We’re On the List – Editor’s 5 Top Picks to Exfoliate and Make Your Skin Glow
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Exfoliating. We're often surprised at just how many people don't do it – at all. It IS often overlooked, but it is a gateway for allowing skin to rid itself of impurities, as well as letting wholesome nutrition penetrate, feed the skin, and do its job. It's a step we shan't overlook!
Acne prone skin, sensitive skin, dry skin, and combination skin can benefit by using the right ingredients on a regular basis. Rosacea on the skin's surface can even benefit by the right treatment – just ask our founder (me!)… my skin is softer, more even, and the Rosacea battles are much easier since oils and exfoliants have entered the daily ritual. Thank goodness for that.
Our Hydrating Clay Exfoliant with Tea & Lavender made the top of the list as the facial favorite for exfoliating. The first ingredient in this exfoliant is colloidal oat. It has natural moisturizing and healing benefits for every condition of skin. Acting like a sponge, the clay literally drinks the toxins and impurities from the skin. Our Rhassoul clay, unearthed from the fertile Atlas Mountains of Morocco, is completely natural, unscented and fragrance free. An extra amount of lavender is added which is a soothing skin remedy for all types, relieves any irritation, as well as provides a disinfecting touch. We use Matcha green tea in our face and body products because of the high level of naturally occurring antioxidants. Organic raw cane sugar, a natural alpha hydroxy acid, helps to balance uneven skin tone and keep skin clear. No added fragrances or fillers. Your nose will only pick up on the natural botanicals in this blend.
Melissa B. Williams, world traveler, writer, editor, and lover of all things in wellness, food, nature, and yoga, has contributed for publications such as Shape, Natural Solutions, Self, and Pilates Style, as well as created recipes for Delicious Living and Cooking Light. Here she shares her top five exfoliating options, and we're giddy to be chosen.
As shared via Healing Lifestyles & Spas
DRY SKIN? 5 NATURAL INGREDIENTS TO EXFOLIATE
Is your skin showing signs of the cool and dry air? Do your elbows and knees look like they belong on a rhino? Buffing off dry skin in the fall and winter months is critical if you want to have smooth and glowing skin. But what you put on your body matters from the “scrub” material to the size of the grain and the other ingredients that make the scrub effective.
But first and foremost, environmentalists have determined that some of the micro-beads found in cleansers and scrubs may be harmful to the environment, showing up in waterways and harming marine life. Many companies are looking to phase out these ingredients for dry skin but in the meantime avoid any scrub with polyethylene on the label.
A few ingredients to look for:
Coffee: Coffee can be a gentle exfoliant when applied with a nurturing oil like jojoba, coconut or almond.
Sea Salt: The go-to, sea salt is a strong exfoliant and should only be used on thick, non-sensitive skin, like elbows, knees and feet.
Natural Earth Elements like Clay, Volcanic Ash: Volcanic Pumice is found in Bliss Micromagic Microdermabrasion treatment to help open and clean your pores, providing for a nice glow in the winter months.
Acai Berry: When ground into a pulp, this antioxidant rich fruit can help exfoliate sensitive areas including lips.
Walnut Shells: Found in Foot Scrubs, walnut shells help remove thick, tired and dry skin, leaving behind a softer finish.
Our favorite products:
For your face: Hydrating Clay Exfoliant with Tea and Lavender from Qet Botanicals. This luxurious facial scrub is perfect for skin that needs a deep exfoliation; the clay leaves it feeling smooth and hydrated. ($24)
For your lips: The Lip Scrub by Sara Happ. We love the scent of this sweet sugar, grapeseed oil and jojoba blend. ($24)
For your body: The Turkish Body Scrub from Kerstin Florian is a perennial favorite at HL&S. Made with deeply cleansing mineral salts, eucalyptus and lavender oils, this blend is refreshing, invigorating and leaves your body feeling rejuvenated. ($44)
For your hands: Although the FarmHouse Fresh Whipped Honey Scrub can be used anywhere on your body, we love how soft it leaves your hands! Made with sea salt, honey and rice bran oil, this blend is high in vitamin E and non-greasy too. ($23)
For your feet: For an affordable option, turn to Kiss My Face Peppermint Foot Scrubmade with walnut shells to deeply scour at rough heels. ($9)