Monday, February 18, 2013

To Scrub or Not To Scrub

There's something so gratifying when you scrub your skin. But be careful when you scrub (especially your face) cos if you scrub too enthusiastically, it can do more harm than good. Sometimes your cleanser and a wet washcloth is enough to get rid of dull and flaky skin. But if you're like me and you can't simply get away with the obligatory scrubbing, be cautious and always observe how your skin behaves after a scrub.

Most of the time, I use a wet nappy cloth to get rid of accumulated dull skin. If my skin is behaving well, I use St. Ives Olive Scrub or St. Ives Apricot Invigorating Scrub (just around the nose and chin). I like how St. Ives has always been against animal testing and how the company supports recycling. Plus their skincare products are now paraben and phthalate-free. Both are fruit based kernel scrubs so I’m getting the AHA that I need which promotes cell renewal (a small amount of AHA is not so bad for sensitive skin as long as you use it sparingly). And cheap, you get a big tube for the amount of Php200+.

Read on for efficient and safe scrubbing tips:

A pea-size amount is enough to scrub your whole face. Make sure your face is completely wet before proceeding with the scrub. Massage with circular and gentle motion. Rinse your face thoroughly; pat your face with a clean freshly washed towel. Don't forget to tone and put on moisturizer to avoid skin dryness.

Look for facial scrubs with granules that will dissolve in water as they’re more skin-friendly (or you can concoct your own! My favorite is oatmeal + honey).            

Steer clear of rough face puffs however natural they may be.

Be careful when you scrub around the cheeks. Sometimes it's enough to just scrub the nose, skin surrounding the nose, forehead and chin.

Scrub not more than once a week regardless if you have sensitive, normal, oily or combination skin. Resist the urge to scrub often however satisfying it may feel like.

Prevention is always better than cure. So always be safe. Happy scrubbing... or not!  

No comments:

Post a Comment