Dainty exfoliators just cause more problems!

August 1, 2006 5:07 PM

I can't stand dainty facial scrubs, and I need a new product.

I have perfectly normal, clear skin that doesn't take kindly to creamy, soft exfoliators. I like the power of tough scrubbing. The only product that I've found readily and that I really like is St. Ive's Apricot Scrub - the original, not the gentle variety. But, I've used it for years and years now and I'm tired of smelling the same thing. Can anyone recommend a very sandy/gritty/generally rough facial scrub? Body scrubs not containing sugar nor a pool of essential oils accepted, but I don't know about salt. Crushed nuts or nut hulls seem to be particularly awesome. I don't need salicylic acid. US$10-20 and under, preferably.

Thanks!

posted by fujiko to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (25 answers total)

Try Burt's Bees Citrus Facial Scrub. Gritty.
posted by cushie at 5:25 PM on August 1, 2006

I use dry adzuki beans (get them at a natural food market or asian market) that I grind into a powder in the blender. I keep the powder in a plastic container, and then just put some in the palm of my hand, add water to make a paste, and scrub away. I have an excellent complexion, and it blows people away that this is the only facial cleanser that I use. Works great!
posted by bolognius maximus at 5:25 PM on August 1, 2006 [4 favorites]

I am a big fan of Benefit's Bionic Blast! It's not bad at $22 - it's a pretty big tube.
posted by blackkar at 5:29 PM on August 1, 2006

How cheap are you?

If you are a real cheapskate, there's always Arm and Hammer baking soda at $0.67 a box.

If you're not quite that cheap, I like Oxygen Botanicals Exfoliant.
posted by ilsa at 5:47 PM on August 1, 2006

you might want to peruse this site before continuing to use an irritating herbal face wash / scrub.

note that I do NOT use, nor do I endorse any of the products sold on that site. however the info there is extremely worthwhile plus there are extensive reviews and real-world comparisons of most currently available cosmetics / facial care products.

I never had acne problems until I turned 30 or thereabouts. About this time, every damned thing in the cosmetics / skincare aisle started going 'organic' and 'herbal'. Bingo, breakouts. Drove me absolutely nuts. I had intermittent problems with this up until about two years ago when I lucked onto this site and browsed around.

poison ivy is organic too. doesn't mean I'm going to wash my face in it. The peppermint and citrus oils that are widely used in 'natural' ingredients facial scrubs are a known comedogen / irritant.

good luck.
posted by lonefrontranger at 5:52 PM on August 1, 2006

I had your exact situation. After using St. Ives for years, and I am addicted to Dove Gentle Exfoliating Daily Pillows. Don't let the name fool you. One side of these things is smooth, but the other is like a fine grit sand paper (I exaggerate, but not much). The great thing is that I can focus on peely areas like my nose, which was harder to do with a scrub.

They are filled with a pleasant smelling, mild foam. And, I find that I can use them at least two or three times (sometimes more if I am not wearing make-up), before tossing them.
posted by kimdog at 6:21 PM on August 1, 2006

I mix cornmeal and honey together when I feel like exfoliating my face, the cornmeal scrapes and the honey softens. I only use it every once and a while, but you might like it for every day. (Tastes good too!)
posted by wuzandfuzz at 6:31 PM on August 1, 2006 [2 favorites]

Buf-Puf Facial Sponge. It's a sponge for your face that lasts about a month, and you add your own soap. Very gritty. I used the single ones in high school, but in retrospect, that was pretty wasteful.
posted by hooray at 6:32 PM on August 1, 2006

I love St. Ives too, but recently I got a present of a 2oz bottle of The Thymes Olive Leaf Exfoliating Body Polish. Great stuff - I had to exfoliate constantly (desert air, you know) and it was worth it.

Has olive stone granules, walnut powder, olive oil, olive leaf extract, and vitamin e.

Make sure you're looking for the body polish, and not the scrub - the scrub has sea salts.
posted by Liosliath at 6:57 PM on August 1, 2006

Seconding the buf puf. If you need extra exfoliating power, there's a body version that is like the face version, but one side is extra scrubby. These things are cheap and can last for a long time.
posted by MadamM at 7:18 PM on August 1, 2006

I like both the pungent scent and rough consistency of Philosophy's Gingerbread Man hot salt scrub. I've been using it as a facial scrub for the past month or so, with no negative side effects.

I'm curious, though...why are the respondents to this question cautioning against sea salts?
posted by NYCinephile at 7:46 PM on August 1, 2006

Gojo is your friend. I like the Orange Pumice, but maybe Italian would be more your thing. $6 a gallon.
posted by vonliebig at 7:58 PM on August 1, 2006

I only mentioned it because the OP said they "weren't sure" about products with salt.
posted by Liosliath at 8:18 PM on August 1, 2006

P.S. I've tried salt scrubs before, so nothing against them. Also wanted to mention another slightly higher than OP's price range option -

Origin's Modern Friction

Great results.

And vonliebig, very funny. ;) OP said they had normal skin, not oily. (used that stuff heavily at the track, but it has a weird consistency)
posted by Liosliath at 8:26 PM on August 1, 2006

Response by poster: I'd like to thank everyone who's posted answers thus far. These are great answers. As for the salt thing, I've really never used a salt scrub and didn't know if it was suitable for facial use. Unless someone suddenly presents a cautionary tale, feel free to post those products.

Thanks again to everyone that's already posted, and I'll happily take more answers. It never hurts to try new things!

Also, bolognius maximus, Bobbi Brown stole your idea and is charging way too much for it. It's looking like the local market is definitely more my style.
posted by fujiko at 8:55 PM on August 1, 2006

Queen Helene Mint Julep scrub. Cheap and scrubby and awesome!
posted by crabintheocean at 9:41 PM on August 1, 2006

I used to use the St Ives stuff but it just wasn't doing it for me. Now I adore Totally juicy body scrub, particularly the grapefruit sugar scrub. I have oily skin that is also sensitive and am allergic to lots of stuff, so I alternate between dry and oily/pimpley and irritated/itchy, except when I use this stuff. It's great. The boyfriend has 'normal' skin and also swears by it.

I've found the trick to non-dainty face scrub is to use body scrub instead. Both my boyfriend and I use this body scrub on our faces daily with no problems. Just don't get it in your mouth, it really doesn't taste good.

I'm not sure about price since we're in NZ. It's about the same as St Ives here though.

I have a peel off mask from this range too which I like, but that may be more of an oily skin thing.
posted by shelleycat at 12:13 AM on August 2, 2006

I like this one from l'occitane. Best rubbed onto dry skin and rinsed off in the shower. The olive in it leaves my skin feeling very soft.
posted by essexjan at 1:49 AM on August 2, 2006

Nivea For Men face scrub is cheaper than many women's products, smells rather nice, and has (what I think is) the best balance of scrubbiness-to-gel and the right level of roughness.
posted by methylsalicylate at 2:58 AM on August 2, 2006

Naturade. I've gone thru about 4 bottles of this stuff and its great. Scrubs with walnut shells and doesn't have much of a scent (certainly not perfumey). (FYI I am a man).
posted by iurodivii at 9:00 AM on August 2, 2006

They don't sell it any more, haven't for years, but Body Shop used to make this face scrub that had little pellets in it... japanese something or other. It was incredible! I've used the Nivea for Men, it's decent but unspectacular.

I currently use the Alba Sea Salt scrub, with loofah. It says not to use on your face or delicate areas, but fuck 'em- I use it head to toe. It has sea salt crystals in a kind of almond-y liquid, and it just feels FANTASTIC. Leaves you with smooth skin and this feeling of a glowing sheen. Definitely not an every day use product, but I use it every 2-3 days and it always makes me feel great.
posted by hincandenza at 12:35 PM on August 2, 2006

Lava pumice soap (also available as a gritty liquid soap). Very exfoliating, and most likely pretty cheap compared to fancy exfoliators...
posted by crepeMyrtle at 1:27 PM on August 2, 2006

I'm with the OP here. I love the feeling St. Ives scrub gives my face, but I can't stand the smell. Now, if only St. Ive would read this and make a watermelon scented version...
posted by nakedsushi at 1:56 PM on August 2, 2006

I use ordinary soap and a facecloth. You could try fancy/liquid soap and the plastic loofah gloves.
posted by Tixylix at 4:34 PM on August 2, 2006

Liosliath - I'm not joking. I use Gojo as my normal body wash (but I work construction, so that may have something to do with it). And, a couple times a week, as a face wash. I like it because it isn't as chunky as Fast Orange, and and less abrasive than a bar of Lava soap. And it's the cheapest.

Your skin adapts, and you can't beat the stech of oranges and the feel of sandpaper at 5am! What a way to wake up.
posted by vonliebig at 7:34 PM on August 2, 2006