http://query.nytimes.com/search/sitesearch?query=neutrogena&srchst=cse
After my last post I decided I would try and find a more respectable website that talked about the pros and cons of Neutrogena. Sadly, my search was unsuccessful yet again. I was looking through magazine websites, through newspaper websites, and on Google in general. The only websites I could find were chat websites where any one from of the street talks about their personal experiences with whatever product they decide to talk about. I decided those probably wouldn't be considered respectable.
When I looked at the New York Times website I thought surely I will find something about Neutrogena, and I did. However, the most recent articles were ones from years ago talking about how Neutrogena was being bought by Johnson & Johnson. I read through of the titles and looked at all of the dates hoping I would find some type of scandal that Neutrogena went through, but nothing!
Not only did I not find any type of juicy gossip, it turns out Neutrogena has even ended affiliations with other companies because THOSE companies were the shady ones. Neutrogena is once again respected in my book.
Even though I was kinda sad I didn't find any gossip. :)
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Pros and Cons of Neutrogena
http://www.theperformanceleader.com/neutrogena-review
I found this article that is a basic pro and con review of Neutrogena. It has a pretty good overview of the company and then also specific details about the products. The article is a little short for my liking, but it gets the main points across.
When I was reading "The Good" section of the article that talks about the pros of Neutrogena, I was sort of surprised when they were things that did not really have to do with the products themselves. There were only two in this section and they both talked about the company in a general sense. The fact that the company is well known and respected was a pro and the fact that Neutrogena offers a wide range of products. That was it. In my head, I was thinking "OK what else?"
"The Bad" section that talked about the cons was a little bit longer. These section also talked more specifically about the products themselves. For example the main drug in all of the Neutrogena products is called Retinol, which it goes on to explain as not a very powerful drug compared to other choices that they have to use.
I personally don't think this article is a good one to go off of, but it does cloud my judgement about the company because of what it says. I do not think it is good that Neutrogena is only known because they are well known and not for their products.
I found this article that is a basic pro and con review of Neutrogena. It has a pretty good overview of the company and then also specific details about the products. The article is a little short for my liking, but it gets the main points across.
When I was reading "The Good" section of the article that talks about the pros of Neutrogena, I was sort of surprised when they were things that did not really have to do with the products themselves. There were only two in this section and they both talked about the company in a general sense. The fact that the company is well known and respected was a pro and the fact that Neutrogena offers a wide range of products. That was it. In my head, I was thinking "OK what else?"
"The Bad" section that talked about the cons was a little bit longer. These section also talked more specifically about the products themselves. For example the main drug in all of the Neutrogena products is called Retinol, which it goes on to explain as not a very powerful drug compared to other choices that they have to use.
I personally don't think this article is a good one to go off of, but it does cloud my judgement about the company because of what it says. I do not think it is good that Neutrogena is only known because they are well known and not for their products.
Ooooh Vanessa...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sh6k9uFlVEQ&feature=related
I was watching television this morning when surprise surprise, a Neutrogena commercial came on! Of course being the good English student that I am, I stopped what I was doing and turned up the volume. I was not very happy with the end result.
I was assuming the commercial would be about some new type of "Wave" or some electronic thing that could actually make a difference for some one out there, but instead the commercial was about their latest face wash. What is wrong with that you ask? Well, the selling point for this particular face wash was not the fact that it killed pimples or fought future breakouts, but that it smelled like pink grapefruit. SERIOUSLY? That is what this world is coming to? Neutrogena has enough money to throw around to make a commercial about a product that is going to change the world because it smells delicious?!
You could say I was a little bit more than upset. I think this is completely ridiculous. I thought Neutrogena was going to show some serious respectable qualities with how the ran their company but now I am thinking twice.
How do they think that it is the best choice to make a commercial about a smelly good product? People today do not have the money for that type of luxury when it comes to face wash. When I go to Target to buy face wash I just want something that is going to work well, I do not care what it smells like! It isn't like it will be on my face all day any way, I wash it off when I am done!
I think Neutrogena needs to focus more on what they are selling rather than how they are selling it. Having Vanessa Hudgens in a commercial can not be cheap.
I was watching television this morning when surprise surprise, a Neutrogena commercial came on! Of course being the good English student that I am, I stopped what I was doing and turned up the volume. I was not very happy with the end result.
I was assuming the commercial would be about some new type of "Wave" or some electronic thing that could actually make a difference for some one out there, but instead the commercial was about their latest face wash. What is wrong with that you ask? Well, the selling point for this particular face wash was not the fact that it killed pimples or fought future breakouts, but that it smelled like pink grapefruit. SERIOUSLY? That is what this world is coming to? Neutrogena has enough money to throw around to make a commercial about a product that is going to change the world because it smells delicious?!
You could say I was a little bit more than upset. I think this is completely ridiculous. I thought Neutrogena was going to show some serious respectable qualities with how the ran their company but now I am thinking twice.
How do they think that it is the best choice to make a commercial about a smelly good product? People today do not have the money for that type of luxury when it comes to face wash. When I go to Target to buy face wash I just want something that is going to work well, I do not care what it smells like! It isn't like it will be on my face all day any way, I wash it off when I am done!
I think Neutrogena needs to focus more on what they are selling rather than how they are selling it. Having Vanessa Hudgens in a commercial can not be cheap.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Promising Perfection: a good idea or a bad one?
Neutrogena is not the only skin care company out there in this world. If you go to Walmart, there is an entire aisle dedicated to the hundreds of products that have been created. The tricky part is finding which one works best for you and your skin.
Each ad for these companies makes sometime of promise; either no more blackheads or stopping a pimple in its tracks. My question is, is it more beneficial to lie and get people to try your products if they don't actually work so no one buys the product again or is it more beneficial to not put on the perfection front and hope that customers stumble upon your product and become loyal consumers?
I think that most companies would go with the second choice, that having LOYAL consumers would be more important to them than having a fifteen minutes of fame type of product, but that is not the case in the world we live in. It has become part of the competition between companies to be the most popular even if it means not having products that actually work.
Personally, I am getting sick of all the drama with the fighting companies. I saw a commercial the other day that was so long I almost thought it was a paid program type deal, but boy was I wrong. This commercial had success stories, someone famous advertising for them, and they even bad mouthed another company; and not like most commercials where the company dances around the name of their competition, this particular commercial just came out and said "we are better than so and so". I was shocked but not surprised. I knew it would only be a matter of time really.
I felt like I should get a better understanding of the policies of Neutrogena so I did some googling and found their website dedicated to their policies. I was pleased to see that Neutrogena has a little bit more class than some of the other skin care companies out their.
http://www.neutrogena.com/econsumer/ntg/privacypolicy.view?segment=women
Each ad for these companies makes sometime of promise; either no more blackheads or stopping a pimple in its tracks. My question is, is it more beneficial to lie and get people to try your products if they don't actually work so no one buys the product again or is it more beneficial to not put on the perfection front and hope that customers stumble upon your product and become loyal consumers?
I think that most companies would go with the second choice, that having LOYAL consumers would be more important to them than having a fifteen minutes of fame type of product, but that is not the case in the world we live in. It has become part of the competition between companies to be the most popular even if it means not having products that actually work.
Personally, I am getting sick of all the drama with the fighting companies. I saw a commercial the other day that was so long I almost thought it was a paid program type deal, but boy was I wrong. This commercial had success stories, someone famous advertising for them, and they even bad mouthed another company; and not like most commercials where the company dances around the name of their competition, this particular commercial just came out and said "we are better than so and so". I was shocked but not surprised. I knew it would only be a matter of time really.
I felt like I should get a better understanding of the policies of Neutrogena so I did some googling and found their website dedicated to their policies. I was pleased to see that Neutrogena has a little bit more class than some of the other skin care companies out their.
http://www.neutrogena.com/econsumer/ntg/privacypolicy.view?segment=women
Can Makeup Really Do It All?
For my ethical argument, I have decided to take a look into the policies, products, and procedures of the famous company Neutrogena. The idea came to me when I was flipping through my monthly copy of Seventeen Magazine, which I plan to get rid of my subscription soon since I am now 19. But, I was looking through and I saw a basic Neutrogena ad and didn't even think twice to look at it for more than thirteen seconds, but when I started to notice a trend in the Neutrogena ads it made me do a double take.
How many of us have seen the commercials with Vanessa Hudgens on them promoting the latest Neutrogena products? I would say that any one who watches MTV, VH1, or really just television in general know what I am talking about. Well, Miss Hudgens is a favorite of Neutrogena's. She is in several of their ads.
I think that it is extremely interesting that they have someone famous in a majority of their ads, but it makes me question their motives. If their product really does give their customers perfect and clear skin then shouldn't that be promotion enough? Why is that they have to have someone that the young adult group can relate to? Hopefully, I will be proven wrong about my assumptions because Neutrogena has a clean image as of right now in my book, but I am learning more and more about their tricky ways.
How many of us have seen the commercials with Vanessa Hudgens on them promoting the latest Neutrogena products? I would say that any one who watches MTV, VH1, or really just television in general know what I am talking about. Well, Miss Hudgens is a favorite of Neutrogena's. She is in several of their ads.
I think that it is extremely interesting that they have someone famous in a majority of their ads, but it makes me question their motives. If their product really does give their customers perfect and clear skin then shouldn't that be promotion enough? Why is that they have to have someone that the young adult group can relate to? Hopefully, I will be proven wrong about my assumptions because Neutrogena has a clean image as of right now in my book, but I am learning more and more about their tricky ways.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
The Next Askjeeves.com
Remember askjeeves.com? The website where you could ask it any question and it came up with the answer almost EVERY time. Well I have found its replacement in my opinion. The website is www.about.com and I have recently become its biggest fan.
When doing my research for websites that will help get my friends more familiar with the stem cell research world, I stumbled upon this bad boy. The website alone holds answers to anything! You could literally learn "about" whatever you pleased! Since I found this web page I have used it for my French homework, for my random questions that I feel too silly to ask people, and for my stem cell research questions.
The article I thought did the best job of describing stem cell research to the untrained eye was the article about the pros and cons and the ethical approach; which goes perfectly with our class this semester! The pros and cons section really lays it out evenly for the reader. They can see the good side and the bad side, which like we have learned is important for debating any type of argument.
Here is my question to you; technically there are more pros than cons, but are the two essentially equal because of how heavy or serious the cons are? I asked myself this question and it really got me thinking that maybe the cons from stem cell research are actually more extreme than the pros, but then I wonder how that could be when in the end we would be saving lives and not destroying them.
I have decided to make my efforts of getting the information about stem cell research a process for my friends. I will start with the first website that describes all the different types of cells, we will call this step one. The article on about.com will be step 2 and the Do No Harm website will be step 3. I am choosing about.com for step 2, because now that my friends know what stem cell research is they need to come up with an educated decision about whether they agree or disagree with the research, which is where the pros and cons come in.
My new process also got me thinking of course, that maybe it isn't just college kids who are misinformed or not informed at all and maybe that is why there has been such a retaliation towards stem cell research.
I'm thinking about writing a book so everyone can experience my "process of becoming a stem cell expert".
http://biotech.about.com/od/bioethics/i/issuestemcells_2.htm
When doing my research for websites that will help get my friends more familiar with the stem cell research world, I stumbled upon this bad boy. The website alone holds answers to anything! You could literally learn "about" whatever you pleased! Since I found this web page I have used it for my French homework, for my random questions that I feel too silly to ask people, and for my stem cell research questions.
The article I thought did the best job of describing stem cell research to the untrained eye was the article about the pros and cons and the ethical approach; which goes perfectly with our class this semester! The pros and cons section really lays it out evenly for the reader. They can see the good side and the bad side, which like we have learned is important for debating any type of argument.
Here is my question to you; technically there are more pros than cons, but are the two essentially equal because of how heavy or serious the cons are? I asked myself this question and it really got me thinking that maybe the cons from stem cell research are actually more extreme than the pros, but then I wonder how that could be when in the end we would be saving lives and not destroying them.
I have decided to make my efforts of getting the information about stem cell research a process for my friends. I will start with the first website that describes all the different types of cells, we will call this step one. The article on about.com will be step 2 and the Do No Harm website will be step 3. I am choosing about.com for step 2, because now that my friends know what stem cell research is they need to come up with an educated decision about whether they agree or disagree with the research, which is where the pros and cons come in.
My new process also got me thinking of course, that maybe it isn't just college kids who are misinformed or not informed at all and maybe that is why there has been such a retaliation towards stem cell research.
I'm thinking about writing a book so everyone can experience my "process of becoming a stem cell expert".
http://biotech.about.com/od/bioethics/i/issuestemcells_2.htm
Do No Harm
I found a new website that I think might be my favorite for the time being, it is called Do No Harm: The Coalition of Americans for Research Ethics. One of the best things about it is the mission statement, "As to diseases, make a habit of two things-to help or to Do No Harm. Clever right?
I noticed that this website has a strong focus on how there are different ways to do stem cell research other than using the cells from embryos and what not. Which goes with the whole "Do No Harm" thing. I got the feeling that they were striving to help figure out different ways to go about this by being so public.
This website is like its own little news channel, but only for stem cell research! There is a "News" section a question section and a place where you can find other links about stem cell research too. I really liked this website and think that it would be a good one to share with my friends who don't know much about stem cell research. I think that it might need to wait until they get interested in it a little bit more though, because sadly it is not built for someone who knows nothing about stem cell research.
http://www.stemcellresearch.org/
I noticed that this website has a strong focus on how there are different ways to do stem cell research other than using the cells from embryos and what not. Which goes with the whole "Do No Harm" thing. I got the feeling that they were striving to help figure out different ways to go about this by being so public.
This website is like its own little news channel, but only for stem cell research! There is a "News" section a question section and a place where you can find other links about stem cell research too. I really liked this website and think that it would be a good one to share with my friends who don't know much about stem cell research. I think that it might need to wait until they get interested in it a little bit more though, because sadly it is not built for someone who knows nothing about stem cell research.
http://www.stemcellresearch.org/
My Efforts
Due to my recent disturbing understanding that no one my age really cares about stem cell research, I have decided to take this opportunity to really get the information about it out there. I have done quite a bit of research on it myself obviously, but maybe the problem causing people not to care is that they don't understand or haven't had the process explained to them.
I am going to start looking for several different resources that break down stem cell research. I am going to look at each article or website that I find as if I know nothing about stem cell research and see how well it "educates" me. I think that going back to the basics will be the best way to really get the information out there.
This first website I have found is a fun one because it isn't just one article describing it. Readers can explore a little, click on things that are interesting to them, while learning about stem cell research at the same time! I think this setup is a good starter, because it gives a chance for my fellow students to get lost in their own curiosity.
Here is some vocab that might make it a little easier to understand:
I am going to start looking for several different resources that break down stem cell research. I am going to look at each article or website that I find as if I know nothing about stem cell research and see how well it "educates" me. I think that going back to the basics will be the best way to really get the information out there.
This first website I have found is a fun one because it isn't just one article describing it. Readers can explore a little, click on things that are interesting to them, while learning about stem cell research at the same time! I think this setup is a good starter, because it gives a chance for my fellow students to get lost in their own curiosity.
Here is some vocab that might make it a little easier to understand:
- totipotent means the cell could become an entire individual
- pluripotent means that the cell could become almost any type of cell
- multipotent means that the cell has already begun some type of development so it is limited on what types of cells it could become
LINK:
Does Anyone Even Care?
Today I was having lunch with a couple of friends of mine and thought it would be beneficial to see what they all thought about Stem Cell Research. Here is what I found out; very few college students care about stem cell research.
My friends consisted of an artsy fartsy girl who likes musical theater, a couple of frat boys who are always wearing their polo hats and Sperrys, a sorority sister of mine who is an elementary education major, and another science nerd like myself who wants to be a nurse. Out of those five people all had heard about it, 3 actually knew what it entailed, and 1 new that they had just lifted the ban over the United States a couple of weeks ago. However, that was only because I personally had informed them on that.
Why is it that college students just do not seem to care very much about their economy or society? I know that is a very pessimistic thing of me to say, but it is true to an extent. I don't agree that everyone is like that, but clearly the majority is. College students are always said to be in their own little world called "campus", but what abou the world that in just a few short years we will have to face with our heads held high and our briefcases in our hands. How do any of the students at this school, or any school, expect to make it in life if they have no interest in what is going on now! Stem cell research is going to be a very long project so by the time we are out of college, we could be doing research for it even. Doesn't that mean anything to anyone but me?!
I found an interesting article about internships and college students dealing with the real world that really got me thinking about this expeirence for me.
http://www.collegeview.com/articles/CV/careers/getting_real.html
My friends consisted of an artsy fartsy girl who likes musical theater, a couple of frat boys who are always wearing their polo hats and Sperrys, a sorority sister of mine who is an elementary education major, and another science nerd like myself who wants to be a nurse. Out of those five people all had heard about it, 3 actually knew what it entailed, and 1 new that they had just lifted the ban over the United States a couple of weeks ago. However, that was only because I personally had informed them on that.
Why is it that college students just do not seem to care very much about their economy or society? I know that is a very pessimistic thing of me to say, but it is true to an extent. I don't agree that everyone is like that, but clearly the majority is. College students are always said to be in their own little world called "campus", but what abou the world that in just a few short years we will have to face with our heads held high and our briefcases in our hands. How do any of the students at this school, or any school, expect to make it in life if they have no interest in what is going on now! Stem cell research is going to be a very long project so by the time we are out of college, we could be doing research for it even. Doesn't that mean anything to anyone but me?!
I found an interesting article about internships and college students dealing with the real world that really got me thinking about this expeirence for me.
http://www.collegeview.com/articles/CV/careers/getting_real.html
Changing The World
Alright ladies and gentlemen, until April 23, 2009 there had been no major breakthroughs in stem cell research. However, scientists have finally made some major progess! And by major I do mean could change the world and could be the first step in the right direction.
Scientists have recently discovered a way to convert an adult cell BACK into a stem cell. Let me just explain this for all of you none science lovers: this means that these scientists took a developed cell, put it in an isolate environment and probably adding all different types of chemicals and mixtures which in the end converted it back into a stem cell meaning that one cell that had already been something once can now become whatever we want it to!! This is a HUGE deal.
This accomplishment means that instead of using embryonic stem cells doctors will be able to get cells from the actual patients themselves and create what they need! This means that a major kink in the system, about whether or not stem cell research is ethical and moral, can be eliminated and scientists can press on full force!
However, there are some complications. This is just the begining, nothing extreme will happen until scientists can answer the questions about what dangers they may face. Since the scientists did have to add all the different chemicals to convert it back into a stem cell there will have to be several tests conducted to see the reactions of those chemicals as they start to create things. Also, they will have to see how the different DNA changes will affect the patients and so forth. Of course this will take quite a bit of time, but that does not take away from how exciting this actually is!
Nobel Price any one?
Here is the link to the article:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090423132559.htm
Scientists have recently discovered a way to convert an adult cell BACK into a stem cell. Let me just explain this for all of you none science lovers: this means that these scientists took a developed cell, put it in an isolate environment and probably adding all different types of chemicals and mixtures which in the end converted it back into a stem cell meaning that one cell that had already been something once can now become whatever we want it to!! This is a HUGE deal.
This accomplishment means that instead of using embryonic stem cells doctors will be able to get cells from the actual patients themselves and create what they need! This means that a major kink in the system, about whether or not stem cell research is ethical and moral, can be eliminated and scientists can press on full force!
However, there are some complications. This is just the begining, nothing extreme will happen until scientists can answer the questions about what dangers they may face. Since the scientists did have to add all the different chemicals to convert it back into a stem cell there will have to be several tests conducted to see the reactions of those chemicals as they start to create things. Also, they will have to see how the different DNA changes will affect the patients and so forth. Of course this will take quite a bit of time, but that does not take away from how exciting this actually is!
Nobel Price any one?
Here is the link to the article:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090423132559.htm
Monday, May 4, 2009
Was That Guy Serious?
I have some good news! Well, good news for me at least because I agree with stem cell research and don't have a problem with it. So sorry if this offends you and you are not a believer in the research. BUT I recently heard that the bill that was planned to ban stem cell research from Oklahoma was not passed!
This is going to be such a turning point for Oklahoma! We have an amazing medical research center and we will finally be able to get some serious work done! I can not wait to see what all of the OU students and alumni come up with.
What if it is someone in our own state that is the one who actually creates the first organ or limb from embryonic stem cells?! How exciting would that be?
This is going to be such a turning point for Oklahoma! We have an amazing medical research center and we will finally be able to get some serious work done! I can not wait to see what all of the OU students and alumni come up with.
What if it is someone in our own state that is the one who actually creates the first organ or limb from embryonic stem cells?! How exciting would that be?
Stem Cell Research
My routine on Tuesday and Thursday always consists of me reading the OU paper. It is one of my personal favorite things to do, because I feel like it is written to relate to me personally. SO, imagine my surprise when a few weeks ago I see on the front page something about stem cell research. I was shocked and excited because I am very interested in stem cell research and thought it was going to be something new about OU doing research at the Health Science Campus, but was I wrong!
The article was about a bill that some represenatives in the Oklahoma Congress were trying to pass completely banning stem cell research in the state of Oklahoma! I was so upset. President Obama has just recently lifted the ban that was placed by the Bush administration a while back and it was finally our chance to actually do some serious research that could potential benefit so many people!
I was absolutely outraged. The represenative the paper interviewed said something along the lines as "If we can't protect our own unborn children, then we will never survive." I'm sorry, but after I read this I felt like this guy didn't even know what could come from being succesful with stem cell research. I was saying to myself, "does he realize is we could possibly cure hundreds of diseases that are killing people that are already alive?"
Needless to say, I am still a little bitter.
The article was about a bill that some represenatives in the Oklahoma Congress were trying to pass completely banning stem cell research in the state of Oklahoma! I was so upset. President Obama has just recently lifted the ban that was placed by the Bush administration a while back and it was finally our chance to actually do some serious research that could potential benefit so many people!
I was absolutely outraged. The represenative the paper interviewed said something along the lines as "If we can't protect our own unborn children, then we will never survive." I'm sorry, but after I read this I felt like this guy didn't even know what could come from being succesful with stem cell research. I was saying to myself, "does he realize is we could possibly cure hundreds of diseases that are killing people that are already alive?"
Needless to say, I am still a little bitter.
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