exfoliator

If you have sensitive skin, exfoliating scrubs can be a nightmare, wreaking havoc on your already easily affected skin. Reader ChampagneKisses says that Boscia Smoothing Facial Polish ($25) makes her sensitive skin glow. Take it away, ChampagneKisses:

"I had actually stopped using all scrubs because they irritated my sensitive, oily skin. Years later I decided to give scrubs another chance, so I went to Sephora and was told that the Boscia line was known for helping those with sensitive skin. I decided to try a sample and could not believe how wonderful this product worked. I had no irritation whatsoever and it left my skin looking polished, bright, and very smooth. I have been using it for a year now and it's really done wonders for my skin. Love it!"

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Brand-new from Philosophy is a range of mattifying skincare products called Never Let Them See You Shine. Each of the three items aim to cut down sebum production and reduce the look of oily skin, while leaving your face feeling refreshed. The light blue formulas have a minty, sea-inspired scent and are best suited for those with oily and acne-prone sensitive skin.

After trying everything out, I really liked the way my face reacted to the scrub the best. It's thick, but it spreads easily and the beads are smooth as opposed to feeling grainy and rough — so they don't irritate your skin. Plus, the menthol is the strongest in the scrub; after you wash it off, your face feels soft, smooth and cool.

For an up-close look at each of the products, read more

Having these grainy and sweet body scrubs in the bath and shower is just asking for trouble. After just one whiff, I'll never want to get out. For those of you who want to take a break from the doldrums of January and indulge in a summertime treat, here are three succulent scrubs that'll do the trick. And hey, if you have any Winter strawberries in your fridge that you can't bear to waste, try making this strawberry scrub at home.

Fresh Sugar Face Polish ($55) is one of those oldies but goodies that you can never say too many great things about. It's made with ground-up wild strawberries and brown sugar, so it's deep cleaning and exfoliating. One of my friends swears by this stuff, and considering the fact that her skin is always soft and clear, it's enough for me.

This Fresh Ripe Wild Strawberry Scrub from Peter Thomas Roth ($35) is more for the body than for the face. It's a sweet-smelling scrub that uses strawberry seeds as exfoliating grains. Not only does it deep clean, it also sloughs away rough, dead skin.

100% Pure Strawberry Butter Body Scrub ($22) is an all-natural, rich, and thick body scrub infused with coconut oil and shea butter to help condition while exfoliating. It also contains antioxidants to help brighten and protect skin. I can't think of a yummier way to scrub-a-dub in the tub.

I'll admit that I'm starting to get a little bit obsessed with exfoliators as of late and I'm especially interested in the really gritty ones. So when I found out about Bobbi Brown's Buffing Grains ($40), I just had to check it out. What makes this product unique is that it's a pure powder exfoliator, meaning it doesn't come mixed with any liquid, so you customize it and make it as smooth or as intense as you wish.

So before you start to think I'm a masochist who derives pleasure from scraping apart my face, let me explain. What I love most about this exfoliator is that no matter how much you apply to your face, the grains soften up and become less coarse in water. This way, you still feel them working but you'll never really scratch up your face unless you're scrubbing away like a madwoman.

The main ingredient is a ground bean called Japanese Adzuki, which helps to remove dead skin and encourage cell turnover. I found the grains to be slightly moisturizing and fragrance free — two especially positive qualities.

All you have to do is mix the buffing grains with water or your favorite cleanser and then gently massage it into your skin two to three times a week to create a soft, smooth, and glowing complexion. Another plus is the pour-top glass bottle that makes for easy and mess-free dispensing.

I got a little sample of this amazing Energizing Skin Scrub ($46) from Elemis about two weeks ago and I've been squeezing the life out of the poor tube trying to get out every last bit. It's not so much the smell of this scrub that's so enticing, it's the results that are so addictive.

The texture is pretty much all grain. It comes out of the tube as a liquid but it feels like wet, slippery, coarse sand. This is actually a product for men, and while I realize that it's not the most gentle face scrub, the resulting smooth skin speaks for itself.

This exfoliator is made with Vitamin E, marine phytoplankton, hops, meadow-sweet, shea butter and beeswax and was created to help prevent ingrown hairs and blemishes. It is recommended for use twice weekly, but I'm willing to bet that once you get your hands on it, you'll want to use just a little bit every day.

Origins Incredible Spreadable Ginger Body Scrub may be one of the best-smelling, calming products on the planet. I've had a love affair with this sugary, lemony, and gingery item for about five years now. It does the trick every time to bring me to my happy place during bath time.

Although it's not ridiculously expensive at $25 a pop, my indulgence adds up quickly throughout the year. That's why then I saw an amazing DIY recipe for another ginger body scrub I got really excited. To find out what you'll need to create this little slice of Chinese heaven right in your own bathroom, read more

Planning on taking a tropical vacation this winter? The next time you are at the beach, collect a heaping handful of sand and seal it in a Ziploc bag. When you get home, put the sand in a bowl next to your bathroom sink, and as you are washing your face, add a pinch of sand into your cleanser to create an at-home exfoliator on the cheap.

You shouldn't scrub too hard, and I recommend only using this sand concoction once every other day since you wouldn't want to over-exfoliate and strip your skin of its natural oils. I love this simple recipe; it reminds me of the Bobbi Brown Sandbar Soap, which I still think is such a simple yet smart invention. If you try it at home, please leave a comment and let me know what you think!

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Although I've been hearing about the Kinerase line for a few years, I've only recently tried one of its products. Available only in dermatologists' offices, Pro+Therapy Advanced Radiance Facial Peel ($85) is an at-home treatment meant to exfoliate dead skin and reveal more radiant skin. (I know that sounds like marketing speak, but after using the peel, I can't think of a better word than "radiant" to describe the results.)

The kit includes 15 lollipop-shaped applicators with sponges, each one pre-moistened with a blend of pharmaceutical-grade lactic acid, citric acid, and soothing ingredients such as algae extracts. You're supposed to use one a day for five days in a row, which was my original intention. It didn't work out that way, though. To find out why, read more

You've gone out and bought all of these fresh ingredients for Thanksgiving dinner, but you've still got some leftovers lying around. Instead of watching them go bad or killing yourself trying to concoct a makeshift meal with minimal groceries, indulge your body and pamper your senses with this fresh and yummy Thanksgiving-inspired body scrub. It's really easy to make — and now your insides and your outsides can savor the goodness of comfort food! Here's what to do:

• In a medium-sized saucepan, mix together and heat 2 oz. of apricot-kernel oil, 1 oz. of sunflower oil, and 1 oz. of jojoba oil.
• Next, turn off the heat but add in 1oz. of cornmeal, one teaspoon of sugar, one tbsp. of ground pecans, and six drops of lavender oil. Stir.
• When everything is cool enough for your skin, stand on a large towel (this could get messy) and gently rub the mixture onto your body in circular motions. Don't forget about your toes, your neck, and your knees — but you will want to avoid your face.
• Rinse off in a warm shower and don't use any soap. Allow the oils to moisturize your skin. When you are about to get out of the shower, give your body a cool rinse and then gently pat your body dry.

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This product from Cornelia Day Resort is perfect for clearing out your blocked pores and getting rid of dead, dry, flaky summer skin. Cornelia Essentials Retexturizing Thermal Exfoliator ($45) launched in August and is perfect for achieving a fresh looking, flawless fall face. What makes this exfoliator just a little bit different is that it is made with calcium chloride to warm your skin upon contact.

Not only does this instantly open up your pores, but it increases oxygen flow to your skin, dissolves impurities, removes toxins and—supposedly—it feels amazing!

Using it is pretty simple: Gently massage a thin layer over a damp, clean face. Don't focus on one area only. Instead, use large circular motions so you don't scratch and irritate your skin. Rinse with warm water, and follow with a serum or moisturizer. It's safe to use once or twice a week.

Doesn't this sound great? It's like having a spa experience right in the comforts of your own home! I am anxiously awaiting mine in the mail and I'll be back with a product review soon.