A New York City Health and Beauty Blog

Why Your Skin Needs an Exfoliator

Cleansing and moisturizing are two of the most important things that should be part of your daily skincare routine. Exfoliation is equally important, but this should not be done daily. Rather, once or twice a week will be more than enough. For such to be effective use only organic beauty products, such as those that you can buy at https://www.wellwithinbeauty.com/.

Why is exfoliation necessary? If you are not convinced that this should be a part of your skincare regimen, keep on reading and we’ll share with you some of its notable benefits.

Benefits of Exfoliation

To fully maximize the benefits that will be mentioned below, you need to be thorough in your search for an exfoliator. See to it that it’s made using beneficial ingredients and without harsh chemicals. Limit your choices only to organic skin care products. Provided that you make the right choice, here are some of the benefits that can be realized:

·         Minimizes Pores: Genetics, age, sun damage, clogging, and blackheads are some of the reasons why you have large and unsightly pores. Pores may start out small, but through time, they can accommodate more dirt and pollution, making them grow larger. Exfoliating will solve the problem with pores.

·         Smoothens Skin: Another reason to exfoliate is to improve the texture of the skin, making it soft to the touch. If your face often feels rough and dry, exfoliating is one of the quickest solutions that will work.

·         Prevents Blemishes: Using an exfoliator will also be greatly beneficial for people who have blemished skin. It removes the dead skin cells on the surface, including those that can be causing the appearance of blemishes.

·         Hides Wrinkles: When you age, the natural exfoliation process of the skin also slows down. This makes you more prone to wrinkles. There are exfoliants that can penetrate deeply into the skin, which is why they can be effective in hiding your wrinkles.

·         Heals Dryness: Especially when it’s cold, dryness is one of the most common skin problems. Exfoliation effectively heals dryness. It helps to prevent the buildup of the dry skin cells on the face, making it look supple.

·         Treating Hyperpigmentation: Hyperpigmentation causes the appearance of brown spots that can be caused by age, genetics, and hormones, among others. They become darker and more visible as you age. Exfoliating can be effective in breaking up the pigmented cells. Over time, it makes the pigments fade.

·         Improves Absorption: A comprehensive skincare routine involves the use of several products. Using an exfoliator gets rid of the dirt on the surface of the skin, allowing other products to cling. It removes blockage from the pores, and hence, making absorption quicker.

With all of the things that have been mentioned above, there should be no doubt that an exfoliator is a must. It’s one of the essential skincare products that you must have, but make sure to not do it daily as it can strip the natural oils on your face.

Review: Cleanlogic Stretch Bath & Shower Cloth

Cleanlogic stretch bath and shower cloth

We all know by now that exfoliation is key to beautiful and smooth skin. And there are many ways that we can go about achieving this, everything from scrubs to loofahs can help us to shed those dead skin cells to reveal healthier skin.

So when I see a product that helps to remove dull, dry skin, I have to give it a try. Cleanlogic Stretch Bath and Shower Cloth is designed to stretch 3x the size of a normal wash cloth so that you can reach just about any place on your body. The cloth stretches very well and you can grab both ends to give your back a proper exfoliation.

Cleanlogic stretch bath and shower cloth

The cloth has an antimicrobial additive to provide continuous protection against bacteria. This is a nice touch because we know that warm wet places are a breeding ground for bacteria.

The cloth has the texture of a loofah sponge so it’s a bit rough. The cloth looks soft but that’s a bit deceiving, this cloth can polish away the driest skin. And that’s one thing that I noticed -how rough the cloth felt, even when wet and full of soap. So if you’re looking for a product to really scrub your skin then this might be a good option. But if you have sensitive skin, beware, this towel is pretty tough!

 Disclosure: The product featured in this post was provided for editorial consideration. Receipt of this product did not guarantee review and all opinions are my own.

Review: Burt’s Bees Peach & Willowbark Deep Pore Scrub

Burt's Bees Peach & Willowbark Deep Pore Scrub

If you’ve ever suffered from a dull complexion then you know how much exfoliation can benefit you skin. Although the body does shed skin cells on it’s own those of us with oilier skin sometimes need a little help to keep our complexions radiant and smooth. Exfoliation has been a part of my weekly beauty routine since my teen years simply because it always left my skin smoother and my makeup application much easier.

Now that I’m making a move to cruelty-free products it’s opened a whole new world of ingredients and brands to sample. Since I needed a new exfoliator I decided to try Burt’s Bees Peach & Willowbark Deep Pore Scrub. The scrub uses finely ground Peach Stones, commonly know as peach pits to provide the exfoliation factor combined with Willowbark which a natural source of Salicylic Acid.

Ingredients: water, vitis vinifera (grape) seed oil, stearic acid, glycerin, prunus persica (peach) seed powder, cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, sodium borate, fragrance, salix nigra (willow) bark extract, glucose, anthemis nobilis (chamomile) flower extract, hydrastis canadensis (golden seal) extract, zingiber officinale (ginger) root extract, fucus vesiculosus (bladderwrack) extract, xanthan gum, sucrose stearate, glucose oxidase, lactoperoxidase

Burt's Bees Peach & Willowbark Deep Pore Scrub Swatch

While I loved the results of the scrub, I must warn that the formula is a bit abrasive; the peach stone is finely ground so it didn’t leave my skin red or irritated. The scrub is in a creamy base that contains grape seed oil, goldenseal and coconut oil which are all great for the skin. I’d love to see a Burt’s Bees exfoliating formula that is a bit more gentle on sensitive skin. Overall (with a gentle touch) this scrub is a winner – its cruelty free and delivers a deep cleaning on par with luxury brands. What is your favorite facial scrub?

Review: Colbert MD Intensify Facial Disks

Colbert MD Intensify Facial Disks

I’ve mentioned a time or two that a key step in my skin care routine is exfoliation. I have very oily skin and my dermatologist recommended that I exfoliate my skin three times a week. Before I began adding this step to my routine I had regular acne breakouts.

Why exfoliate? If you’re not exfoliating you skin it’s something that you should try. Exfoliation removes the oldest dead skin cells to reveal the younger skin underneath. It also unclogs pore therefore preventing acne and blackheads.

Colbert MD Intensify Facial Disks

Back at the ranch…

While at the  Barneys NY Spring preview event I received a sample of Colbert MD’s intensify facial disks. These exfoliating disks help to increase cell turnover through Microdermabrasion and enzyme action. I’ve tried several over the counter Microdermabrasion pads and this by far provides the a generously thick pad saturated with product. You simply dampen the disk and apply to cleansed face in a circular motion (for 30-60 seconds), rinse and voila! the pads are designed to use about 3 times per week. I’ve used the facial disks this week and my skin feels like it should, smooth, supple and most of all healthy. My face looks glowing and my boss even commented that my makeup looked great today (and I did nothing different). Win!

Colbert MD Intensify Facial Disks

Colbert MD Intensify Facial Discs – $52.00

Have you tried these little exfoliating gems?

Road Tested Self-Tanners, Perfect For Sundress Weather

By my calculations, it’s about two weeks and four days until the annual “oh, my God, I’m really pale” panic sets in. No matter what tone your skin is naturally, chances are around the start of June you just start feeling a bit pasty and wan. It seems the anticipation of summer blends with rapidly decreasing hem lengths to create a perfect storm of tan-frenzy.

As a NW15, I know the prospect of self tanner can be a bit like gambling- except when you lose a bet, you don’t have to have splotchy skin for a few days. The days of SPF 5 may be over, but no matter your natural skin tone, you can get a golden glow with a few simple tricks and tools.

1.) Exfoliate super thoroughly: This is something that most people learn from experience the first time- few things alert you to how much more thoroughly you can slough off dead skin than a newly-applied tanning gel or creme. Scrubs are good, but for ultimate precision, scrub gloves create an even, exfoliated service. (Or if you’re in the mood for a service, the scrubs at awesomest-place-ever Spa Castle are legendary.)

2.) Not every tanner works for every skin type: …however, fairer-skinned girls can get away with cutting pretty much any self-tanner with moisturizer for a more natural glow. It’s tempting to reach for the darkest formula first, but intense formulas on light skin can cause a jarring, orangey brown look that is especially noticable in photos. St. Tropez’s Bronzing Lotion is strong but a true brown, free of carroty hues. They even have a Tan Remover for slip-ups.

3.) Try to mimic the sun: Eyelids, the backs of hands and toes are all a bit tricky when it comes to a good home self-tan, and it’s always hard to reach your back. Invest in some good, tight latex gloves for accuracy, and blend out toward your back with a little lotion to avoid streaks. When applying product to your face, take care to avoid eyelids and diligently attack cheekbones and the bridge of your nose, where color naturally concentrates.

4.) Think outside the bottle: When self-tanner first came back, it was mainly lotions and mousses. Now several awesome options exist to tan like the pros at home. Sheer Tan has a nice wand-inclusive design that makes hard to reach areas less fussy, and ModelCo Airbrush Tan in a Can creates an even, realistic bronze tone on skin. (Be careful of splatters and errant sprays with home spray-tanning products.)

5.) Adjust and maintain: One of the best ways to call attention to an awesome tan is by adjusting your makeup. A peachy blush like MAC Peaches enhances even the slightest glow, and gold-themed shadows like Bobbi Brown’s Metallic Eyeshadow in Gold compliment freshly bronzed skin.

Have you mastered the perfect at-home tan? What gives you a realistic, sun-kissed glow?