Exfoliation!

Exfoliation is one of the most forgotten aspects of skin care. Because our skin regenerates and sheds on its own, and many people know this, a lot of people forget that it is important to assist the skin in the process sometimes. High end exfoliation products can get COSTLY, from the Clarisonic to tube products, and are sometimes $25 or more, depending on the brand. But there are a few reasonably priced products that I would recommend, all skin types, 2 are from Aveeno and 1 is from Clean & Clear. For dry skin types, I DO NOT recommend frequent exfoliation. With skin that is already dry, over-exfoliating will dry out the skin even further and may cause cracking, redness, and extreme dryness. For ALL skin types, it is important to use a good moisturizer afterward. With that said, each of these are easy to find, from well-known and trusted brands, and cost efficient! ;)

1. Clean & Clear Morning Burst Skin Brightening Facial Scrub

Description (on container): "Clean & Clear Morning Burst Skin Brightening Facial Scrub is a specially designed formula, intended for all skin types, that contains skin nutrients and Bursting Beads® that burst with energy, and removes dirt, oil, and impurities deep down to the pores. This scrub, with a blend of caffeine, lemon, and papaya, also invigorates your senses and contains microbeads that sweep away dull surface skin. Skin looks instantly brightened, leaving you ready to day. Oil-free, Won't clog pores"

My Opinion: The scent is absolutely amazing! It has a sweet, lemony fresh smell. The beads feel very refreshing and gently break apart the layer of dull, dead skin leaving a noticeable brightness to the skin. Very good at cleaning off makeup, dirt, and oil buildup without being harsh or drying. I would recommend this for normal, combination, and oily skin types. I rate it an 8 out of 10.

Retails between: $5.35-$6.99 (5 fl oz)

2. Aveeno Positively Radiant Skin Brightening Daily Scrub

Description (site): "This daily facial scrub helps improve skin tone, texture, and clarity to reveal brighter, more radiant skin. Its unique formula combines moisture-rich ACTIVE NATURALS® Total Soy Complex with smooth, round microbeads to gently exfoliate while you cleanse, leaving skin soft, smooth, and even-looking. Oil free, soap free, noncomedogenic, hypoallergenic and gentle enough for everyday use, even on sensitive skin."

My Opinion: This one is my favorite, hands down! The scent is very light and the exfoliant beads are gentle and very effective! I have acne scarring from several deep pimples (cystic) that I have had and get occasionally during "monthly visits" due to hormone changes, and endure frustration from the dark marks that I get. This product has noticeably helped to reduce the darkness of the scars. I would recommend this product to those with dry skin, but NOT for daily usage. My only complaint about this product is a recent discovery. Allegedly, the microbeads contain plastic, which is not very environmentally friendly. If this is true, it will affect my rating (I will have to do further research), but if not, I give the product a 9 out of 10.

Retails between: $5.27-$7.99 (5 fl oz)

3. Aveeno Positively Ageless Resurfacing Scrub

Description (site): "Help reveal younger-looking, naturally beautiful skin with this scrub. Formulated with ACTIVE NATURALS® Natural Shiitake Complex and fortified with vitamin C, this gentle exfoliating scrub, with retexturizing microbeads, removes impurities while polishing away dead skin cells for a smoother, more even tone."

My Opinion: Although this product is from Aveeno as well, it's from the anti-aging line.You may ask, what in the world does a 20 something person need with an anti-aging product? Many dermatologists agree that the best time to start using anti-aging products is in the 20s and 30s as preventative measures ;). The consistency is similar to that of the previous Aveeno product, however, there is less of a smell (great for those with sensitive noses), and this product is fortified with vitamin C, which can help with dark spots on the skin and also brightening the skin as well. The main thing I dislike is the roughness of the exfoliating beads. I would not recommend this product for those with dry skin. After usage, there were a few times my skin appeared to be peeling or flaking, despite the product being labeled as "gentle". I give the product a 7 out of 10.

Retails at: $8.97 (5 fl oz)

* If you have any budget beauty products that you would like for me to review (makeup, skin care, hair care, and related items), please send your request to me at lindsi.green@gmail.com. Looking forward to hearing from you! ;)