Facial Cleansers for Oily Skin

Cleansing the face is an essential part of your skin care routine. Even if you spend a fortune on the best creams or serums in town, you wouldn't get the desired outcome without proper cleansing. Cleansing removes excess oil, makeup, sweat and dirt. If you have oily skin, it is a must to prevent breakouts.

A good facial cleanser should be sufficient to remove grime without harshly stripping the skin's top layer. It's a challenging task for cosmetic chemists to acquire since there must be a balance between having enough cleansing power and being gentle to skin. I've recently written a primer about facial soaps and cleansers in general. If you're interested, you may visit this page to read a more in-depth discussion.

In this blog post, I've listed some of the facial cleansers for oily skin that have garnered good reviews from different sources, namely, makeupalley, totalbeauty, paulaschoice, and amazon. I've included the price and ingredients list with my own remarks about the formulation. In addition, I've also gathered links to different personal reviews from other bloggers, and if you happen to have your own review regarding any of the products listed, do inform me so I can include your link. I will keep on updating the list for your reference. In the meantime, I hope this list will help you find the right cleanser for you.

Clean & Clear Essentials Foaming Facial Cleanser for Sensitive Skin

Price and Availability: 
Amazon

Ingredients:

Water, PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-150 Distearate, Sodium Lauroampho PG Acetate Phosphate, Fragrance, Tetrasodium EDTA, C12-15 Pareth-2, Quaternium-15

Remarks:

This water-based cleanser deserves merit for being able to remove makeup effectively without leaving the skin feeling tight. It contains sodium laureth sulfate yet is still gentle enough even for the sensitive skin type.

Reviews:

http://drugstoregal.blogspot.com/2013/01/clean-clear-essentials-review.html


Basis Facial Cleanser

Price and Availability:
Amazon
Ingredients:
Water (Triple Purified), Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Lauryl Glucoside, PEG 7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, PEG 8, Glyceryl Laurate, PEG 200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate, Dimethicone Copolyol (Silica), Butylene Glycol, Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis) Leaf Juice, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Extract, Lemongrass (Cymbopogon Schoenanthus) Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Extract, Spearmint (Mentha Viridis) Extract, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Methyldibromo Glutaronitrile, Fragrance
Remarks:
Oily skin love the rich lather this product produces. It gently removes makeup and contains plant extracts that doesn't irritate nor clog the pores.
Reviews:

http://www.makeupandbeautyblog.com/product-reviews/basis-cleaner-clean-face-wash-a-drugstore-gem/

The Body Shop Aloe Gentle Facial Wash

Price and Availability: 
Php 700 above (TBS Philippines) / 125ml, Amazon

Ingredients:

Water, Aloe Barbadensis Gel, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Pentylene Glycol, Sorbitol, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Citric Acid, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Dimethicone Copolyol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Lecithin, Tocopherol

Remarks:

Contains high concentration of aloe extracts that is very soothing for sensitive skin. Basic make-up removal is fine, but for waterproof mascaras, additional cleansers are needed.

Reviews:

http://allaboutjyl.blogspot.com/2011/03/bodyshop-aloe-calming-cleanser-and-aloe.html

Cerave Foaming Facial Cleanser

Price and Availability: 

Amazon

Ingredients:

Purified Water, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Glycerin, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate and PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Niacinamide, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Ceramide 3, Ceramide 6-II, Ceramide 1, Hyaluronic Acid, Cholesterol, Sodium Chloride, Phytophingosine, Citric Acid, Edetate Disodium, Dihydrate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Carbomer, Xantham Gum

Remarks:

This formula will definitely attract consumers who avoid sulfates in their wash. Despite having no "soap" in the formula, it removes light makeup easily without stripping the skin.

Reviews:

http://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/skin-care-finally-tried-cerave

http://juletsheeeh.blogspot.com/2013/07/cerave-foaming-facial-cleanser.html


Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser

Price and Availability:
Php 1,400 above, Amazon
Ingredients:
Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Decyl Glucoside, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Acrylate Copolymer, PEG-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate, Lauryl Glucoside, Sodium Chloride, Pentylene Glycol, Triethanolamine, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Distearyl Ether, Behenyl Alcohol, Methylparaben, Laureth-2, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Propylparaben, Polyaminopropyl Biguanide, Sodium Methylparaben, Squalane, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil
Remarks:
This one is not only suitable for oily skin, but to all skin types as well. A pea-size amount is enough to produce a lather while gently removing makeup. However, it contains pH adjuster triethanolamine that some may find irritating.
Reviews:
http://www.askmewhats.com/2012/12/amw-reviews-kiehls-ultra-facial-cleanser.html
http://corallista.com/2012/01/18/skincare-wednesday-kiehls-ultra-facial-cleanser-review-photos/
http://lesleykim.blogspot.com/2012/07/kiehls-ultra-facial-cleanser-beauty.html

Olay Foaming Face Wash for Sensitive Skin

Price and Availability: 
Amazon

Ingredients:

Water, Glycerin, Sodium Myristoyl Sarcosinate, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Polyquaternium-10, PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate, Glycol Distearate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamide MEA, Laureth-10, Disodium Lauroamphodiacetate, Sodium Trideceth Sulfate, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, DMDM Hydantoin

Remarks:

This product works fine for those who wear little to no makeup. Contains comparably lower concentration of SLS but beware of DMDM Hydantoin (that is, if you're highly allergic to the formaldehyde it produces). Acne-prone skin types love this for its noncomedogenic formula.

Reviews:

http://makeupandbeauty.com/olay-gentle-foaming-face-wash-aloe-review/

http://www.beautyfrontline.com/2012/10/olay-gentle-foaming-face-wash-review.html

Clinique Wash-Away Gel Cleanser

Price and Availability: 
Amazon

Ingredients:

Water, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Decyl Glucoside, Tea-Cocoyl Glutamate, Sodium Cocoyl Sarcosinate, Sodium Isostearoyl Lactylate, Sodium Chloride, Methyl Gluceth-20, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Aloe Barbadensis Gel, Polyquaternium-6,Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile), Polysorbate 20, Butylene Glycol, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA-Copper, Blue 1, Yellow 5

Remarks:

Many have noted how it wasn't able to remove the waterproof mascara. But if you wear little makeup, this product will be sufficient for you. Contains no sulfates, which is a plus for SLS haters.

Reviews:

http://lifeofcyndez.blogspot.com/2009/05/review-cliniques-wash-away-gel-cleanser.html

http://shimmerstewsandstreets.wordpress.com/2013/09/02/beauty-review-clinique-wash-away-gel-cleanser/

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel

Price and Availability: 
Amazon

Ingredients:

Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, PEG-8, Coco-Betaine, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Chloride, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Zinc PCA, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Fragrance

Remarks:

An effective makeup remover that is very gentle on the skin. This product is a plus for paraben-haters. Results in cosdna.com database shows one irritant though: Sodium Hydroxide. 

Reviews:

http://whichhazel05.blogspot.com/2013/03/100-amazing-la-roche-posay-effaclar.html

http://viewsfromatinbin.blogspot.com/2013/08/la-roche-posay-effaclar-purifying.html

http://andlaughatguildedbutterflies.blogspot.com/2012/08/la-roche-posay-effaclar-purifying.html

Last Updated: July 29, 2015

6 Ways to Save the Environment with Cosmetics

You don't want to hurt this lovely creature, do you?
Image Source: Bill Longshaw | Freedigitalphotos.net

According to Eurostaf statistics on 2007, the annual turnover rate generated by the cosmetic industries worldwide reaches to USD 170 Billion. With that amount in mind, we can hardly imagine how much raw ingredients and packaging materials it takes to manufacture cosmetic products every year. The accumulated wastes acquired from the disposable plastic bottles as well as the skincare chemicals being washed away from our sinks can leave undesirable impact on our environment.

As consumers, we can help reduce our carbon footprint and environmental wastes by making the right choices. Below are a few ways that we can do to lessen the damage on our oceans and wildlife as well as reduce landfill mass. Though following each and every green tip we find is sometimes impossible, it's better to follow some doable pointers than none at all. One little effort by every one of us is a big deal to our environment.

1. For skin exfoliants, avoid microbeads made with plastic. To find out if your exfoliant contains plastic microbeads, check if the ingredients list contains polyethylene.

2. Though bar soaps are less preferred by many consumers, they give off less wastes on the environment. They don't come in plastic tubes, which take far more energy to be produced than simple bar soap wrappers or cartons. In addition, we tend to use more liquid soaps than bar soaps, leading to more wastage. If bar soaps don't irritate your skin, then always stick to bar soaps.

3. For liquid soaps and shampoos, reuse your plastic dispensers if possible. I've encountered a Japanese store called Muji selling personal care product in reusable dispensers. The said store also sells product refills. If you cannot find such product brands in your area, then patronage those products with containers coming from recycled materials (which would be indicated on the label).

4. Opt for eco-friendly products such as those made with natural and organic ingredients. However, there is no standard rule for the label "natural" and "organic," and manufacturers tend to abuse these terms despite including only a few of these ingredients. For certainty, it is wise to look for a third party seal indicated on the label of the product. Keep in mind though that organic or natural products does not necessarily mean they are better for the skin, many ingredients may still irritate the skin. So always do your research.

5. If you decide to use synthetic products instead, always check the ingredients list for harmful chemicals. Educate yourself for the common ingredients found on cosmetic products. To identify which ingredients are eco-hazards, a good place to start is here.

6. Aerosol deodorants, hairspray, nail polish, and nail polish removers are flammable items. Aside from those, many other personal care products contain non biodegradable chemicals that are harmful to the environment. If you decided to throw these items, call your local waste management services for proper disposal. You may search via online search engine for their contact details by typing "waste management services" plus your city.

Do you know any other ways to help save the environment with regards to cosmetics use? Share your green tips below.

Facial Soaps and Cleansers 101

Photo Source: dusky | Freedigitalphotos.net

The Basic Function of Soaps and Cleansers

Facial soaps and cleansers are the most basic personal care product we use for our face. They are essential for removing dirt and excess oil from our skin. In order to cleanse the skin, soaps and cleansers must include surfactants. 

Surfactants are ingredients that have special properties of being attracted to both water and oil. This enables the surfactants to bind with the oil and dirt found in the skin while lathering. The act of rinsing allows the water-loving end of the surfactant particles to bind to the water, bringing the oil and dirt along and down to the drain. Examples of surfactants that can be found on facial soaps and cleansers are: sodium laureth sulfate, sodium cocyl isethionate, and cocamidopropyl betaine.

However, there are downsides with the cleansing abilities of surfactants: they can be drying and irritating. In order to balance the effect, moisturizing ingredients are added into the soaps and cleansers for better outcomes. Glycerin, propylene glycol, and mineral oil are some of the ingredients that you may find for a more comfortable feel on the skin.

Ingredients for Acne

For acne concerns, two common ingredients may also be added on the products: salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide. Salicylic acid has the ability to cut through grease, thus loosening the clogged pores and effectively cleaning the skin. Benzoyl peroxide deals with bacteria that causes acne. However, these two substances have side effects to some people especially those with sensitive skin. They may cause peeling, redness, and dryness. Salicylic acid can also make the skin more sensitive to the sun (In this case, applying sunscreen after using products with salicylic acid is a must).

Bar Soap or Liquid Soap: Which is Better?

Now you may ask, which is better, bar soap or liquid soap? For many, they prefer the liquid form for washing the face. Although liquid facial wash costs more, it is milder to the skin. Bar soaps have a bad reputation for having a high pH level. In addition, used bar soaps may contain bacteria residue, but they do get washed away after rinsing anyway. If you are sharing your facial soap with other people, you will find the liquid form to be more hygienic. However, more and more bar soaps are becoming better. Many of these manufacturers are concentrating on formulating bar soaps that are gentle and lower in pH level. Nowadays, it is the matter of which type of vehicle you prefer, liquid or solid.

Preservatives in Soaps

A soap or cleanser without preservatives is hard to find in the market. Microorganisms love to thrive in water, thus, a soap or cleanser without preservative will be a paradise to them. Preservatives come in many forms, some of these are: parabens, DMDM hydantoin, methylisothiazolinone and methylchloroisothiazolinone. Parabens are highly controversial preservatives, which are found to mimic our hormone regulation. Despite that, only a small amount of the substance are used in cosmetics, which is far below the level needed to cause danger on the body. DMDM Hydantoin is another preservative with unwanted effect. It is known as a formaldehyde-donor, a substance necessary to prevent spoilage, but is irritating on the skin. Methylisothiazolinone and methylchloroisothiazolinone have recently raised some issues about its skin sensitization potential. In my opinion, I trust that manufacturers would be responsible enough to use these preservatives within the safe levels dictated by cosmetics standards.

Which type of Soap is for Me?

After learning all these ingredients of soaps and cleansers, ultimately, we also need to know which works best for our skin type. For the normal skin type, an ordinary soap or cleanser would suffice. For dry skin type, go for formulations with added moisturizers, and wash less frequently. For the oily skin type, go for foaming facial soap or cleanser to remove extra grime, and don't wash more than twice a day unless after sweating. For the sensitive type, go for liquid soaps that are clear in color and fragrance-free, or bar soaps that are similarly fragrance-free and low in preservatives. For acne-prone skin, as mentioned above, look for ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, but use only as needed because of their drying and irritating effect, and don't forget to put on a sunscreen.

Can Soaps and Cleansers Remove Makeup?

For women who love makeup, a good news for your wallets: soaps and cleansers are enough to remove them. Of course, you need to first check if your soap or cleanser is good enough. After washing with your chosen soap, get a cotton pad with toner, then see if the cotton gets some stains. If the cotton pad looks clean, then your soap is sufficient.

Sources:

What type of soap do I need to use for my skin?

Does Bar Soap Work Better Than Liquid Soap?

SKIN DEEP; Bar Soap Sheds Its Irritating Image

Chemical Marketplace: Bar Soap vs. Liquid Soap

Last Updated: July 31, 2015

Product Review: Clean & Clear Essentials Foaming Facial Wash

Also available from Amazon.

If you're like me who's been reading a lot of articles and forums posts about skin care, you may encounter some product ingredients that we should avoid. Parabens, silicones, and sulfates are some of them. While some warnings may be based on facts, most of them aren't conclusive yet. Majority of these hype remain highly controversial. That is probably why a number of people get turned off into buying drugstore brands, because even though they cost less, they contain certain ingredients that majority of internet articles warn us against using.

Ingredients-wise, this facial cleanser from Clean & Clear is no different from other drugstore brands. It contains parabens that many women try to avoid. I must admit I had avoided drugstore brands before because I also became suspecting against certain ingredients and that's why I had refrained from using them for some time. In my previous post: What are Parabens: The Highly Controversial Substance, I've mentioned that I wouldn't be completely avoiding parabens anymore, especially if the product is a cleanser (something that would be quickly rinsed off anyway). 

I decided to buy Clean & Clear Essentials Foaming Facial Wash after reading from Paula Begoun's website that it removes makeup effectively. Unfortunately, the Essentials Facial Cleanser for Sensitive Skin isn't available in my country, and so I had to give the non-sensitive formula a try, which is, according to online reviews, similarly effective for removing makeup.

Product Name: Clean & Clear Essentials Foaming Facial Wash

Price and Availability: Php 73.75 / 50 ml (Watsons Philippines), Amazon

Ingredients: 

Water, Triethanolamine, Glycerin, Myristic Acid, Lauric Acid, Lauryl Phosphate, Triclosan, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Benzophenone-4, Pentasodium Triphosphate, BHT, Phenoxyethanol, Methlparaben, Ehtylparaben, Butylparaben, Proplyparaben, Isobutylparaben, Fragrance.

Remarks:
Based on cosdna.com database, ingredients with comedogenicity rating of 3 and above out of 5 scale: myristic acid and lauric acid. In addition,triethanol amine scores high in irritancy scale. 

Review:

Clean & Clear Essentials Foaming Facial Wash is liquid in form, and little amount is needed for foaming to occur. It has no noticeable smell, and the color of the formula is translucent orange. After using the product, I've noticed that it dries out my pimples quickly. I've also tested skinacea.com's advice: In order to find out if your cleanser is effective, apply toner with a cotton/cotton pad after washing with your product, and check if there are makeup stains. If the cotton appears clean, then your product should be adequate for makeup removal. 

Following skinacea's advice, after removing my BB cream using Clean & Clear, I applied toner using a cotton. I'm pleased to find out that the cotton was stain-free. No need for shelling out extra cash for expensive makeup removers. I only need this facial wash for cleansing my makeup.

On the downside, I noticed this cleanser to be too much drying. I have oily skin, so somehow it's balanced. Yet I can still feel the tightness after using it twice daily. Applying a heavy duty moisturizer is a must after using this cleanser. 

Here are the pros and cons of Clean & Clear Essentials Foaming Facial Wash:

Pros:

- dries out pimples quickly

- removes light makeup effectively (haven't tried this with heavy makeup)

- very cheap

Cons:

- contains parabens that may be a turn off to some consumers

- contains triclosan that may be too harsh on skin

- may be too drying to some skin types

Verdict:

It works well for removing my light makeup. No need for me to spend a lot of bucks for other makeup removing products (Hooray!). I will continue using this but only at night to remove light makeup or sunscreen for the meantime. I would gladly trade this for Essentials Foaming Facial Wash Sensitive Skin once available in my country.

Rating:

4/5

Product Review: Marks and Spencer Gentle and Soft Shower Gel

Gentle and soft, just like Duffy bear.

The skin of the body is not as delicate as that of the face, so I usually just ignore body skin care and focus more on my acne-prone face. My skin care for the body is simple, cleansing with a bar soap, scrubbing, and applying lotion. But I must admit guiltily that I only usually adhere to the cleansing step and neglect the rest of the regimen. 

Then one day, I went shopping to Marks and Spencer. I was really into shopping that day, and decided to buy a shower gel to replace my ordinary bar soap. I wanted to have some kind of luxury for shower use but is at the same time affordable, and so I bought the Gentle and Soft Shower Gel.

Product Name: Gentle and Soft Shower Gel

Price and Availability: P295.00 / 250ml (Marks and Spencer)

Ingredients:

Aqua, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Chloride, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Parfum, Chamomilla Recutita (Chamomile) Flower Extract, Sorbitol, Propylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Phosphoric Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, Citric Acid, *Sodium Hydroxide, Magnesium Nitrate, Methylparaben, Magnesium Chloride, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone 

*Note: According to cosdna.com database, sodium hydroxide scores 5 out of 5 scale for irritancy.

Review:

The first time I bought the Gentle and Soft Shower Gel, I was already looking forward to taking my next bath. The daily showers I had was so boring because I only use an ordinary bar soap. It's always interesting to buy a different soap/shower gel each time for variety. 

I chose the Gentle and Soft Shower Gel because of its promise for being non-irritating. Although I don't think I have a super sensitive skin on the body, some soaps do make my skin very dry and reddish, so this is something worthy to try.

Here's what the product looks like close-up:

And the back of the package:

As you can see, the product is contained in a plastic tube. The gel inside has a clear color and a very runny consistency. Some contents poured out a bit outside the tube as soon as I opened the cap. So always be careful when using this product to avoid unnecessary spills!

The fragrance is soothing, yet faint. But what do I expect? It's supposed to be faint so as not to irritate the skin. The gel isn't as foaming as I'd expected though. It's actually the least foaming of all the shower gels I'd ever tried. I assumed it must be due to the non-irritating formulation. It takes some time getting to master the technique to make it a bit more foaming.

What I really liked about this shower gel is it's very moisturizing on the skin. After the bath, I didn't see any red marks which sometimes appear on my skin after using other soaps. The cleansing power is so-so, I didn't see any remaining dirt on my body (I was using a shower puff along with the product). So to my skin, the shower gel is indeed gently cleansing. 

Pros:

- soothing fragrance

- gentle on the skin 

- affordable

Cons:

- doesn't foam much

Verdict:

I might buy this again but not so soon. I would like to try other shower gels from other skincare lines from Marks and Spencer first. Overall, this is a nice shower gel that people with sensitive skin might love to try. 

Rating:

4/5

What is Facial Exfoliation?

Facial exfoliation is an additional step in a skincare regimen, with the frequency depending on the exfoliant used and the person's skin type. The purpose of exfoliation is to remove dead skin cells that we shed over time. Built-ups of dead skin cells tend to clog the pores - leading to acne breakouts - and make the skin look dull. In addition, de-clogging the pores make absorption of other skincare products more effective.

There are several ways to exfoliate the skin, but can be summed up into two types: mechanical and chemical.

Mechanical exfoliation is a method wherein a form of abrasives is used to manually slough off the top layer of the skin, which can be done from once to thrice a week, depending on your skin type. Abrasives may be in the form of facial scrubs, rotating brushes, or abrasive cloth. The abrasives of facial scrubs differ in roughness and size, with those containing larger grains to be more likely irritating, thus should be used less frequently, and with those containing micrograins that have smoother texture, thus less irritating and more suitable for the sensitive skin type. 

Chemical exfoliation uses no physical form of abrasives, and the process of exfoliation, as the label indicates, occurs on a chemical level. Since no form of rough abrasives is present, this method is more likely to be preferred by the sensitive skin type. Instead of grains, AHAs and BHAs are used. AHAs, such as lactic acid, not only chemically slough of the top layer of the face, it also moisturizes the skin at the same time. BHAs, also called salicylic acid, work better for the acne-prone and oily skin type due to its ability to cut through grease and fight acne. Most of AHAs and BHAs can be applied once or twice daily.

Of course, with any type of exfoliation, moisturizing the skin afterwards is a required step. Removing the top barrier of the skin makes it more delicate, thus, a form of protection is a must. The skin also becomes more sensitive to the sun, so applying a sunscreen is another essential step. 

If after using an exfoliant, you find your skin to be irritated, lessen the frequency or discontinue use. To be on the safe side, always try a patch test on the inner side of your elbow to see for any allergic reactions before using the exfoliant on the entire face.

For my own skincare regimen, I use a facial scrub as my exfoliant. I am currently using Kiehl's Epidermal Re-Texturizing Micro-dermabrasion which contains very small abrasives that are comfortable on my skin. Since my portion of facial scrub is already running low (and the said scrub is very expensive), I am starting on a lookout for a new form of exfoliation. 

Do you exfoliate your skin regularly? What type of exfoliant do you use?

Product Review: Kiehl's Epidermal Re-texturizing Micro-dermabrasion

Also available on Amazon.

And so, after months of using the Kiehl's Ultra Oil-Free Gel Cream Moisturizer, I was quite contented with it's performance and went again to the store to buy another jar. The saleslady was nice enough to recommend me some other products within the store. Since she found out I was using a bit of makeup, she introduced me to a facial scrub. I got some samples and was excited to try them out, including the scrub that she was so eagerly recommending.

The facial scrub is actually called a micro-dermabrasion - sounds fancy and expensive right? The product is indeed expensive, but Kiehl's fans seemed to be unbaffled by the high price of this product, as a real micro-dermabrasion session would cost even more. Plus, it's always a wonderful idea to be able to have a micro-dermabrasion session right at the comforts of home. 

If you're new to the entire skincare regimen concept, here's an article on Skincare 101 that might enlighten you on the subject. To roughly summarize, cleansing, toning, and moisturizing are the common steps that the majority of the skincare enthusiasts strictly adhere to. Aside from these, exfoliating the skin is also part of the routine but not on a daily basis. Once or twice a week should be enough for the fairly sensitive skin. For the more sensitive skin types, exfoliating the skin is omitted from the regimen. 

The purpose of exfoliation is to remove the dead skin cells that all humans normally shed by sloughing the top layer of skin. Most of the dead skin cells get stuck in our skin's surface, thereby clogging the pores - leading to acne, and giving the skin a dull appearance. Exfoliating the skin can be done in several ways, and micro-dermabrasion is one popular yet pricey method. It uses a high-speed rotating wheel or brush that gently removes dead skin cells and is usually done in a skin clinic. Crystals are used along with the equipment as abrasives and only a thin layer of skin is removed, leading to softer and brighter skin.

Although Kiehl's micro-dermabrasion is no rotating brush equipment, it is labeled as such perhaps due to the micro-dermabrasion crystals present in the product - which is similarly used in micro-dermabrasion treatments in clinics. Going back to the product at hand, here's a quick overview of Kiehl's micro-dermabrasion:

Product name: Kiehl's Epidermal Re-texturizing Micro-dermabrasion

Price: Php 3,045.00 / 75ml (Kiehl's Philippines)

Ingredients:

Aqua/Water, Alumina, Paraffinum Liquidum/Mineral Oil, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Butyrospermum Parkii/Shea Butter, PEG-100 Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Solum Diatomeae/Diatomaceous Earth, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Butylparaben, Epilobium Angustifolium/Epilobium Angustifolium Extract, Disodium EDTA, Hydrolyzed Algin (according to cosdna.com, hydrolyzed algin is comedogenic)

Descriptions:

• An advanced treatment that has a highly effective abrading quality on skin’s surface.

• Affords an immediate skin-smoothing effect and with regular, tri-weekly use, helps to visibly minimize discolorations and small marks on face, hands, and décolleté.

• Over time, the look of facial lines is reduced and skin texture is significantly smoother and clearer, while the appearance of pore size is diminished.

• As skin is re-texturized, it helps to facilitate the absorption of topical skin treatments to maximize their efficacy.

• Formulated with “diatomatious earth”– crushed microshells derived from ocean sand – as well as a powerful ingredient used by dermatologists to perform micro-dermabrasion procedures.

• Helps to soothe skin with an herbal blend and nurturing sea algaenates. 

- Source: Kiehl's official website

Review:

I've only used this product a few times but the small sample I've got is a reasonable amount for me to see the product's impressive performance. The saleslady from Kiehl's instructed me to use this scrub two to three times a week, but my rule of thumb is, any type of mechanical exfoliation I will only use once a week. And with a relatively lower frequency in a week means that it would take the product a long time to be used up. 

I've tried a number of exfoliating products before, and this by far is my most favorite. The abrasives of the scrub are very tiny and comfortable on skin. Of course, it doesn't mean that I could freely scrub this rigorously on the face. As with any type of scrubs, I use this gently and slowly. So those with heavy hands, be extra careful!

I use this in place of the facial wash once a week, although the saleslady said that I can use this together with my facial wash for a more thorough cleansing. I think a one-step cleansing step is already enough for me. After using it, I notice my face becoming brighter and softer. It is working well with my oily and acne-prone skin.

The abrasives of product is non-irritating to my skin, although I"ve read a few reviews from Makeupalley users stating that it did irritate their sensitive skin. But so far, majority of the votes still favors the product, and I agree with them. If you have super-sensitive skin type though, perhaps using any type of exfoliant should be avoided, or try a small patch test first before trying this out on the entire face.

Pros:

- non-irritating to most people

- contains moisturizing ingredients such as glycerin and shea butter

Cons:

- very expensive

Verdict:
I am so loving the results the Kiehl's Epidermal Re-texturizing Micro-dermabrasion had on my skin, and so does my sister! The sample we've got is almost used up, but since it was so expensive, we decided to put off our purchasing plans in the meantime. 

Update (December 5, 2015): I am having a bad skin problem for the past few months and so I finally decided to buy this product. We'll see if this would help solve my skin issues.

Rating: 4.5/5

Last Updated: December 16, 2015