and work as a mask before you rinse it off with tepid water.
Make green scrubs and nonabrasive exfoliating lotions a part of your daily skin care routine. After
just one use, you will feel that your skin is literally coming back to life. Ideally, an exfoliation with a
chemical or physical scrub should be followed by a clay- or charcoal-based mask that will deep-
clean pores you have already opened with a scrub. Here are a few sumptuous techniques to enjoy a
spa-grade exfoliation and deep cleansing at home.
Green Tip
Add a drop of cedarwood or jasmine oil to your bathwater. These oils smell wonderful and help open up the pores.Green Product Guide: Exfoliants
How do you know that you have the right exfoliating product that suits your skin’s needs? This is
not a case of “no pain, no gain.” If the scrub feels uncomfortable or hurts when you’re using it, stop
immediately. Some redness is normal for chemical exfoliating lotions, which may leave your skin
feeling hot or inflamed. If your skin’s condition looks suspicious, trust your guts and act accordingly:
rinse off the product, apply a soothing toner, steep a cup of green tea to spray all over your face, or
better yet, soak a clean cotton towel, apply to your face, and relax. Wait several days to give your
skin time to recover. If the irritation persists, call your doctor. The following are my recommended
exfoliants, rated from one to three leaves, with three being my favorite.
Scrubs
Jurlique Daily Exfoliating Cream is a nongranular, rich, daily scrub that uses almond meal, oats,
and honey to gently get rid of dead skin cells. Please read the ingredients list carefully to make sure
that the current version of this product contains only natural ingredients.
Green People Organic Body Spa Sensuous Sugar Scrub is made of organic raw cane sugar and
a plethora of antioxidant and healing oils, including calendula, jojoba, rose hip, pomegranate,
cranberry, avocado oils, and olive leaf extract. Designed for the body, this incredibly soft scrub is
gentle enough for your face and hands. The scrub is packed in a recyclable plastic jar.
Dr. Hauschka Cleansing Cream is a product with a cult following, and it has rightfully earned
three leaves. This almond meal– based cream is rich in essential oils, organic plant extracts, and
juices. It’s very nourishing, too, because according to Dr. Hauschka experts, you do not need a
moisturizer at night, so the cream doubles as a lightweight hydrating lotion, and its oils are not
removed by the toner applied afterward. The only drawback is the small size of the tube.
For proper cleansing you need approximately one inch of the cream, and you have to massage it
into your face for up to five minutes if you have acne. (The cream is so soft, you won’t damage your
healing zits.) I found that one tube usually lasts for about two weeks, significantly increasing the cost
of my monthly skin care routine. But I am willing to put up with this extra expense because my skin
looks luminous and flake-free, no matter the season.
Nonabrasive Exfoliants
Ecco Bella Leave-On Invisible Exfoliant & Blemish Remedy is formulated with a potent blend
of lemon and lactic and salicylic acids. Its high content of antioxidants (alpha-lipoic acid, vitamin E,