when used as a mask it also absorbs excess oil on the skin.

I found it tends to be a bit harsh for daily usage so I mainly use it once a week as a mask and it leaves my skin with a more matte finish.

I used this product for a few months and I did like it - it helped keep my black heads at bay, and also kept my skin feeling smooth and bump free. After changing my skincare products to try something different I usually end up coming back to this product, because I know it works well. I especially love the mask and scrub, they really help to clear out your pores. I did find that I had to change my moisturizer though, as this product did dry my skin out quite a bit.

I just bought this product yesterday and used it last night as a scrub. I dont like to write a review so soon after not fully trying a product but I just had such a good experience that I had to mention how amazing I think this product is.

It smells amazing and the little balls in the scrub are just rough enough to give a gentle scrub. I have sensitive skin that goes very red if I use abusive products and this product just left my skin very clear and smooth.

I will be using this product to wash and remove my make up at night, and in the morning I wash my face with the Lipidol Cleansing Face Oil and I find these two just compliment each other so well. Im very excited to carry on using it and seeing its amazing results.

Overall impression – great for oily or combination skin (in case you don’t want to read the whole review).
I used it for about a week now as a face wash and it seems to dry my skin out a little bit (but then my skin is very sensitive and not very oily lately). I used to have combination skin, so I can see it working very well for that purpose. Just one BUT: I think it is a bit harsh for everyday use. It has small particles which help scrub your skin while you wash and I think that it could aggravate your skin if you insist on everyday use (unless you really like your skin being scrubbed and polished). However, for occasional use, it should work perfectly.
It also has a very nice, subtle smell (although slightly too sweet for my liking) and one of the ingredients is Salicylic Acid which is apparently great for problematic skin. Another great thing about it is that it really leaves your skin feeling clean and fresh. In my case, it also kept it that way for the rest of the day too. It furthermore helps to dry out pimples, which is always a bonus for oily skin. In terms of blackheads – I didn’t notice a big difference, but the white clay does help make them a bit less visible.
My rating - about 4 out of 5. For oily skin I think it could be 5/5.