I'm having serious exfoliation issues, people, and I need your help. My holy grail facial exfoliant, Rachel Perry Peach & Papaya Gentle Facial Scrub is just too darn expensive for me these days ($16), so I've been wasting money trying all sorts of less expensive products that seem to do anything BUT exfoliate.
Take for instance my latest purchase, Biore Pore Unclogging Scrub, which seemed like a good bet because it's popular enough to have its own generic drugstore copycats. WRONG! I don't know about you, but how can a product exfoliate when the beads are not densely packed in the carrier? The beads in this product are huge and spread so far apart from each other, it feels like you're just washing your face with a regular cleanser and every once in a while you feel ONE big ol' bead brush up against your cheek.
Now I can't say the Biore is all bad--it contains salicylic acid so it does help combat acne a bit, but I need a scrub that has the ability to physically buff away dead skin. Is that too much to ask from an exfoliant??
The reason I love the Rachel Perry product is that it's a densely packed paste. It's not a lotion, a cream or a liquid. The consistency is more like a slightly drier version of toothpaste, packed firmly into a tub. You scoop out a little bit, get it wet in the palm of your hand and within minutes those dead skin flakes are GONE. And there are no humongous, round, bubbly, useless beads--the scrubby particles in this product are very finely ground peach pits. And they WORK. Plus this stuff smells divine.
Another scrub I used to LOVE was Avon's ANEW Clinical Micro-Exfoliant but naturally, right after this became my go-to scrub, it was quickly discontinued. But this one was awesome because it was a thick paste and contained very fine crystal-like particles that really helped remove that dead skin layer.
So before I waste another $5, I'm looking to you, my dear readers, for a good recommendation! Help me out, would ya? If you can think of anything that fits my criteria below, please leave a comment on this post!
1) Must be inexpensive (under $10)
2) Must be thick (not runny)
3) Must have a high proportion of scrubby material (finely ground fruit pits, etc)
4) The scrubby material must be fine (no big ol' beads or huge chunks of walnut shells)
Thank you in advance for any product you can recommend. In fact, if you recommend something and it becomes my new holy grail exfoliant, I will send you a beauty-related surprise as my way of saying thank you. How's that?
I was going to recommend St. Ives' Apricot Scrub, which is my go-to and definitely buffs away dead skin, but it sounds like you want something with finer grains. They do have a newer scrub, the Microderm Abrasion from their Elements line, which has fine crystals but is definitely not as exfoliating, nor is it thick. Also, though I love Queen Helene's Honey 'n Oatmeal scrub for being the best smelling thing on the planet, it doesn't really hit your criteria except for fineness. (I haven't used it in a couple of years, though, so don't hold me to that.)
ReplyDeleteHrm, all I'm doing is telling you things that won't work. I'm sorry! All I can say is aim for ones that say "invigorating" rather than "gentle," but I'm sure you already knew that.
If all else fails and you can't find anything else, I would say give the St. Ives Apricot a try. It's kind of runny and not so finely ground, but it's got a whole lot of scrubbing whatchyacallems and I think it might get you the end result you want.
LOL, yeah, they Bioré one is a joke, really.
ReplyDeleteWell, I also thought about St. Ives (less than $5 USD). I use the medicated one (with salycilic acid), it works wonder one my skin. I use it about 2-3 times a week and do scrub my face doing very soft motions (hope that's the correct term). I have also used the Equate's version of it and it's quite good (less than $3 USD). I do have to mention some ladies consider it a bit too harsh.
Aveeno has a good one--Skin Brightening Daily Scrub($8 USD). It's softer than St. Ives, but I consider it's good enough too remove dead skin and daily use without harming the skin and causing the creation of more sebum.
In the mean time, another (and bit messier) option is adding sugar to your cleanser. Frankly, I use sugar mixed with olive oil as my lip scrub and love it.
HTH. Good luck!
I got it, I got it! Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Stress Control Power-Clear Scrub (phew...how's that for a long name)..I totally get you on the "traction" thing..I need a scrub that SCRUBS (but not too hard)....it's under $10 bucks and I loved,loved it (before I got my Clarisonic anyway...I know, I know). Hubby loved it too.
ReplyDeleteLeigh--you might win a prize simply for the amount of money you have just saved me on products that clearly will not work for me! Thank you SO much! I have tried the St Ives original and it was too runny, but that was a long time ago and maybe it's worth a revisit. I was curious about the scrub from the Elements line so thank you VERY much for letting me know that it definitely is not for me. As for the Queen Helene, I agree that it smells absolutely yummy but that one did nothing for me in terms of exfoliation. I will keep you posted if I give St. Ives another shot :) Thanks again!
ReplyDeleteHey Beda! Thanks for all the good advice. Since you and Leigh both mentioned St. Ives, I think it might be worth my while to revisit this product (I tried it several years ago and it didn't really work for me). Maybe they have reformulated it since then? Also, if the Aveeno scrub is softer than St. Ives, I'm scared it won't work for my dry patches? Great idea about adding sugar to an existing product! If all else fails, I think this will be the route for me. I'll keep you posted and thanks SO much :)
ReplyDeleteHey Josi! You totally nailed it: The word I was looking for was "traction". Thank you! You get it :) And since it seems you fully understand my needs, I must give that Neutrogena scrub a shot! I will report back ASAP and thanks so much. PS: How's that Clarisonic working for you?
ReplyDeleteThis may be too strong for you, but I use sea salt to scrub my face. I just add a little to my fingers with my regular face wash.
ReplyDeleteBaking soda is also a great scrub. Just add a little water to it and it becomes a paste.
Both are extremely cheap and effective.
Hi Amy! You know, I've read about women using fine sea salt and lemon juice (you form a paste with it) as a facial scrub. To me, that screams painful if you were to get it in your eyes. So I am loving your idea of adding a bit to your regular face wash. And I've always wanted to try the baking soda as well. And like you said, both are dirt cheap! Thanks so much for the info--it's great to hear from someone who actually uses sea salt and likes it. I don't think it will be too strong for me at all and if I can't find a drugstore product to suit my needs, I'm definitely trying this :)
ReplyDeleteI dont really have any suggestions because I dont currently exfoliate. But I did want to let you know that I've seen some Rachel Perry products at TJ Maxx/Marshall's before, so maybe you could find your scrub there!
ReplyDeleteHey Trisha! How thoughtful of you to take the time to tell me about the Rachel Perry products at TJ Maxx/Marshall's! You know, I do remember seeing some products at Marshalls a few weeks ago but sadly, no scrubs. But thank you for the reminder because I definitely should check again :)
ReplyDeleteYou're gonna have a tough time finding something under $10. I suggest the neutrogena wave, I know it's a little expensive but you get the wave and the pads. They really exfolliate your skin and leave it really soft. =)
ReplyDeleteBAKING SODA! sounds weird but it actually works nicely, especially if you have problematic skin or hormonal skin problems. I've also heard BROWN SUGAR helps as well. If you're in dire need of an exfoliant, use one of these and leave it on for a few minutes before washing off, to double as a mask~
ReplyDeleteHey Heartstarbolt! I know...it's asking a lot for under $10, but I've got a few recs now (thanks to these comments) that I'm going to check out so we'll see! Do you use the Wave? I see it all the time and I wonder if it's really worth the investment? Thanks! :)
ReplyDeleteHi 26thballad! OK, you're the second person to suggest baking soda so I am definitely going to give this a shot if I cannot find a drugstore product that works. Do you use brown sugar? I wonder if it's better than using white sugar? Thanks! :)
For the DIY route, baking soda, salt, or brown sugar mixed with your cleanser really do a great job!
ReplyDeletePersonally, I'm a big St. Ive's original formula-hater because the particles are big, sharp, and jagged - far too harsh for your delicate facial skin and pores. I can't recommend against using it enough!
The Aveeno scrub mentioned is great for daily use, but isn't extremely effective for tough dry patches and the like. However, it's a very good gentle, everyday scrub. It's quite runny, though, so it has a lot of slip on the skin. Not what you're looking for, I think (?).
I actually second the suggestion for a facial exfoliating tool such as the Neutrogena Wave or Clean & Clear Blackhead Eraser. Both are nearly identical, but the latter costs about $7 more. It's a little over your price range, but it will eliminate the need for a heavy duty facial scrub altogether and is less damaging to the skin. It's the closest thing we have to a Clarisonic on a budget, I think. :) Maybe give it some thought!
If I can think of anything else that fits your criteria, I'll let you know... sorry I can't help more!
Oh! And I forgot to mention that if you purchase the Wave at ULTA and use a $3.50 or %20 off coupon, it should be just under $10 or so! :)
ReplyDeleteArrgh. I hate "scrubs" that have beads or bubbles and don't, um...scrub. I usually go with the drug-store versions. They seem to work well, although right now I have Walgreens and it's a little disappointing. But CVS, Rite-Aid, Target, etc. usually serve me well.
ReplyDeleteHey JennBee! WOW, thank you for all the good info. After reading your description of the Aveeno, I don't think it will work for me. I was hoping that the St. Ives had changed since the last time I tried it (several years ago) but I don't think so, given your description. Maybe that's not a good choice after all. Thanks so much for the tip about the Wave--with the coupon at Ulta, how can I resist? :) I think that I will try the Neutrogena product that Josi suggested in the comment above, and if that doesn't work, I will try the DIY method until I can get an Ulta coupon! I'll definitely report back here about which one ends up working. Thanks again for being so thoughtful in your comment!
ReplyDeleteHey Meredithelaine! See, the Biore scrub that I mentioned in my post has a drugstore version, and that's what sold me on it but it ended up totally not working for me. Is there a particular drugstore scrub that you like a lot? If so, please let me know (and why you like it!). Thanks!!
ReplyDeleteBTW Yes I do use the wave, and I honestly do love it! The pads by themselves arent expensive either, and you get a month's supply I believe. I can't remember how much they cost right now but I think it is worth the small investment. I'm also gonna try Neutrogena's SkinID soon.
ReplyDeleteHi heartstarbolt! Thanks so much for the info on the Wave. I am super tempted to get one now, after hearing such good reviews. If I can't find a traditional scrub that works for me, I'm all over it :)
ReplyDeleteDon't laugh but try baking soda. Yep, regular old Arm & Hammer baking soda that costs roughly 2 cents (almost!) in the supermarket. Take about a tablespoon in your palm and mix it together with your favorite facial cleanser. Then, use it as you would any other exfoliant, rubbing it in in small circular motions. Then rinse well.
ReplyDeleteBaking soda can also be used as an excellent clarifier when mixed with a dollop of your shampoo. Trust me on this! I used to use Ojon (HUGE $$$$$) clarifying shampoo and it's got nothing on baking soda.
Hey Anon! WOW, you have totally convinced me that I must try this. I'm sold! :) Thank you! Also, adding it to shampoo as a clarifier?? That is genius! I'm trying that next and will report back!
ReplyDeleteI know this post was a long time ago, but I've been using the L'Oreal Go 360 Deep Cleaning set and it's great! It doesn't have scrubby particles in it, but it comes with a little pad with nubs on it that you put the wash on and then scrub your face with it and it works GREAT for me! Also, I believe it was about $7 or so at Target when I picked it up, but lately it's been on sale a lot! Worth checking out, I know a lot of people who use it and love it (including my boyfriend!).
ReplyDeleteI use two different exfoliants, depending on what I need. For a grainy exfoliant, I use C.Booth Green Apple Micro Dermabrasion Scrub. For a chemical exfoliant, I used Alba Pineapple Enzyme Facial Scrub.
ReplyDeleteI actually have a technique for the Alba- apply a thin layer like a mask and leave for 30 seconds to a minute, then massage it into your skin for a minute, then rinse. I get baby-soft skin every time! You can even use a little white sugar to make it grainier.
A couple times a week I just add some baking soda to my face wash in my palm. It works better than anything I've found. It feels really good and it's cheap. Try it! What do you have to lose?
ReplyDeleteHi Karen: this post might help explain why I no longer use baking soda as an exfoliator. Hope that helps!
ReplyDelete