5 Best Exfoliators For Your Face
By Kristen Dold
Plastic microbeads (those perfectly spherical little balls in your body wash, tooth paste, and yes, facial scrub) are officially on the outs, now that we know they’re traveling down our sinks into the ocean and getting swallowed up by fish. Illinois is the first state to officially ban them, with others surely set to follow. While derms will admit they were great for buffing grit and oil off your face with minimal irritation, there are a slew of other materials—like crushed shells, seeds, rock, and grains—that do the job just as well without polluting Nemo. Check out these five non-synthetic scrubs that solve a bevy of skin problems.
1) THE EVERYDAY SCRUB:
Kiehl’s Men’s Oil Eliminator Deep Cleansing Exfoliating Face Wash
The crushed apricot seeds in this cleanser are super fine, making it non-drying and safe for daily use. Though primarily associated with sloughing dead skin, a great exfoliate should also do a killer job of removing excess sebum so your skin doesn’t gleam in your cubicle’s fluorescents.
2) THE SKIN SOOTHER:
St. Ives Oatmeal Face Scrub
Bust this out when the winter wind starts stripping pieces of your face off. Oatmeal’s a known inflammation fighter and is safe for gently exfoliating even the most sensitive skin.
THE MORNING ENERGIZER:
Molton Brown Deep-Clean Face Scrub
Biodegradable jojoba wax beads work in tandem with African whitewood extract to fight blackheads and give your complexion a boost, while the fresh mandarin, jasmine, and sandalwood scent will wake you up even before you hit the Keurig.
THE PRE-SHAVE PROTECTOR:
Dove Men + Care Expert Shave Exfoliating Pre-Shave Scrub
Give your razor a smoother surface to glide over with this moisturizing pre-shave exfoliator, which uses bits of pumice to lift up hairs and prevent ingrowns.
THE DEEP CLEANER:
Baxter of California Clarifying Clay Mask
Baxter’s absorbent clays like bentonite and kaolin reach deep into pores to pull out impurities, while aloe vera and avocado oil soften the skin. Apply a thin layer over a clean face once a week, don’t touch yourself for ten minutes, and then rinse off for a brand new visage.
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12 New Rules of Healthy Eating
photos: Courtesy of respective brands
