Review- Lush Ocean Salt Face and Body Scrub

Coconut Cream and Sea Salt Scrub... Back in 2005, our inventors had come up with a number of fantastic cleansers but there was one category they had yet to conquer: The scrub! A sea salt scrub! With that, they whipped up (our now enormously popular) Ocean Salt. Washing with Ocean Salt is like taking your face on a trip to the seaside for an invigorating splash in the water. We mix in fresh avocado and coconut to hydrate thirsty skin, while the antibacterial effects of lime and vodka is ideal for blocked pores, blackheads or blemishes. The minerals in sea salt soften as it scrubs away dirt and blockages.

When it comes to salt scrubs - I simply adore them. And this Lush Ocean Salt Face and Body Scrub has been love at first use! There is a beautifully crusted layer of ocean salt on top, and below, is the creamiest face and body cleanser one could I imagine! It's made with a highly moisturizing mix of coconut and avocado and the ocean salt purifies so gently and deeply. If I could buy tubs of this that would be near paradise for me! Of all the different kinds of bath body scrubs I've tried, this ranks as one of my very favorites - it is highly moisturizing, deeply cleansing, and created with quality ingredients- the kind of scrub that makes you feel like you're pampered to the fullest! As a fan of salt scrubs, this is a sure keeper!

Hillary says:
I'm not usually a salt scrub fan, but after giving this one a try, I may have to revise my opinon.  Okay, not my whole opinion.  I just like this one.  I like it because it doesn't sting when I use it on my face and when I use it on my body I still feel clean afterwords, not filmy nor greasy, just clean and moisturized.  Plus the smell reminds me of every beach vacation I've ever had.  I credit this scrub with getting rid of the uneven skin on my chest after I recently got a bit of a tan on my chest in Mexico (I tried my hardest not to).  This scrub is the perfect combination of creamy and coarse for the body, some may find it a bit harsh for the face, but then again, my favorite face scrub is derma e microdermabrasion scrub and that stuff doesn't fool around!   I like the fact that the jar says who lovingly packaged my scrub with a little picture of him, too.  I haven't used that many Lush products, but this one I would buy again.

Review- Alba Botanica Gentle Acai Renewal Scrub

Sometimes your skin needs a little wake-up call. Scrub gently with this fine blend of Açaí Nut Powder, emollient-rich Cupuaçu Butter and Andiroba Oil to effectively soften and rejuvenate dull skin.

This scrub was exactly what my skin needed for summer. My normal-to-combination skin goes into oil overdrive in the warmer months, leaving my face looking like an oil slick. Its pretty much either walk around looking like a greaseball or over-cleanse and just have dry, blah looking skin. Luckily for me this amazing scrub gently sloughs off dead skin, deep cleans my pores and keeps it smooth and soft. I use it three times a week now, and will probably scale back ones the weather cools off. If your skin isn't as oily as mine, using it once or twice a week will definitely do the trick!

Trish says: This facial scrub rocks! For someone with combination/oily skin, I really love how well this cleanser exfoliates, leaving my skin brighter and clearer than before. Also, I noticed that not only were my pores much clearer, but my skin felt so much softer and smoother. I am definitely pleased with the results and feel this is a great choice for someone who wants an exfoliating scrub that truly works at an affordable price. A definite future purchase for me.

Review- Hemloq Citrus Scrub

"This extra creamy formula provides a gentler feeling exfoliation. Our unique blend infuses jojoba beads, green tea extracts and chamomile providing a soothing polishing action.

Paraben Free, Sulfate Free, Cruelty Free $28"

Hemloq Citrus Scrub is a very mild facial scrub. It has a fresh citrus scent (of course) and leaves your face feeling refreshed. It does not have a great density of exfoliating particles so I'd say it's gentle enough for everyday use. It left my skin both smooth and moisturized. I think this product is best suited to normal-to-dry skin. The only drawback is that you have to clean your face before you use this scrub, rather than the scrub cleaning your your face while you scrub.

Review- derma e Microdermabrasion Scrub

Immediately improve your skin's appearance using this formula's gentle but firm persuasive powers. This state-of-the-art scrub utilizes a crystal blend system to remove dead skin cells and absorb excess oils. Markedly diminishes the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, acne scars, and retexturizes your skin, leaving it silky smooth.
Regular Price $32.50 Sale Price: $27.50

When I see the word "scrub" I want a good scrubbing. I don't want 1 scrubbing particle per oz. of cream. This microdermabrasion scrub was built for a scrub lover like myself. It thoroughly removes all traces of dull, flaky skin revealing a fresh, healthy glow. You use this scrub by putting a small amount on your face and rubbing in a circular motion for 3 minutes. By the end of those three minutes your skin is renewed. And it's not hard to rinse off either like some scrubs. They call it a salon skin treatment alternative and as someone who has had professional microdermabrasion I can say this is close if not as good as the real thing. This is one of the best exfoliants I've used.

Review - Caudalie Gentle Buffing Cream

This rich scrub eliminates impurities, dead skin cells and excess oil while stimulating cellular renewal. $35.00

The first thing I noticed is this tube is 1.6 oz and costs $35.00 and for that $ it better perform. Upon my first application I can understand why it costs what it does... It is simply amazing! I think if you really wanted to, you could use it daily. I am using every other day and loving it! It’s got a light scent that dissipates while using (not perfumey). It's so gentle (perfect for everyone who has sensitive scent) and invigorates my skin. It doesn’t scratch or rip at my skin at all. The buffing action comes from jojoba beads which glide over the skin and they don’t induce any irritation whatsoever... It rinses away leaving fresh, slightly flush skin that is super soft and subtle; I am surprised they are making this in a couple of sizes. This is a great product to keep the fresh look without having your face pay for all the manual manipulation! I can’t say anything else! I am following up with the energizing concentrate in the evening and the combo work wonderful together!

Maria says:

Ummm....can I just say "what she said". No, seriously - City Slicker was spot on with her review. I am head over heels for this buffing cream. I know she's using it every other day - but I love it so much I use it every day - albeit just a wee bit so I don't overdo it. It absolutely does not scratch the skin - on the contrary it makes it baby's hiney soft and supple. It's like the little beads burst with moisturizing goodness - but yet you feel like your skin is being buffed - but in a good way if that makes sense. I have tried quite a few buffers/exfoliators and this is by far my favorite - mostly b/c it is so non-irritating and just all out pampering. I have been a fan of Caudalie for a few years now - starting with the cult fave Beauty Elixir, then experimenting with their Radiance Revealing Complex and now this little gem -- actually this little gem AND the hydrating mask which I will review under separate cover.

Deedlejuse says:

You probably already know what I'm going to say..... but: this buffing cream is awesome! So I have normal to dry skin, that can feel really dried out by some types of cleansers. This one does not dry it out at all, even though it is a little more intense than a normal cream cleanser. The suspension is a wonderful consistency, you can totally tell that this product cost $35 because of the way it feels. As City Slicker mention it smells delicious, not eat it delicious, but purely feminine and pretty and clean. I have been using it once a day for about a week, and my face looks so bright. I follow up with Caudalie's Moisturizer and I have to say I look beautiful!

Review - Mario Badescu Almond & Honey Face Scrub

A non-abrasive face scrub to gently exfoliate and refine dry, flaky skin and dulling build-up. It is made with finely ground Almond and Cornmeal combined with Honey to buff away flaky skin without irritating 4oz. $15.00

Mario Badescu has created a heavenly facial scrub that is so gentle to the skin, yet very cleansing. I am not surprised as just about every one of Mario Badescu's product line that I have tried has been terrific. Why would this one be different? It has the most delicious scent and you feel good as you are cleansing your face. It is a scrub but one that does not irritate or upset your skin. It does not dry out your skin as many scrubs do. It leaves you with a very fresh face that is as soft and silky as it can be. The cost is very reasonable for the wonderful product you receive.

Review - St. Ives Olive Face Scrub

St. Ives Elements Olive Scrub, with all natural exfoliants, sweeps away dead skin cells and reenergizes skin. Olive Oil helps nourish the skin, leaving it feeling soft, smooth and moisturized.

I love using face scrubs, but sometimes they dry my skin out or make my face feel shocked and stinging afterward and I feel like I have to load on the moisturizer. This dermatologist tested olive scrub is super gentle and soft with no residue or stinging after use. I love treating my skin with oils because they actually can be absorbed into the skin (unlike a lot of ingredients touted for this benefit in facial products), and against popular belief, oils do not increase or cause breakouts. I highly recommend this for use a few times a week to keep skin from feeling dull and flaky, especially if you're prone to breakouts or have minor scars, scabs or hard spots on your skin as the result of periodic breakouts.

Other benefits are that it smells very nice and natural, and it's not tested on animals so you're saving the hides of cute furry creatures every time you scrub down. At prices under $8, it can't be beat.

Review - Origin's Modern Friction

Modern Friction™ Nature's gentle dermabrasion $36.50
Sand-blasting skin with coarse, chemical crystals? How painfully passé. Here’s age-erasing exfoliation without irritation. Skin-refining rice starch, cushioned in cream, shows real affinity for rapidly removing sluggish cells, uneven patches and signs of skin damage and discolorations.

CitySlicker Says:

I am not sure I would use the words gentle & dermabrasion together. When I think of dermabrasions for home use, they are rough on the skin; this is more like a gentle scrub. It's so gentle, I used it 3 days in a row without getting dried out or irritated. This looks like a white clay mask. I applied to damp skin and started to swish around. There is some scrub to it but not much. When I added water, I was pleasantly surprised that it started to gently foam. So it's a face wash and a scrub in one. I personally think the price is high for a gentle scrub. It does smell pretty good, it's got a minty scent and cooling feeling on my skin. It's not overly cooling, just a light sensation. I think that is nice since I was heating up my face with the scrub. All in all it's a decent product, nothing is going to replace the manual harsher microdermabrasion kits for me, since with those I see more dramatic results and suffer minimally. With this product, I didn't notice any improvement in my skin's texture or appearance.

Review - Clean & Clear Morning Burst Cleanser

Clean & Clear® Morning Burst Cleanser is a foaming cleanser uniquely formulated with Bursting Beads, which burst with energy and vitamins, and an invigorating citrus fragrance to help wake you up.

I really love the way this stuff looks, it's all sci-fi looking in the bottle with weird little things floating in it, and it smells really fruity and awesome. For me though, it really dried the skin out on my forehead, I had major peeling a few hours after even though I doubled the moisturizer I'd normally use. Although I guess for me, it's a little too strong, I bet this would be great for someone battling a shiny complexion. It does have a few little scrubbing agents in there, but I wouldn't describe it as a true exfoliant. You can just *sorta* feel the scrubbing stuff in there, but it's nothing like a real gritty/grainy exfoliating scrub. If you have really oily skin prone to breakouts, I bet this stuff would work great, but beware if you are prone to developing flaky skin.

Review- Suki Lemongrass Cleanser

The key ingredient for clear, healthy skin. Our gentle exfoliate increases cell turnover & unlike damaging glycolics, utilizes natural, safe aha's & bha's, awakening a fresh, new layer of skin safely & gently. Clears & evens skin tone. This product is vegan. $24.50 Cityslicker Says:
If you like the smell of citrus, you will instantly be hooked on this cleanser. It's a crisp, natural, mouthwatering zesty lemon scent. I love it. The second I open the container, the fresh scent erupts. I thought that being lemony, it would dry out my skin but this is not the case - I am on my second jar. This isn't a scrub for the faint at heart, it's a robust scrub that offers deep exfoliation. I use this only about once a week, it's all I need and it really helps me shed the skin that is ready to go. I do notice that my face gets pink after using it; it can be a deeper pink if I really scrub, so I do it at night. The next morning, my skin looks bright and fresh. I am sensitive and I can use it, but I am sure I couldn't use it on a daily basis. Also when you apply, it works up into a nice froth so it's fun to use. This is the only item I have tried from Suki. I look forward to checking out Suki's color line. So if you are in the market for a scrub with a boost, this is for you. The scent reminds me of a freshly cut lemon...YUMMMMM!

Review - Nuxe Gentle Aromatic Exfoliant

Frequent Use Face and Decollete with Essential Oils and Walnut Seeds
All Skin Types
Gently removes dead cells and impurities. Leaves the skin clear, soft and radiant.
Formulated to minimize the risk of allergic reaction.
Non comedogenic.
Product not tested on animals, contains no coloring agents or animal ingredients.

Nuxe just makes great stuff. They don't test on animals (which makes me happy) and they wholeheartedly leave out ingredients that can irritate sensitive skin, or skin that is prone to overreact to scrubbing. This facial and decollete exfoliant smells really great and isn't too gritty or scary to use. It's gentle like the label says and could be used frequently... I'd go so far as to say a person that finds they get dull skin very easily could use this 5-6 times a week with no real problems (I always recommend a day to give your skin a break from every 'treatment' you use during the week). This is the perfect exfoliant for anyone who has tried others and found them too drying or harsh, or went days with a red face after using the wrong one. The scrubbing agent (I believe walnut seed) isn't brutal on the skin and the other calming ingredients make a great balance.