Review: Cake Beauty Citrus Squeeze Sinfully Smoothing Brown Sugar Body Scrub

Bought this jar of body scrub about 5 years ago and have been using it on and off since then.  Interchangeably, I use a loofah - probably more often than this jar of body scrub.  However, I do recognize the great results the body scrub gives. 

The scent:  Smells like lemon and other citrus fruits blended together

Consistency:  Has the liquidity of oil.  It's mixed with raw sugar that doesn't dissolve with time.

Application:  I use this after I've body washed.  I grab a palm full of the raw sugar and rub it along my legs and arms to exfoliate and remove the dead skin cells.

Packaging:  It didn't come with a box, just the plastic jar.

What it claims:  "... this will exfoliate and moisturize leaving your body irresistible with true citrus a-peel..."

Thoughts / Results:
Like what it claims, it does exfoliate well and moisturizes your body.  Works better than simply using body wash and a loofah.  Though, I suspect some people may not like the slight greasy feeling left behind from this scrub after you quickly rinse through.

As for the packaging, I like that it's in a plastic jar.  But I wish there was some sort of more hygienic way to scoop out the sugar.  Maybe some sort of a mini measuring cup that measures the average amount a person typically needs to exfoliate their body.

The smell of the scrub is perfect.  IMO, it's not overpowering and not an irritating scent.  As a matter of fact, it's quite refreshing.

Cost:  $32 CAD @Cakebeauty.com (Though I bought it when it was on sale)

Product: Cake Beauty Citrus Squeeze Sinfully Smoothing Brown Sugar Body Scrub
Rating: 4.5 / 5

Pros:
-  Exfoliate and moisturizes well
-  Comes in a plastic jar

Cons:
- Doesn't have a tool to scoop out the brown sugar

Review: Shiseido Pureness Pore Purifying Warming Scrub

This is my first facial exfoliant I've ever bought, so it is a few years old.  I haven't been consistently using it, partly because of the price for the amount of product I get.  =\ 

The scent:
Fresh, light floral scent.  Not an irritating smell.

Consistency:
It is a clear oily-sticky-feel gel with orange microbeads.

Application:
To prep my skin, I cleanse my face with whatever cleanser I'm using at that time.  Then if I feel like it, I'd use a facial sauna to steam and soften my skin to melt away the impurities in my pores.  Sometimes I skip this facial sauna step.  I dry my hands and face, dab the scrub on my forehead, cheeks, nose and chin.  Slowly, I massage and spread it all over my face until I feel the microbeads and granules have dissolved.  Then rinse.

Swatch of scrub

Packaging:
Comes in a 50 mL (1.7 oz) tube.

What it claims:
"Give your skin power over shine, imperfections and dryness.  A self-warming gel scrub that unclogs pores and removes excess oil for a feeling of fresh, deeply-cleansed skin.  Pores look less obvious.
-  Warms comfortably on contact to help draw out pore-clogging impurities and excess oil.
-  Contains microbeads and purifying granules for deep cleansing action.
-  Minimizes the visibility of pores while leaving skin feeling fresh and silky." 

Thoughts / Results:

White clumps = dead skin cells

I was first introduced to this product when I received a small sample of it as a gift with purchase.   Sometimes I can feel the the blackhead lumps caused by the excess oil.  So I like the microbeads and granules in this scrub as I feel it really rubs away the excess oil / dirt / impurities that clog my pores - especially on my nose.  Personally, I don't feel this scrub is causing too abrasive on my skin.  Though others may feel otherwise.  Shiseido's Pureness line is supposedly for combination and normal-to-oily skin.  Its products are suppose to bring balance to skin.  IMO, if you use too much of this product, you are possibly removing too much oil from your skin.  Thus, I'd recommend adding little bit as you're massaging and spreading it over your skin.  Using too much of this product also prevents you from feeling the "warming" effect.  The warming effect comes from the friction of micro beads and granules as you're rubbing it in circular motion over your skin.  This is also the problem for many people who claim they don't feel the warming effect.

I can definitely feel the results of this scrub.  My skin feels smoother, not lumpy due to the blackheads.  For me, the smoothness can last around 3 - 4 days.  These results are more clearly seen and felt on my nose.

In terms of giving shine to the skin, I do feel and see the shine.  Before using the scrub, my skin does look duller.  But I'm not sure about imperfections, at least it's not visibly noticeable to me.  I still see the dark areas due to developing/developed/no longer there pimples.  As for dryness, I do feel this scrub is more hydrating than the other brands of exfoliants - i.e. the B. Kamins Bamboo & Rice Facial Polisher.  Yet, I still see some dry peeled skin on my nose.  However, my pores do feel and look unclogged.  Thus my skin is left feeling smooth, fresh and silky.  But don't expect the blackheads to disappear, they may look smaller and/or less prominent.

Cost:
$29 CAD

Before; skin more yellow and dull

After using facial sauna

After using scrub; skin more clear

Product: Shiseido Pureness Pore Purifying Warming Scrub
Rating: 4 / 5

Pros:
- Leaves skin smoother
- Noticeably unclogs pores
- Restores shine to your skin
- Warming effect helps draw out the impurities in your pores
- Pores become less visible

Cons:
- Doesn't completely clear the dry peeled skin
- Warming effect is hard to grasp
- $29 CAD for a 50mL tube is a bit expensive

Review: AHA + BHA Daily Peel Pads

What's AHA and BHA? AHA and BHA stands for alpha and beta hydroxy acids, respectively.  They are also widely known as salicylic acid.  They are used as chemical peels of the skin which - when applied - dissolves or exfoliates the outer layer of our skin.  Essentially it speeds up the turnover of our outer layer of skin, removes dry dead skin cells and skin blemishes and in turn, improves our skin texture - soft, youthful-looking, minimizing fine lines, etc.  It is usually recommended to use these chemical peels daily because your body or your skin reacts to the dissolving of the skin by thickening it - a defense mechanism your body naturally performs.  
Now I bought these pads earlier this year - when it was still winter - to remove the dry skin on my nose area.  But I haven't been consistently using them since: (1) it wasn't winter, so my skin was AS dry; (2) I was just too lazy to keep up with using it every other day as recommended by the sales associate; (3) my skin itched after application.

The scent:
Smells like chemicals.  Not particularly strong, not a light scent either.

Application:
I wash my face with a cleanser first then apply the "Step 1 - Cleanse" pad, wait a minute for it to do its work on my skin then follow up with the "Step 2 - Peel" pad, wait another minute and apply my moisturizer.  In circular motions, I do go over my whole face with the pads but I concentrate more on my T-zone area where they tends to be more oily areas and more dry skin. 

Step 1 - Cleanse pad

Step 2 - Peel pad

Packaging:
It comes in two separate containers, each soaked with different solutions - Step 1 has the cleansing solution; Step 2 has the peeling effect solution.  The pads are made of thin cotton - one side is bumpy while the other is smooth.  I use the bumpy sides of the peel pads.

What it claims:
"A sophisticated 2-step daily peel formulated with alpha and beta hydroxy acids to exfoliate dead skin cells and help increase cellular turnover.  Step 1 cleanses skin and better prepares it for improved effectiveness of Step 2 - the peel.  This advanced formula helps to minimize the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and age spots, create more even skin tone and increase skin brightness and clarity. Skin feels revitalized and fresh, and stays moisturized thanks to hydrating ingredients that help prevent skin from over drying.  Results are softer, smoother and more radiant-looking skin."

Thoughts / Results:
One of the reasons I don't use these peel pads that often because I don't feel these peel pads work amazingly well.  My skin doesn't feel exceptionally softer.  I was told this B. Kamins AHA + BHA Daily Peel Pads works just like the B. Kamins Bamboo and Rice Facial Polisher but I find the polisher works a lot better.  It claims to give softer, smoother and more radiant-looking skin but I feel none of those results apply to me.  My skin isn't any softer and when compared to the polisher, the polisher does a more evident and better job.
Now I don't have a problem with the Step 1 - Cleanser pad, but the Step 2 - Peel pad cause itchy sensation on my skin.  I guess I can describe it as irritation.  However, the packaging does claim this product does gives a 'tingling sensation that may be felt is a sign that the product is active on the skin.'  Then again, it's a itchy sensation that I feel, not a tingling one.
My skin doesn't appear more radiant or bright after using this product. Though I do feel that it works on pimples.  I had a few pimples then I rub the pads over those areas and the next day, the pimple started to get smaller and disappear.
I do feel my skin has thickened overtime after using this product as I had a few milia formed on my cheeks and around the jaw.

Cost:
$59 CAD

Product: B. Kamins AHA + BHA Daily Peel Pads
Rating: 3 / 5

Pros:
- Helps relieve and diminish pimples
- I do feel the itchy sensation, meaning the chemical peels ARE reacting to skin

Cons:
- I do feel my skin has thicken as I find more milia formed on my cheeks and along my jaw line
- doesn't make my skin more radiant or bright

Is exfoliating your body part of your routine?

Do you exfoliate your body? How often? Do you moisturize after? Exfoliating your body is just as important as exfoliating your face.  It doesn't take long nor much effort to do so.  Just exfoliate your body once or twice a week.  If you don't want to continuously spend the extra dollars on tubes of exfoliating scrub, just run to the dollar store or Wal-Mart and grab yourself a loofah.  While you're in the shower and smearing yourself with body wash or gel, take your loofah and scrub away the layer of dead skin cells.  Don't be scrubbing vigorously until your skin turns red, just go scrub back and forth two or three times.  Personally, I think the crucial areas to scrub are the upper arm area where I would get little bumps from the in-grown hair and the legs, especially if you have stretch marks.  Why loofah the stretch mark areas? Well the stretch marks exist because your skin is dry and lacking moisture.  So as you may or may not know already, exfoliating the layer of dead skin cells can trigger the growth of your next layer of skin cells AND it allows better absorption of the moisturizing product you put on.  Right after you hop out of the shower and towel-dried your body, cover your body with a moisturizing cream or lotion - my personal preference: body butters.

PS: Hand wash your loofah once in a while to avoid bacteria build-up.  ;)