Facial Scrubs 101

Have you ever looked in the mirror and thought “why am I wearing a dark mask and it’s not even Halloween?” It’s because you’re are not exfoliating that dead skin away! For those of you who think that exfoliating is SO not necessary and is just another way beauty companies try to rid you of your cash, the skin therapist in me can assure you that using facial scrubs are and always will be a necessary step in your at-home skin care regimen – I’ve seen the results many times over first-hand. 

Facial scrubs are beneficial to you for many reasons: they remove dead skin cells from the surface of the skin, they help to unclog pores, they stimulate blood flow which is more prevalent in mechanical exfoliation (the physical rubbing of dead skin off also known as gommage), they promote the growth of new skin cells (cell turnover) & they make your skin look brighter and feel smoother.

Women with dry skin should look for scrubs with a creamy base like L’Occitane’s Ultra Rich Face Scrub ($34, sephora.com) because it’s hydrating and gentle. It contains finely ground nutshells which help exfoliate dead skin cells and eliminate impurities and the creamy base is made with chestnut extract and 10 percent shea butter to maintain moisture.

Good for all skin types except sensitive skin, Bobbi Brown Buffing Grains for Face ($42, nordstrom.com) is made with non-abrasive Japanese adzuki bean powder which is good for removing dry surface patches and encourages new cell growth. These buffing grains are a great idea because you control how much of the grains you want in your exfoliator – just pour the grains onto your palm and add water.

Try Freeze 24-7 IceCrystals Anti-Aging Prep & Polish ($65, freeze247.com) if you have mature skin and you want to trade in blotchy skin for more even-toned, luminous skin in a matter of minutes. The jojoba massage beads improve blood flow and increase collagen & elastin production. Also use IceCrystals on your hands to help reduce age and sun spots. Check out the website for even more product benefits.