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What Kind of Scrubber Are You?

12 February, 2017 - 08:09pm by - First Lady | 16 Comments

Article by BR Amelia

Is there any part of your skin care routine as rewarding or refreshing as scrub day?  I love a good scrub - I can still remember the first one I used.  It was the St. Ives Apricot Scrub.

Anyone else remember this packaging?!

 It was also my mother's and during my first awful breakout spell she introduced me to a new skin care step.  Exfoliation.

For years it was a simple business, I'd use whatever facial scrub was on special and I'd scrub a couple of times a week.  Then I started to realise different scrubs acheived different things.  And boy oh boy were there a lot of different scrubs to choose from.  And then I started working for Beauty Review and a whole new scrub dimension opened, there were even scrubs without, erm, scrubby bits.  

Where's a girl to start?!

The Two Main Types of Scrub.

Mechanical exfoliation.  These types of exfoliators use an abrasive material to remove dead skin cells.  For products like body scrubs the abrasive material will be quite coarse - sugar or salt are common ones.

For facial scrubs more gentle methods like crushed nuts, kernals or shells are typically used.  The St Ives scrub range uses a mix of exfoliants across the range, from nice scrubby crushed walnut shell to hydrated silica, a mineral, - allowing you to choose the level of exfoliation you want.

You can also exfoliate your face or body using a brush, loofah, rough face cloth or sponge.

The key thing to remember with mechanical exfoliation is that to some degree, YOU control the harshness, so if you have sensitive skin you can massage more gently, as well as choosing a more gentle abrasive. 

Chemical Exfoliation.  A chemical exfoliant uses ingredients that effectively dissolve the dry, dead skin cells, leaving fresh new skin behind.  Those AHAs you've heard so much about?  Those are Alpha Hydroxy Acids, a common chemical exfoliant.  Fruit enzymes are another one.  St. Ives uses Salicylic Acid in two of their scrubs, a really effective ingredient if you're suffering from breakouts or acne.

How a face scrub differs from a body scrub.

We briefly touched on this earlier - but in a nutshell, body scrubs are going to contain much coarser exfoliating particles, making them far too rough for the delicate skin on your face.  Always look for a scrub that specifies it's for the face!

How often?

It depends on your skin type.  Generally, exfoliating 1-2 times a week is plenty to remove dead cells and keep your skin fresh, smooth and balanced.  Really oily, or thick skin could probably use an extra session or two a week.

Well which scrub is right for me?

I'm going to use the St. Ives range to give a quick guide of what ingredients to look for depending on your skin issue.  You can find the whole range of St. Ives scrubs easily at your local supermarket, The Warehouse, Farmers and Kmart - got to love an easy to find product that works for your skin!

Sensitive Skin - Look for a gentle mechanical exfoliant that you can control the depth of exfoliation.  The St. Ives Nourish and Smooth Srcub and Mask has their lowest exfoliation level, using Hydrated Silica and Walnut Shell powder to gently soften skin and smooth away dryness.  Oat Meal is a really soothing ingredient and awesome to have in a scrub.

Acne - If you suffer from acne you'll probably need a deep exfoliant to help slough away dry skin and balance the oilyness that comes with breakout-prone skin.  Look for a scrub like the St Ives Blemish Control  Scrub which contains Corn Kernel Meal and Crushed Walnut Shell powder for that much-needed deep exfoliation.  It also has some fantastic ingredients to help prevent blemishes and get that acne under control, including 2% Salicylic Acid.

Dull skin - if your skin is looking a bit dull and sallow, a scrub could really lift it out of it's funk!  I am personally a huge, huge fan of the St Ives Even and Bright Scrub.  It's a moderate exfoliant, containing Hydrated Silica to polish and buff your dull skin, and Pink Lemon extract and Mandarin peel - citrus ingredients that leave radiant and glowing skin behind.  

Blackheads - urgh.  Just urgh.  Another time to opt for a moderate mechanical exfoliant is when you want to clean out your clogged pores.  Using Hydrated Silica, the St. Ives Blackhead Clearing Scrub allows you to exfoliate while antioxidants in the Green Tea extract target blackheads, unclog pores and calm redness, promoting a smoother, more even skin tone.

Normal Skin - if your skin fits into the broad spectrum of normal (basically none of the above!) once or twice a week you could benefit from a deep exfoliation to reveal smooth skin.  Which brings us to the classic St. Ives Apricot Scrub.  Yes the one I used many, many moons ago.  A classic for a reason, the St Ives Fresh Skin Scrub is a beauty icon - combining Corn Kernel Meal and Crushed Walnut Shell powder for a truly refreshing scrub.

Any tips?

  • Always choose a scrub for your skin type.
  • Always scrub clean, wet skin.
  • Massage the scrub gently, if it feels uncomfortable you're going too hard!
  • Rinse really well, and always moisturise really well.
  • Be sure to use SPF after exfoliating.  (Use it daily, actually, but especially when you've just revealed gorgeous new skin!)
  • Scrub in the morning to wake yourself up!

So there we have it - my quick guide to facial scrubs - did you learn anything new?  How often do you usually exfoliate?  Do you opt for chemical or mechanical scrubs?  Do you pay attention to the ingredients?  

Come on, get chatting below, what kind of scrubber are you?

 

 

Comments

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12th June, 2017

I make my own body scrubs but for the face I highly recommend the Skin Food exfoliator its good should try it.

22nd February, 2017

I use exfoliant Mechanical exfoliation I have used the apricot scrubs above I love the natural microbeads or scrubbers. Most these days are plastic beads and the fish eat them then we eat the fish the plastic ones affect the marine life which is bad for the environment. I have also tried AHAS and BHA exfoliants.

18th February, 2017

Once I used antipodes reincarnation facial scrub cleanser I was sold. I couldn't believe the $40 price initially howe've after using it was totally sold!

18th February, 2017

I think I prefer a chemical one, I'm pretty sure I did some damage years ago with the physical scrubs due to lack of knowledge on my part.

15th February, 2017

I used a exfoliate scrub once a week. I have since stopped. I trailed a product and it has been doing amazing things for my skin. However. When it comes to a scrub my skin suffers from sensitivity, acne and blackheads. One scrub that could work with all 3 of those problem areas would be amazing.

14th February, 2017

Great, I've learned that I use 2 types of scrubs and that I'm probably scrubbing more than I should!! I have oily sensitive skin and I feel that I get more out of using both each week. I use the Skinfood Exfoliating Scrub most days and then the Murad AHA/BHA exfoliating cleanser once or twice a week.

13th February, 2017

I am a cautious scrubber. Will scrub the be jeebers off my body but try not to touch the face too much. I think that over zealous scrubbing when younger is what helped to exacerbate my sensitive skin. Back in the day we were told that tingling and burning meant that it was working.

13th February, 2017

I usually like mild scrubs and have tried some of the St Ives brand. I like the look of the scrub for dull skin.

13th February, 2017

I've been using a St Ives Scrub that contains both Almond nut powder and AHA's and it worked really well when used as a mask first before gently Exfoliating and massaging it off. Unfortunately it was discontinued a while ago, so I'm keen to try one of the ones above. I've also tried powdered exfoliators but I'm not really a fan, I prefer something in a creamy base that is less messy than trying to use a powder product (in a sachet) in the shower!

13th February, 2017

I've always loved st Ives scrubs. Haven't tried the different ones as normal I'm in a hurry and just grab one, normally the apricot one. Would like to try some of the others.

13th February, 2017

I've used that big tub of St. Ives years ago! I'm more a fan of chemical exfoliation, but then I do use my Foreo Luna every night and it does function like a light, gentle mechanical exfoliator. It's supposed be gentle enough for twice a day but honestly since I use wipes after I exercise and double cleanse in the evening with my Foreo, I keep things gentle with just a cream cleanser in the morning. I like to use a mud mask, or peel maybe two to three times a week.

13th February, 2017

I have a sensitive skin so have to be very careful with what I use and really appreciate when products come out in different grades which makes the choice so much easier and less of a problem.

13th February, 2017

I love Lush Scrubs they have nailed their formula. Feels gentle but still scrubby. That St Ives Blackhead scrub is the one I need. I get those badly.

12th February, 2017

I use a mechanical scrub which is St ives blemish control. I do a gentle scrub everyday otherwise my skin is mega dry and quite gross. I have sensitive skin and this scrub works great for me. I would love to try a chemical scrub as it sounds pretty awesome.

12th February, 2017

I've always gone for a more mechanical scrub, though one day I might try a chemical one. I do pay attention to the ingredients and if they suggest a skin type, what skin type. Personally I like quite a deep scrub.

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