I bought a 2-oz version of this at Ulta as a kind of impulsive buy at the checkout counter since it was a nice, travel-friendly size, I've always heard good things about Murad, and, hey, a little vitamin C can't be bad. I've tried many cleansers and this is the first that actually does something for my skin (which is pretty normal, but occasionally breaks out). Some cleansers wash off makeup but do nothing else and others do a little too much, stripping my skin of oils and leaving it taut and dry. This, however, cleansed gently and left my skin feeling softer, smoother, and clearer the next day. I can't vouch for it being an "environmental shield," or for any functional purpose of the little orange beads, but I like the way it left my skin and it's definitely a go-to when my skin breaks out. Since it helped so much with acne, I'm temped to try other products in the line, as well as Murad's line intended specifically for acne... I'll see how they compare!