Thread: Exfoliation, who needs it, and the different types.

Exfoliation is the mechanical or chemical sloughing of the uppermost layer of skin. Everyone can benefit from exfloliation, except those with extremely sensitive skin, or those with a sunburn.

For the face: Mechanical exfoliation should be achieved by a scrub with synthetic particles. Natural particles have rough edges and can scratch the face.
Chemical exfoliation can utilize either alpha or beta hydroxy acids, or glucosamine (which is gentler). Stick to a concentration of less than 5% on these products.

My favorite face exfolators are: Idealist Micro-D and Idealist Refinishing Serum (with glucosamine).

For the body: Mechanical exfoliation can be achieved by a scrub with natural particles, but synthetic is always gentler. There are some chemical exfoliants for the body, some creams have lactic acid in them, but I haven't used them.

I really like Origins The Way of the Bath Matcha Scrub, and The Body Shop Strawberry Scrub.

Additionally, I like Bliss' Vanilla Bergamont Scrub (for the body), and Origions' The Way of the Bath.

I love Sephora's body scrubs (the Sephora brand). I have Bananas Foster, Triple Layer Cake, and Grapeseed...all are I like that the "grains" are small so I don't feel like it's too rough for my skin.

Originally Posted by stacmck

I love Sephora\'s body scrubs (the Sephora brand). I have Bananas Foster, Triple Layer Cake, and Grapeseed...all are I like that the "grains" are small so I don\'t feel like it\'s too rough for my skin.

I have smelled those and they smell divine! Maybe I'll give those a try when I run out of my other ones.

If I don't exfoliate, after a week I start to notice all of the little clogged pores on my forehead, nose area and chin.

I use Ocean Salt from LUSH and OMG its amazing and did wonders for my skin

I've been using a home made body scrub I threw together on a whim. Brown sugar, a little olive oil and a little bit of water. I mix a little batch together and keep it in a Tupperware container in the bathroom. It does a great job of exfoliating and the olive oil is perfect for dry skin (like me). And it smells reallllllly good. It's a little heavy to use on the face but it's divine as a body scrub.

I forgot I had some ocean salt, thanks cindy it expired 3 weeks ago but I'm going to use it up anyways.

My face has been red and raw so not good for ocean salt ... I've been using a YSL honey exfoliant but it is $$$$$ and a friend told me I could make my own with honey, an aspirin, and essential oils so I'm going to try that when it runs out.

i am loving all these home made ideas!

Brown sugar sounds yummy but olive oil would break me out.

I have both ocean salt and cosmedicine self adjusting exfoliator. I either alternate which one I use weekly or use cosmedicine midweekly as a 2nd exfoliation.

The cosmedicine was pretty pricey, but I have had it for two years now, so it has lasted me quite a while. But I only use it once a week or sometimes less if I get lazy.

I have this facial scrub that someone sent me...I forget the name but it works pretty well...I'm also a fan of the St. Ives apricot scrub...cheap and gets the job done just fine.

I used to use the St Ives Apricot scrub and loved it for awhile but it stopped working for me. Then I started using Angels on Bare Skin which also is starting to not work anymore. I've been wanting to try Ocean Salt but the Lush in Macys was out when I went there a few weeks ago and I really am trying to avoid placing an order.

Shelly, I started making my own too. I use raw sugar (i like bigger crystals), coffee, and a combo of almond oil and safflower oil. Then some fragrance (warm sugar cookies right now). My skin is so much nicer when I use it!

Ooh, coffee is an interesting idea. I definitely need to find other oils to try. I tried olive oil because it happened to be sitting next to the brown sugar at the time.

that's the best way to do it! I just read that almond oil was good for the skin so I thought I would try it. Grapeseed oil is suppose to be good too.