BEAUTY
76 _COSMOPOLITAN _JUNE 2017
JEFFREY WESTBROOK/STUDIO DMYTH Every time you
scrub, it creates tiny
cuts on your skin.
FACT If used properly,
nope. Always apply
to wet skin, then use
your fingertips to rub
in circular motions
without pressing
down at all. “If your
skin feels irritated
or gets pink, you’re
being too aggressive,”
says Dr. Anolik.MYTH Using one every
day makes you glow.
FACT It’s true that a
layer of dead skin
cells is dulling—but
exfoliating too often
can lead to blotchy,
sensitive skin. Dr.
Bowe recommends
scrubbing once
weekly, then escalat-
ing to two or three
times if your skin
tolerates it.MYTH Chemical
exfoliators (AHAs and
BHAs, like glycolic
and salicylic acids)
are better than
physical scrubs.
FACT Anyone can use
either—what’s most
important is choos-
ing the right product
and frequency of use
for your skin type.
Scan the entire label,
front and back, to get
the full story.MYTH They’re illegal.
FACT The production
of scrubs containing
microbeads, tiny
spheres of plastic that
pollute the environ-
ment, will be banned
as of July 2017. The
beads are being
replaced by natural
polishers, like rice and
powdered nutshells,
or particles that
exfoliate and then dis-
solve with use.4 Scrub
Myths—
Debu n ked!W H E N
S H O U L D
Y O U
SLOUGH?
It’s most
beneficial to
do so at night.
“Shedding
dead skin cells
allows any
products
applied after-
ward, like
serums and
night creams,
to penetrate
more deeply,”
says Dr. Bowe.IF YOU HAVE...TRY grains
with added
glycolic or lactic acid,
which helps fade spots,
two or three times a week.
PRO TIP On days when grains
and acid feel too intense,
use this one as a mask. (Just
rinse without scrubbing.)
PIXI BY PETRA Peel and Polish,
$24 , Ta r g e tTRY a gentle
buffer with
zit-zapping salicylic
acid and soothing aloe
three times a week, tops.
PRO TIP Don’t be too aggressive
with acne—it can cause
inflammation and scarring, says
dermatologist Robert Anolik, MD.
CLEAN & CLEAR Acne Triple Clear
Exfoliating Scrub, $6, drugstoresTRY an oil-based formula (which gets
rid of flakes and hydrates at the
same time) twice a week.
PRO TIP “All skin types should
apply moisturizer after, but
for dry skin, it’s essential,”
says dermatologist
Whitney Bowe, MD.
ST. IVES Exfoliate and
Nourish Coconut
Oil Scrub,
$7, dr ugstoresTRY a charcoal one three times
a week. The black stuff acts like a
magnet to draw out excess oil.
PRO TIP “Don’t overexfoliate,”
says Dr. Bowe. “It could dry out
the skin, which may
compensate by making
more oil.”
YES TO Tomatoes Detoxifying
Charcoal Warming
Facial Scrub,
$10 , Ta r g e t