{Summer Must Haves} Body Exfoliator!

One definite must have for summer is smooth, exfoliated skin, especially if you are going to sunless than. I do love a good body scrub, but I prefer chemical scrubs that exfoliate my skin but don't leave it feeling red and raw. This one from Being True, while expensive, does the trick!


So just what is an Energy Work Active Body Peel? It is an exfoliator, but instead of solely relying on abrasives to exfoliate, it also includes chemical exfoliates. This one in particular has beads that are filled with salicylic acid that burst when you rub them in and exfoliate really really well but without irritating skin.


While I know this stuff is expensive $42, you do get 8 oz, so should last you months and months. I've had mine for about three months and with weekly use I'm not even half way through the tub. Before you shell out $42 for it, check your local TJMaxx and Marshall's because I do believe I've seen Being True products there. I've only seen eye creams, but you never know!


Using a chemical peel (yikes, sounds dangerous, but don't get scared lol!) is a bit different from a regular scrub exfoliator. In this case you apply on dry skin, moisten a bit, rub in, and rinse off. I've been told that leaving it on for a couple minutes is ok, so I rub it in before I shower, brush my teeth or something and then rinse off in the shower.






The actual product is a gel that has little crystals and beads suspended in it. The beads contain the salicylic acid, so on top of a chemical exfoliation you are also getting a bit of mechanical exfoliation.

Now, this stuff is nowhere near as harsh or effective as the stuff your dermatologist, esthetician, or facialist would use, but I did notice immediately smoother and softer skin. I've also noticed that when I use this anywhere that I've gotten the odd pimple, after a few uses the scar looks a bit faded. I've also been using this before I get a spray tan, and I must say, the spray tan goes on a lot more even after I use this. If you've got a bit more money to shell out on a luxury product, this one is worth trying. If not, something like St. Ives Apricot Face scrub, although formulated for facial use, works like a charm as well, albeit not as gently!

I don't know of any retailers that sell Being True, but you can get in online from their website here!

Info:
Price: $42
Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Glycerin, Algae Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract*, Jojoba Esters (Beads), Mannitol, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Salicylic Acid, CI 77492, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Camellia Sinensis (White Tea) Leaf Extract*, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract*, Phenoxyethanol, Cucurbita Pepo (Pumpkin) Fruit Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Mentha Viridis (Spearmint) Leaf Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil, Cananga Odorata (Ylang Ylang) Flower Oil, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Ocimum Basilicum (Basil) Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens (Geranium) Flower Oil, Tocopherol (D-alpha), Tocotrienols, Humulus Lupulus (Hops) Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Allantoin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder*, Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Oil, Potassium Sorbate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Alcohol Denat., Carbomer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Tropolone, Sodium Hydroxide, Squalene, Phytosterol Complex.

{Review} St. Ives Warming Scrub

One thing that is essential for any time of the year is exfoliation. The rising trend of warming scrubs has really intrigued me because I can't seem to wrap my mind around getting heat on contact with water. I know, it's all in the chemicals, but it always boggles my mind haha! Although I don't really get much warming from this particular scrub, it does leave my face feeling very very smooth!


What separates this scrub from others is that it is not tested on animals or contain any animal ingredients, parabens, or phthalates. It is also made with natural exfoliates, but what the exfoliate actually is isn't listed on the packaging. Sucrose is listed as one of the ingredients, so it could be sugar, but that's just a guess.

I do like how Earth friendly St. Ives has become, but at the same time I've noticed that their products are getting more and more expensive as well. This scrub retails for $7.99. For a brand like St. Ives, that's a lot. I can get a scrub from Olay for around that much. They also have scrubs for around $10, which granted, isn't going to bankrupt me, but at the same time is a bit pricey for a drugstore brand.


Now onto the actual product. I like the dispenser, a simple squeeze tube with a generously sized opening. One thing I've noticed with warming scrubs is that they tend to be a bit thicker than regular scrubs, and they can be difficult to squeeze out. No such problem with this one.


The texture of the product is thicker than a normal scrub, but thinner than some of the other warming scrubs that I've tried. It is very densely packed with abrasives which are suspended in a foaming cleanser. I like that it's not a cream based scrub because those don't work well with my skin and I end up having to cleanse after as well. This scrub rinses clean without leaving any residue behind. This product does have a strong smell, for those with sensitive skin or noses. Oddly enough, it smells a bit like laundry detergent. Not bad, but strange in a facial product.

My only complaint about this product is that it doesn't really warm much. Getting the scrub to warm when I use it is very difficult. I have to apply it in just the right way, and even then the warmth lasts only a few seconds. I've tried warming scrubs from Olay and Aveeno and their warming scrubs give off at least 10 seconds of warmth. I know, that's not exactly a lot, but much better than this one. honestly, most times I just use this as a regular scrub because getting the warming action to work is just too much hassle.

The really good thing about this scrub, however, is that the abrasive is gentle. Although the cleanser is densely packed with little particles, they are not rough or scratchy like the particles in their Apricot Scrub are. If you're looking for a much gentler scrub, this one is a good choice. At around $8 it is a bit pricey for drugstore, but if you see it on sale definitely consider getting one!

Info:
Price: $7.99
Ingredients: PEG 8, Glycerin, Glycereth 18 Ethylhexanoate, Sucrose, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Glycereth 18, Glyceryl Caprylate, Jojoba Esters, Fragrance (Parfum), Cetyl Alcohol, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Red 30 Lake (CI 73360)

{Review} The Body Shop Tea Tree Blackhead Exfoliating Wash

If you remember from my Black Friday haul, I purchased a lot of stuff from The Body Shop, several items being from the tea tree oil line aimed at fighting acne. Tea tree oil is an essential oil that is naturally antimicrobial, so it can kill the bacteria that causes acne. Although it isn't as effective as other anti acne treatments such as salicylic acid or benzol peroxide, it has fewer side effects like burning, itching, or drying. If you have mild acne acne, this may be a great option for you!


I know a lot of people worry when they read that the abrasive in the exfoliate is a crushed apricot core, but this exfoliate doesn't have that much abrasive in it at all. It's nothing like the St. Ives Apricot Scrub which is packed with abrasive. This is much gentler and shouldn't irritate skin too much. Unless you have very sensitive skin there is no reason why you wouldn't be able to use this daily.


The packaging is just a simple squeeze tube.

The product:

As you can see it is a VERY BRIGHT shade of green. And those aren't beeds, they're all different sizes.


As you can see, there isn't a lot of abrasive in the scrub, so if you wanted to you could use this daily, unless you have very sensitive skin. I like it. It's not the greatest acne scrub, but it's not the worst. I like that it's gentile. I've used so many acne cleansers that completely strip the skin leaving it dry, tight, and red. I think this is more of a cleanser than a scrub, though, because it doesn't have very much abrasive in it and the exfoliation is at a minimum. As for clearing blackheads, it does get rid of some of them, but definitely not all. I've been using this for several weeks and while I do think it helps keep my acne under control, it hasn't gotten rid of all my blackheads. I do have fewer blackheads, so there is that. I like how it leaves the skin feeling very very clean but not stripped while still treating acne. That's the biggie for me with this one. It's not much of a scrub, but it is a great cleanser. And at $13 it's not priced unreasonably at all. I've paid a lot more for a cleanser that hasn't performed this well.

Pros:
-Good cleanser.
-Gently treats acne.
-Not too horrible price.
-Not harsh on skin like acids can be.

Cons:
-Not really a scrub.
-Not as effective at treating acne as stronger acids.

Info:

Price: $13

Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, Steareth-21, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether, Propanediol, Silica, Stearic Acid, Polysorbate 60, Palmitic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Seed Powder, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Panthenol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hydroxide, Myristic Acid, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract, Lauric Acid, Limonene, Leptospermum Petersonii (Lemon Tea Tree) Oil, Tocopherol, Caramel, Yellow 5, Blue 1.

Disclosure: The product featured in this post was purchased by me for the purpose of my personal use. If you have any questions about disclosure don't hesitate to ask in comments!

Review: Clean & Clear Warming Daily Pore Scrub

I know I've been doing a lot of skincare reviews lately, but that's only because I don't have any other pics taken/edited. Bear with me and I'll get some makeup soon, haha! Today's review is for a warming scrub. I've been curious about these types of products for a while, about how they work and if they are really more effective than normal cleansers/scrubs. I couldn't find anything about how they work but I am assuming it has to do with a reaction to air/water because they are sold in vacuum containers (no air inside). I know the pic above makes it seem as though I've been using this scrub for months, but really its only been a couple of weeks. You'll notice the same with Olay's warming scrub. I have to say that while I am a fan of warming scrubs in general, this one fell short.


First off, it is impossible to get it out of the tube! This is true for most of the warming scrubs I've tried including the ones from Olay and St. Ives. I don't know why the product has to be so thick, but it makes it very difficult to use.


Immediately after you squeeze it out it looks like the pic above.

Spread out:


Add water:


And more water:

I don't know how well you can see, but the crystals are very small and square, almost like sugar. When I first got the product dry on my hand I thought that it'd be very scrubby, but really when you dilute it it ends up much gentler. The heat really does help it clean better. I was skeptical at first because come on, just how hot could it get? Apparently, very hot. You can feel it getting hot in you hands. Thea heat does leave fairly quickly, though, so I think using a regular scrub after steaming your face would be more effective. I did notice that my skin was smoother and my pores were cleaner, but I still wouldn't recommend this product. Why, you may ask? Well, it leaves my face with a sticky/greasy film that is almost impossible to wash off. I swear, my face feels like I spread glue around on it after I use this product, no joke! My face felt sticky, like really sticky. And it too me about 3 washes with a scrubby brush (a facial one) to get rid of the stuff. As well as it works, I cannot recommend it to anyone as it's a pain to use. If you don't mind having to clean the residue off your face, then by all means try this. Otherwise, stay away.

Info:

Price: $5.99

Ingredients: Zeolite, Sucrose, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, PEG-8, Ethylene Propylene Styrene Copolymer, Steareth 2, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Polysorbate-20, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Fragrance, Butylene Ethylene Styrene Copolymer, Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol, Titanium Dioxide.

Disclosure: The product featured in this post was bought by me for the purpose of my personal use. If you have any further questions about disclosure, don't hesitate to ask in the comments.

Boots No. 7 Micro-Dermabrasion Exfoliator

Boots No. 7 is a brand that continues to surprise me. I'd walked past their displays at Target for years, never realizing how amazing some of their products really are. What got me interested in this product was the Mary Kay Microdermabrasion Set, a set of an exfoliant and renewal serum Unfortunately, the extremely small containers and a price tag of $55 turned me off! Now, Boot's skincare isn't that cheep either, or at least some of it isn't, but if you're lucky enough to have some coupons or get their products during a clearance, then you're set!

The product I bought is the Boots No. 7 Total Renewal Micro-Dermabrasion Exfoliator, and for $14.99 you get 2.5 oz. That may seem like a lot of money to pay for a drugstore brand, but compared to the MK set, you get more product for less. The MK exfoliator (you can buy the set or get the items separately) is $30 for only 2 oz. And, knowing just how much of a bargain hunter I am, I of course found the Boots version at a much cheaper price. Only $4.99! I have to say, though, that if I could only buy this at full price, I probably wouldn't.

Now, onto the actual product itself. The exfolatior is a cream cleanser with aluminum oxide micro-crystals that act as the abrasive. The crystals are actually a lot larger than I expected them to be. I've used the MK version, and the crystals in it were much finer and gentler. These were a bit larger and therefore rougher on my skin, though not as bad as the abrasive found in the St. Ives scrubs. However, based on the large size of the crystals, I would categorize this more as a scrub than a microdermabraser, but a good scrub at that.

First off, here it is on my dry skin:


Here it is spread:




Just to give you an idea on the size of the crystals, here's a closeup:


You can really see the texture and how large the crystals are. In the MK one, you can't even see individual crystals. It's uniform through out the cleanser it's added to.

Here it is after I ran some water over it and rubbed it a bit:


You can see that the cream cleanser the abrasive is added to is fairly thick, withstanding the water added. If found this to be both good and bad when I used it. It was good because it made my skin feel very moisturized. However, as I have oily skin, about half an hour after I washed my face (for the purpose of the review I didn't moisturizer right after) my skin felt very oily, giving me a very uncomfortable feeling, as though I was going to bed with a dirty face. As much as I don't like this aspect of the product, I do have to say that I am liking it in general because it left my skin feeling sooooooo soft! While it is a bit rougher than I'd like it to be, it leaves my skin feeling as soft as the MK version did. Now, just like the MK one, there is a complementing renewal serum/moisturizer, but I was disinclined to purchase it because it was $21, not something I was going to spend on a drugstore brand product. Overall, as an exfoliant it is excellent and I highly recommend it!

First image from Target.com.

Info:

Price: $14.99 (Retail)

Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Alumina, Glycerin, Paraffinum Liquidum (Mineral oil), Capric/Caprylic Triglycerides, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Petrolatum, PEG 100 Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Xanthan Gum, Tetrasodium EDTA

Disclosure: The product featured in this post was bought by me for the purpose of my personal use. If you have any further questions about disclosure, don't hesitate to ask in the comments.