Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Gel ($52.00 for 1.69 fl. oz.) is supposed to be a hydrating serum that uses the following ingredients (as called out by the brand): Pro-Vitamin B5 for “attract[ing] and hold[ing] hydration to skin,” Pineapple Ceramide to “help boost luminosity and improve the appearance of skin texture and tone,” sodium hyaluronate crosspolymer for “intense hydration,” and “watermelon rind/apple/lentil complex” for “up to 24 hours of skin hydration.”

It had a clear, gel-like consistency that spread easily across the skin, and one to two pumps was all I needed to get enough product for my entire face and part of my neck. It dried down quickly, never felt tacky or greasy, but it definitely kept my skin hydrated throughout the day. I noticed the effect of it more when I used a more lightweight moisturizer in my routine (rather than a moderate to intensive hydrating one), but even when I was using a richer moisturizer with it, B-Hydra never felt like overkill or made other products feel greasy or heavy. I often use this one at night and occasionally in the morning if I’ve done a number to my cheeks through swatches. It is also nice under makeup when one needs more hydration but doesn’t want to use a heavier cream. I didn’t notice any scent to it.

Biologique Recherche Lotion P50 PIGM400 ($66.00 for 5.1 fl. oz.) is a marginally gentler version of the brand’s long-time favorite P50, which I have used (and I really enjoyed but prefer the PIGM400 slightly). One of the big “wins” is that the PIGM400 smells less abrasive (less vinegar-like) compared to P50. The scent hasn’t bothered me (even in the original formulation), and I don’t find it lingers. It’s supposed to “exfoliate, hydrate, and balance the pH of the skin” and is the “prep step before any skincare.” It is an exfoliating toner that uses the following active ingredients: “Alpha-Hydroxy-Acids, Australian Finger Lime Extract, Beta-Hydroxy-Acids, Poly-Hydroxy Acid, Phytic Acid, Levulinic Acid.” I find it works really well for keeping my skin smooth with a better overall tone–less ruddiess, less hyperpigmentation, and just a more even tone. It was one of the few products that I felt made a measurable difference in my routine, which is obvious as I’ve gone through almost two bottles, and this post is reminding me to pick up a new bottle as my current is getting low!

It’s available in three sizes; the one pictured here is the medium (5.1 fl. oz.) size, which lasted for around four months for me.

Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream ($45.00 for 8.1 oz.) is a very rich, heavy cream with an equally heavy fragrance (described as “pistachio-caramel,” though I get creamy, sweet and fruity, beach and sand kind of vibe from it). It had the kind of scent that I could smell at any given moment during the day and many hours later. It’s not my favorite scent (personal preference), though my husband likes it and can always tell when I’ve used this cream. I would highly recommend ensuring that the scent is up your alley before splurging!

The cream absorbed within five to ten minutes as long as I was very sure to massage the cream in for a few minutes until I could no longer see the cream on my skin, but just lightly rubbing or massaging (as I do with most other creams!) wasn’t sufficient and just left the cream sitting on top of my skin. It hydrated well and the effect lasted without needing to use it daily, but I did not notice any firming or smoothing of skin.

Sol de Jeneiro Brazilian 4 Play Moisturizing Shower Cream-Gel ($25.00 for 13.0 fl. oz.) is a frothy, cream body wash that kept my skin lightly hydrated and never left my skin feeling stripped. I liked it, but my husband loves it; the household has gone through three bottles of it. The body wash has a light-medium, creamy texture that lathers up well without being too frothy nor requiring too much product for total body cleansing. I need a lot more hydration for my body, since I’m terrible at consistently applying body moisturizer, so while it didn’t dry out my skin and may have marginally hydrated it, it was just a nice effect but not a significant one as it was not replacing any step in my routine. For me, it has been an indulgence and not a must-have.

It has a strong scent, which the brand describes as “pistachio-caramel,” and it absolutely lingers throughout the day, though it is subtle and doesn’t seem to interfere with the scent of a perfume if I wore one on top. That is by design, so if scented body washes aren’t for you, I’d skip this one.

Tatcha Violet C Radiance Mask ($68.00 for 1.7 oz.) is supposed to be an “anti-aging” mask that brightens and improves skin texture and tone. It had a light-medium weight texture that was creamy and spreadable on the skin; it was easy to apply a thicker layer but equally easy to go for a very thin layer. There was a subtle, berry-ish scent that I barely noticed–only when I initially opened the jar and started to work the product across the skin was the scent present to my nose. I’ve used this a dozen times now, and I never notice anything significant after using it — at best, slightly more hydrated skin that feels a bit pampered, but I don’t get brighter skin, didn’t see an uptick in evenness or texture (but I would say my skin is fairly smooth normally with only some unevenness in tone). It was a very comfortable mask to wear, easy to wash off (as directed), and definitely didn’t hurt my skin, but I didn’t personally see enough benefits to repurchase it.

Tatcha Pure One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil ($48.00 for 5.1 fl. oz.) is supposed to be a “two-in-one makeup remover and cleanser” that will break down “even waterproof makeup.” I know I tried this a couple of years ago, but it didn’t register as more than a blip on my radar at the time. My sister raves about it, though, so I figured I’d give it another try and picked it up whenever I last indulged in Tatcha products. I liked it, and I felt it did its job well–it broke down all of my makeup, whether waterproof mascara, full coverage foundation, or red lipstick–without leaving behind any filmy or greasy residue. There was a light, clean, floral scent that I could barely detect personally.

Farmacy Honey Potion Renewing Antioxidant Hydration Mask ($56.00 for 4.1 oz.) is supposed to hydrate and smooth the skin that has a warming, tingling effect as one massages it into the skin that is noticeable for about ten minutes (in my experience). Per the brand, the mask should be left on for 10 to 15 minutes before rinsing off and can be used two to three times per week. It had a sweet, honey scent and had the consistency of a smoother, less-sticky jelly that turns into a creamy, white consistency after being massaged onto the skin.

It was a strong enough warming, tingling sensation that I think that has to be an effect one enjoys in a mask to consider this product. The first time I used it, the effect was a bit too uncomfortable for me, and I removed it after five minutes, but subsequent uses were more tolerable. It took me a few uses before I was able to figure out the right amount of product to apply as well. One of the neat aspects about the product was actually in the packaging: the included, metal spatula stuck to the jar, which made it easy not to lose it! The mask itself is not one I’d use right prior to an event but a day or two ahead as prep for an event, as it did leave my skin slightly redder initially, but the next day, my skin did seem brighter,slightly glowier and plumper overall.

Clarins Fix’ Make-Up (2017) ($29.00 for 1.7 fl. oz.) is supposed to be a setting spray that “keeps makeup looking freshly applied for hours” while also “moisturi[zing] and sooth[ing]” the skin. The mist is particularly lovely, as it was ultra-fine and never spit onto the skin with big droplets, and the fineness of the mist seemed to cover the skin more evenly than less fine mists do. I felt like it extended the wear of my makeup by a couple of hours–not the most intensive, most effective setting spray–but it also was one of the lightest, least detectable (weightless and natural in feel after it dried down) setting sprays I’ve tried. Like most setting sprays, that mist also helped to tamp down any excess powderiness and breathe a little life back into the skin for anyone who has a tendency toward mattifying products.

Kiehl’s Crème de Corps ($48.00 for 16.9 fl. oz.) has been a long-time favorite for me–almost a decade of love!–and I might have reviewed in the past, but I have newer photos and did intend to review it at some point, so let’s do a speed review of it! Over the last couple of years, I have found that squalane is particularly effective for me for keeping my skin hydrated, so it didn’t surprise me at all when I saw it as the second ingredient (right after water) in this formula, as it has served me well over the years.

It’s a light-medium thick lotion-cream hybrid–it absorbs faster than most creams but is heavier than a true lotion formula–that dries down to a non-sticky feel, starts to smooth and hydrate the skin immediately and keeps going all day long. There’s no lingering greasiness, which makes it comfortable to wear, even if I slip on clothes before it’s fully absorbed into my skin. There doesn’t seem to be any added scent; it smells a bit like almond and cocoa butter to me, so it just smells like an unscented cream might to my nose (a lot like an unscented lipstick smells of its waxy base). It’s a go-to when I don’t want any additional scent on my body or if I plan to wear perfume, so I can get my hydration without altering my scent of the day.

Kiehl’s Crème de Corps Nurturing Body Washing Cream ($22.00 for 6.8 fl. oz.) is a product a picked up on a whim as I’m a big fan of the original Creme de Corps body cream. It’s a more expensive body wash product, and I felt like it was most “worth it” when I felt drier, particularly for legs and when I shaved them, as it did seem to make them a bit smoother and less scaly post-shower (without using anything else). There seemed liike a slight, hydrating film left behind post-shower, which may not be for everyone (it didn’t feel bad or greasy to me, though). To cover the whole body, a fair amount of product was needed, which again, made it a more expensive product that had a marginal, positive change on my skin but simply taking the time to apply body cream or lotion would do a lot more. It seemed unscented to me.

Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Gel  

Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Gel  

Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Gel  

Biologique Recherche Lotion P50 PIGM400  

Biologique Recherche Lotion P50 PIGM400  

Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream  

Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream  

Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream  

Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream  

Sol de Janeiro Brazilian 4 Play Moisturizing Shower Cream-Gel  

Sol de Janeiro Brazilian 4 Play Moisturizing Shower Cream-Gel  

Sol de Janeiro Brazilian 4 Play Moisturizing Shower Cream-Gel  

Tatcha Violet C Radiance Mask  

Tatcha Violet C Radiance Mask  

Tatcha Violet C Radiance Mask  

Tatcha Violet C Radiance Mask  

Tatcha Violet C Radiance Mask  

Tatcha Violet C Radiance Mask  

Tatcha Pure One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil  

Tatcha Pure One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil  

Tatcha Pure One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil  

Tatcha Pure One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil  

Farmacy Honey Potion Renewing Antioxidant Hydration Mask  

Farmacy Honey Potion Renewing Antioxidant Hydration Mask  

Farmacy Honey Potion Renewing Antioxidant Hydration Mask  

Farmacy Honey Potion Renewing Antioxidant Hydration Mask  

Farmacy Honey Potion Renewing Antioxidant Hydration Mask  

Farmacy Honey Potion Renewing Antioxidant Hydration Mask  

Farmacy Honey Potion Renewing Antioxidant Hydration Mask  

Clarins Fix' Make-Up (2017)  

Clarins Fix' Make-Up (2017)  

Clarins Fix' Make-Up (2017)  

Clarins Fix' Make-Up (2017)  

Kiehl's Crème de Corps  

Kiehl's Crème de Corps  

Kiehl's Crème de Corps Nurturing Body Washing Cream  

Kiehl's Crème de Corps Nurturing Body Washing Cream  

Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Gel  

Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Gel  

Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Gel  

Biologique Recherche Lotion P50 PIGM400  

Biologique Recherche Lotion P50 PIGM400  

Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream  

Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream  

Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream  

Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream  

Sol de Janeiro Brazilian 4 Play Moisturizing Shower Cream-Gel  

Sol de Janeiro Brazilian 4 Play Moisturizing Shower Cream-Gel  

Sol de Janeiro Brazilian 4 Play Moisturizing Shower Cream-Gel  

Tatcha Violet C Radiance Mask  

Tatcha Violet C Radiance Mask  

Tatcha Violet C Radiance Mask  

Tatcha Violet C Radiance Mask  

Tatcha Violet C Radiance Mask  

Tatcha Violet C Radiance Mask  

Tatcha Pure One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil  

Tatcha Pure One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil  

Tatcha Pure One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil  

Tatcha Pure One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil  

Farmacy Honey Potion Renewing Antioxidant Hydration Mask  

Farmacy Honey Potion Renewing Antioxidant Hydration Mask  

Farmacy Honey Potion Renewing Antioxidant Hydration Mask  

Farmacy Honey Potion Renewing Antioxidant Hydration Mask  

Farmacy Honey Potion Renewing Antioxidant Hydration Mask  

Farmacy Honey Potion Renewing Antioxidant Hydration Mask  

Farmacy Honey Potion Renewing Antioxidant Hydration Mask  

Clarins Fix' Make-Up (2017)  

Clarins Fix' Make-Up (2017)  

Clarins Fix' Make-Up (2017)  

Clarins Fix' Make-Up (2017)  

Kiehl's Crème de Corps  

Kiehl's Crème de Corps  

Kiehl's Crème de Corps Nurturing Body Washing Cream  

Kiehl's Crème de Corps Nurturing Body Washing Cream  

For the holidays, Lush has plenty of offerings to tempt you. Here’s a quickie overview of some of the products I recently tried:

Melting Snowman ($5.95 for 2.1 oz.) is a bath melt, which are supposed to be used either in halves or wholes and tossed into the tub as you fill it with warm water. They’re supposed to add a hydrating element to your soak. He smells of chocolate, cinnamon, and orange. The “chocolate chip” eyes don’t fully melt and tend to float and smear on the tub (not so sexy to look at), and I did find myself needing to scrub those bits away post-bath. It’s definitely hydrating and makes the skin feel softer afterward.

Cinders ($4.95) is a bath bomb that also has “crackling vegan candies,” so you’ll actually hear it crackle and pop a bit once the majority of the bath bomb has fizzed away (about a minute). It smelled like spiced cider, not too sweet or too spicy, and it really was like splashing around in a vat of cider. You can hear the candies crackling here and there for about five to ten minutes. This was my favorite of the bath bombs I tried this season. It turned the water yellow, and I think this might have worked better if it turned the water orange or tangerine? in terms of aesthetics.

The Christmas Penguin ($7.45 for 3.5 oz.) is a bubble bar shaped like a penguin–and he’s a rather pricey bath bomb as a result! Crumble his little penguin body into a hot bath for some bubble action. When used, it will turn the bath water a light blue. It had a slightly tart, slightly sweet mix of citrus going on–a little fizzy and lemon-lime like.

Golden Wonder ($6.95 for 7.8 oz.) is a larger bath bomb that has a treat inside–if you shake it around, you’ll here something rattling inside. It’s golden and has gold glitter on the exterior, and it fizzes away in about a minute and a half. It had a very strong, somewhat synthetic, sweet orange. I didn’t love it–it didn’t give me a really fresh orange fragrance, more cloying and syrupy sweet. Spoiler alert: the portion inside is a vibrant turquoise-blue and did leave some bluish residue along my tub, so be sure to scrub and wash down accordingly.

Luxury LUSH Pud ($6.95 for 7 oz.) is supposed to be a lavender-scented bath bomb. When placed in a hot bath, it turned the water a muted, magenta pink with some foaminess. It took about two minutes for the entire bath bomb to fizzle away. It smelled like a mix of sweet vanilla and lavender.

Sandy Santa ($9.95 for 4.5 oz.) is a body buffer in the shape of Santa. It uses sand and sugar to exfoliate dead skin sells, plus it’s in solid form, so it also contains coconut oil and shea butter for softening and hydration. I wouldn’t say it hydrated all that much, and it really melts very, very quickly. I highly recommend breaking off just a small piece, going over the skin lightly, but then rubbing what you’ve melted off in with your hands, not the bar itself, as you’ll just waste most of it. It smelled primarily of orange oil with a little lemon, and for me, it read synthetic. Breaking him into pieces, I was able to get three scrubs worth of mostly legs and arms but not much else. I was surprised at the price point, given how few uses I was able to get out of him.

Let the Good Times Roll ($12.95 for 3.5 oz.) originally launched for the holidays but made it into the permanent range due to its popularity. It smells like incredibly sweet sugar cookies with a very, very subtle cinnamon spice. It contains maize flour and corn meal, so it is a gentle exofliator with fine bits that leave skin feeling soft but never raw, dry, or red. As a gentler exfoliant, I really liked it, and I’ve been feeling like there’s a void in exfoliators/scrubs in my routine lately, so this has been filling that void nicely. Of all the products I tried this holiday season, this was the only one I’d consider buying.

Celebrate ($29.95 for 7.7 oz.) smells of champagne and citrus–primarily orange–and has a slightly whipped consistency that makes it seem lighter than it is, but it is a rather rich product, because even after two hours of my legs dangling (open to the air!), my legs still felt greasy and slippery. I ended up toweling off what wasn’t absorbing so I could go to bed. I tried it again, and I used the smallest amount possible, and I still felt somewhat greasy after an hour. I would actually say it could make a nice massage lotion, since it never seems to really absorb, so there’s a lot of slip, which is great for massaging! I will also mention that my husband really didn’t like this scent–he found it overwhelming (and he can barely smell, I swear). Like his reaction is encompassed by this scenario: I take one step into his office, and then he says, “What is that smell?” with this face that says, “Please step back.” It had an almost medicinal quality to the orange/citrus in it for me.

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Lush for Holiday 2013

Melting Snowman

Melting Snowman

Cinders

Cinders

The Christmas Penguin

The Christmas Penguin

Golden Wonder

Golden Wonder

Luxury LUSH Pud

Lush Holiday 2013

Sandy Santa

Sandy Santa

Let the Good Times Roll

Let the Good Times Roll

Celebrate Hand & Body Lotion

Celebrate Hand & Body Lotion

Celebrate Hand & Body Lotion

Olay Fresh Effects Bead Me Up Exfoliating Cleanser ($7.99 for 6.5 fl. oz.) is supposed to be a foaming cleanser that contains microbeads to “gently purify and lift away dirt … [and] softly scrub your skin.” A couple of weeks ago, I grabbed this cleanser to try for an evening cleanser for light makeup days, and I wanted something more budget-friendly. I’ve only used it a handful of times, because every time I use it, it’s like spraying a bottle of perfume on my face (and in my mouth, because it’s so potent, I feel like I can taste it, even though I’m not putting it on my mouth!). It’s extremely high in fragrance; it’s a strong, floral scent. I can’t recall coming across anything that was this strong in fragrance, where I felt like I could taste it (but I know there was a moisturizer, by another brand, that was so heavily scented, I didn’t test it for long either).

The texture is a thick, creamy consistency that squeezes out of the tube.  It lathers and foams well, and the beads are there but not in a high concentration, so it is very gentle and seemed suitable to my skin on a regular basis. It didn’t leave my skin feeling stripped or “squeaky” clean, which I liked, and it was able to cleanse away daily dirt and grime–but it doesn’t work well on makeup. It left noticeable amounts of eyeliner, mascara, and medium-coverage foundation when I tried it when I did wear light makeup (I will note, though, that it doesn’t call out removing makeup, but since I know a lot of us like double-duty cleansers, it was still something I tried it with in case it did).  I can’t speak to any long-term effects, because it’s really not something I wanted to keep using.

Ingredients

Water, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Glycerin, Sorbitol, Oxidized Polyethylene, PEG 200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate, Sodium Myristoyl Sarcosinate, Sodium Trideceth Sulfate, Acrylates Copolymer, PEG 7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Citric Acid, PEG 100, Titanium Dioxide, Fragrance, Lauric Acid, Polyquaternium 10, Disodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Ascorbic Acid, BHT, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone

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Olay Fresh Effects Bead Me Up Exfoliating Cleanser

Olay Fresh Effects Bead Me Up Exfoliating Cleanser

Finally Permanent: MAC Volcanic Ash

MAC Volcanic Ash Exfoliator ($28.00 for 3.4 fl. oz.) is supposed to be a “foaming, cleansing, and exfoliating scrub” that combines volcanic ash with sugar crystals that is supposed to “leave skin feeling soft and comfortable clean.”  I’ve been using this exfoliator on and off since it originally debuted in 2008.  Why any brand rolls out limited edition skincare (or other basics, like eyeliners) is beyond my comprehension, but MAC has continued to re-release this exfoliator since 2008 in limited edition quantities.  However, it is now part of the permanent skin care range!

It’s a great sugar-based exfoliator that spreads evenly, easily, and foams and lathers up as you massage the granules against the skin.  It definitely leaves skin feeling softer and smoother in a few minutes.  I prefer using this in the shower–still, even after all these years!–because it also has black ash that creates a gray lather, so it’s easier to make sure it all washes off and doesn’t stay on the counter in the shower.  I haven’t used it in awhile, but I used it last night, and it is really a nice exfoliator.  It’s simple, effective, and is fun to use.

I was looking back on my previous reviews, though, and I was surprised to see the price of this change $8.50 over the past three years ($9.00 over the past four years, plus after it re-released the first time and they put it in a new tube and did some reformulation, quantity went down by about 25%).  It’s more observation than anything else, as I so rarely repurchase skincare that I’m not certain how much other brands increase skincare prices year-to-year.  MAC says it can be used on both face and body, but at this price point, it’ll just be a facial exfoliator for me!

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MAC Volcanic Ash Exfoliator

MAC Volcanic Ash Exfoliator

MAC Volcanic Ash Exfoliator

Renee Rouleau Triple Berry Smoothing Peel

Renee Rouleau Triple Berry Smoothing Peel ($85.50 for 1.7 oz.) is, quite possibly, the most deliciously scented facial product I have ever come across–but I am a fiend for raspberries. It’s a sweet, deletectable berry scent (I caught a lot of raspberry myself, but it also contains several other fruits). It is a chemical exfoliant, so it doesn’t have any beads, particles, or the like, that will scrub off dead skin.

It looks like raspberry jam, including seeds, and the texture is rather jam-like, as well, but it’s a little looser than the average jam. But I tell you, if you don’t get the urge to taste it at least once… (I managed to resist, but I do wonder!) I use this peel every three to four weeks, and I’ve been using this for about four months now. I keep it on for about ten minutes, but it can be worn for less and be just as effective. Essentially, if it tingles a lot, you probably don’t want to keep it on for a full ten minutes–go with what feels right for your skin.

My skin always feels ridiculously soft–almost so soft that it has a plumper feel to it–after I rinse off the peel with water. It’s honestly like a super skin treat each month when I use it. I’ve had a couple of facials, which are always enjoyable, but this is the next best thing for those of us who don’t have a budget that allows for regular facials. I find that my skin looks and feels smoother, brighter, and glowy (and stays that way for three to four days after). I love that this doesn’t irritate or redden my skin post-rinse, which means I don’t have to plan ahead about when to use it. I do personally like to use it on a Friday night, an hour or two before bed, as an end-of-the-week indulgence.

The jar I purchased several months ago is still quite full, like 85%, (you don’t need much for each peel, and it’s a product that you only use a couple of times a month), but even so, when there was a deal for 50% off, I had to pick up another. I always think about having my mom try it, but I fear she’ll get hooked and I want my backup jar! It wouldn’t even surprise me, because of all the moisturizers I’ve given my mom, her favorite is La Mer.

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Renee Rouleau Triple Berry Smoothing Peel

Renee Rouleau Triple Berry Smoothing Peel

Renee Rouleau Triple Berry Smoothing Peel

Renee Rouleau Triple Berry Smoothing Peel

Renee Rouleau Triple Berry Smoothing Peel

Oh, ExfoliKate, How I Love Thee!

Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment ($85.00 for 2 oz., $175.00 for 5 oz.) is something I’ve been wanting to write about but have no real idea about how to go about doing it.  I just don’t know how to explain WHY I love this product so much, and it’s not exactly something you can easily show. I also struggle with what to say in regards to this product, because I love it, and it’s not cheap. While I worry about any recommendations I may make (I worry that you’ll hate what I loved!), I stress out over bigger ticket items in particular!  Anyway…

The product itself is a thin, green-tinged (think seaweed, perhaps–moss? anchovy paste… no!) mixture of enzymes and acids (which is kind of redundant, but whatever).  This is not a scrub–this is like a cleanser meets mask meets scrub.  To apply, you squeeze out about a pea to nickel-sized dollop onto fingers, then gently apply in circular motions to damp skin.  Let it sit for about thirty seconds (based on your tolerance), and then rinse off, towel dry, and enjoy the pretty glow it leaves behind.   I don’t think you need much, but considering the price tag, I still find myself ensuring I don’t over-use.  (Though my boyfriend suffers no such affliction!)  It’s meant to be used once or twice a week, depending on your skin’s needs.  I usually use it twice a week myself.

I love the ridiculously soft feel of my skin post-ExfoliKate.  It’s so, so smooth.  It’s not dry, tight, or red after using it, and it’s not rough against my skin at all.  I know that ExfoliKate also comes in a Gentle formula for those with more sensitive skin, but I really didn’t feel much tingling (from the enzymes!) even from the get-go.  When I had my boyfriend try it for the first time, he felt the tingling much, much more than I, but after two or three uses, he didn’t seem to have any issues with it.  My skin looks and feels renewed and refreshed after each use.

One itsy-bitsy tube has lasted me about four months (I bought my first tube back in October ’09 but didn’t start using it right away), but I’ve definitely had lapses where I’ve only used it once a week or less… but then again, the boyfriend has definitely used more than copious amounts in the time I’ve had it in the bathroom!  All in all, I do think the 2 oz. tube lasts a good while, so it won’t be as if you’ll run through a single tube in a month or even two.   Not to say it’s cheap stuff, though!

There is one thing I have learned after having acne-prone skin for several years now–good skincare is worth it.  If you find something that works, it’s probably worth sticking to, rather than hunting for something cheaper and just as effective.  That’s just my motto nowadays; it’s worth the investment in my skin.  A good product doesn’t have to be expensive, either, but if it is and it works (and obviously, you’ve tried more than just that!), I see no reason to go elsewhere.  Once you find a solid skincare routine, you can plan to stock-up during sale events or triple points or whatever.

I like that it’s really easy to use, and you don’t have to set aside a large chunk of time to get a nice, enzyme-based exfoliation session in.  I love masks and all those kinds of products, but too often I completely forget about using them, but I always have a few minutes to spare for quick and effective exfoliation.    The packaging is simple, but I’ve found it works.  It dispenses product without a fuss–you don’t have to worry about getting too much out–and it’s pretty hygienic.  I could see that a pump might work better, but given my recent experience pump-packaging, it’d likely dispense way too much.  And this isn’t a product I want to waste a single drop of!

If you want to know more about how products are evaluated, read out Rating System FAQ!

• Product: 30/30
• Value: 7/10
• Ease of Use: 5/5
• Packaging: 4/5

Recommendation: I am always hesitant to recommend anyone to shell out so much for so little product, even if I’ve experienced good results with it. If you can, I’d definitely try a sample OR purchase from a retailer with a solid return/exchange policy in case you really don’t get any magic out of it. I still can’t commit to buying the big daddy size, though I’ve purchased this product twice now.

Availability: Sephora

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Mild Cleanser: Kiehl’s Rare Earth Deep Pore Daily Cleanser

Kiehl’s Rare Earth Deep Pore Daily Cleanser ($22.50 for 5.0 fl. oz.) is described as a mild, foaming, deep cleansing formula for normal to oily skin types to “purify and thoroughly cleanse” without stripping skin. It uses “Amazonian White Clay and finely crushed diatomaceous earth particles to gently remove surface debris, toxins, and oils.” It purports to help minimize the appearance of pores (read: it does not actually minimize them, just minimizes the appearance of them) as well. There are also a few additional products from the Rare Earth line-up: Pore Refining Tonic, Pore Minimizing Lotion, Pore and Cleansing Masque.

It’s a thick, slightly creamy, mostly white (perhaps, a little grayed white) cleanser that you squeeze out of the tube. I use about a dime-size amount of product, and I find it’s more than enough to thoroughly cleanse my face and neck during my morning shower. It lathers up just enough to give you the “it’s doing something” feeling, and my skin definitely feels clean post-shower, but it doesn’t feel dry, stripped, or tight.

• Duration: 2 weeks, once daily (AM)
• Applied With: Clean fingers (used in the shower)
• Alongside: PerriconeMD Face Finishing Moisturizer (AM), L’Occitane Creme Divine (PM), Aveeno Positively Radiant Makeup Removing Cleanser (PM), Mario Badescu Drying Lotion/Drying Cream (as treatments, as needed)

This is probably one of the more gentle cleansers I’ve ever tried that’s also supposed to exfoliate. It has diatomaceous earth as its scrubby bits, but I found I could hardly feel them. If I wasn’t trying to think about all the nuances of the product for a review, I might never have really thought about it as an exfoliator whatsoever. I would certainly have to agree with Kiehl’s claim that it is a mild and gentle cleanser.

Bottom Line: I liked it a lot, and if I wasn’t regularly trying out new skincare products for review, I would consider repurchasing it. It’s a very mild cleanser that’s effective without being harsh. It doesn’t have too many frills, which is something I like – less frills, less over-the-top claims.

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• Product: 28/30
• Value: 9/10
• Ease of Use: 5/5
• Packaging: 4/5

Recommendation: If you’re looking for a gentle cleanser, you might like Kiehl’s Rare Earth Deep Pore Daily Cleanser!

Availability: Nordstrom

Warm Up Your Mornings: Aveeno Positively Ageless Warming Scrub

Aveeno Active Naturals Positively Ageless Warming Scrub ($9.29 for 4 oz.) is a gentle exfoliator with a warming feel.  It uses shiitake mushrooms in it (this is where you might find your “anti-aging” properties).  Like most thermal products, it heats up when it comes into contact with water.  It has very fine, sand-like exfoliating beads that slough away dead skin without being overly abrasive nor too fine that you’re not sure if it’s doing the job right or not.  I’m not going to discuss the anti-aging claims, because even if they worked, I’d unlikely to be able to tell since I’m 23 and don’t have too many signs of aging yet (thankfully).  The skeptic in me doesn’t really feel that a scrub that you rinse and wash off in a few minutes is likely to turn back the hands of time in a truly significant way either.

I was really, really impressed by Aveeno’s Warming Scrub, and it’s definitely a new favorite and easily in line to become a shower staple.  As someone who pretty much lives and breathes new products, it’s always difficult to actually stick with a staple–but for the sake of argument, if I was a normal consumer, this would totally be a buy and buy again product.  It smells kind of like a more natural version of baby shampoo.  I couldn’t think of a better description for the scent other than that; it’s kind of clean, lightly sweetened, kind of natural.  I liked the scent quite a bit, just because it was soft, pleasing, and relaxing.

The exfoliating bits and bobs in this product seem gentle enough to be used several times a week, and I’ve encountered no problems using it about three or four times a week.  I use mine in the shower, so typically in the AM, so I don’t have to worry about getting off any makeup.  I’ve been a long-time user and fan of Aveeno products, so I’m happy to see this one work out for me as well.  I think I’ll have to pick up a tube and pass it along to my sister and see if she likes it.  (We both grew up using Aveeno skincare products.)

For a very long time, my favorite thermal scrub was Prescriptives’ Instant Gratification ($45.00), with Clean & Clear’s In-Shower Facial coming close as a more affordable option.  Instant Gratification is much more of a mask kind of product, because it’s not something you’re meant to use on a daily basis (I used mine about once a week or less), and it’s more abrasive than both the In-Shower Facial and Warming Scrub.  I really like that I can use the Warming Scrub more often, because I love that thermal/heat sensation that comes along with it.  It doesn’t last long (20 seconds or so), but it’s so relaxing and a great way to start your day off.  Smooth, soft, and radiant skin, courtesy of $9 well-spent!

If you want to know more about how products are evaluated, read out Rating System FAQ!

• Product: 29/30
• Value: 9/10
• Ease of Use: 4/5
• Packaging: 4/5

Recommendation:  For an affordable, thermal exfoliating scrub, Aveeno has you covered!

Availability:  Drugstore.com