The Vine: October 12, 2007
Hey, Sars,
I’ve got a question that I’m hoping either you or your readers can help me with. A makeup consultant at the Lancome counter at Macy’s recently recommended that I use a facial exfoliant with “really large beads” to help with my oily skin, dead skin build-up and breakouts. I told her I currently use St. Ives Apricot Scrub, but she told me that that product is formulated for dry-to-normal skin and is too weak for me. I didn’t ask for a product recommendation because I can’t afford a pricey Lancome exfoliant, and I thought it would be just as easy to find a “big bead” exfoliant at the local drug store.
So now I’m kicking myself, because every damn scrub at the CVS says it “gently exfoliates.” Nothing in any of the products’ ad copy says anything about having large beads or being for oily skin. Do you or your readers have anything to recommend? I’ve used Proactiv in the past and liked it, but I would prefer something less expensive and/or something that doesn’t make you agree to future product shipments just to buy one bottle.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Signed,
Oily and Cheap
Dear O&C,
The only suggestion that comes immediately to mind is the Bliss line, which does not really qualify as “cheap,” so much, but a large-bead exfoliant seems like something they’d carry. I’m currently using Clean & Clear’s Daily Pore Cleansing Pads, which have “micro-scrubbers” on one side and “cool moisturizers” on the other; the scrubbers aren’t actually that micro, and they feel like they’re exfoliating but without the fine sandy grittiness of the apricot scrub.
Readers?
Tags: Ask The Readers health and beauty
I like Clean & Clear, too — I use their Blackhead Clearing Scrub and it works just fine. I think its beads could be considered large, too, at least in comparison with St. Ives’s shards o’apricot seed. Also? Very, very cheap.
I use Aveeno’s Skin Brightening Daily Scrub, and love it! (http://www.aveeno.com/productDetail.do?prodid=3876) I think I’m a more normal-skin type girl, but I do get pretty oily in my t-zone (which is where I break out the most, surprise surprise), and it keeps things in check if I use it daily.
Of course, I use a lot of face products that could be helping as well, but that’s what I use to keep things clean, and I think it’s fab.
I also avoid dairy in order to control break-outs. As in “I don’t eat any” kind of avoidance. That also works wonders.
Good luck finding the right thing for you!
The St. Ives doesn’t do shards o’apricot seed anymore, though. At least not in the salicylic acid version (for acne or oily or whatnot) that I was using prior to the formulation change. They switched earlier this year to some sort of synthetic sphere that doesn’t seem to work as well in the scrubbing. It made me (and my face) sad. Maybe I need this elusive “large bead” exfoliator as well.
You can make your own scrub easily, and make it as strong (abrasive) as you want. Mix salt (regular or kosher or sea salt) or sugar (regular or “in the raw”) with some kind of oil (baby/mineral oil, apricot kernel oil, almond oil, or even olive oil or other). If you want it stronger just add more salt or sugar. You can add essential or fragrance oils to scent it too, if you want. You can also make a scrub with baking soda and water (that’s more gentle). There’s no need to spend big bucks. You may already have in your home everything you need to make a good scrub, without spending a dime.
(if you make a scrub with olive oil and salt and you have extra, you can throw it in a salad or on some pasta – heh, clever!)
Good ol’ fashioned washcloths work too. If it gets you the result you are looking for, what does it matter of the scrub is store-bought or homemade?
And for a real heavy-duty scrubbing you can get a pumice stone and just go to town with it…(ouch!)
Loreal Adult Acne Response. Similar idea to Proactiv, has the exfoliant and all, but it’s cheaper (a little) and isn’t a lifelong commitment financially. Available at the Big Red Dot and other discount establishments. My best friend turned me on to this and I can’t thank her enough.
St. Ives has a Apricot Scrub for “Blemish and Blackhead” control. It combines the scrubby “shards o’ apricot seed” with 2% salicylic acid:
http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=53053&catid=48050
I have really oily skin, and this particular scrub has worked wonders for me.
Try “Angels on Bare Skin’ from Lush.
You buy it in bulk-type quantities, by weight, so it can be as cheap or as pricey as you can afford.
Hmm, you might want to try LUSH’s line of facial scrubs (www.lush.com); if there is a store in your area they’ll give you (big) free samples to try. Angels on Bare Skin has really, really big ‘beads’ of crushed almonds as the base of its scrub, but you might like Herbalism more if you’re prone to breakouts. It can be a tad pricier than over the counter scrubs: I pay $12 for a three-month supply. Just be carefull to never buy in bulk, the products have no preservatives in them, and when they say expiration date, they MEAN expiration date!
I have used the Olay Regenerist Daily Regenerating Cleanser, and it seems great and not so… sandy. I have oily-yet-dead-buildup skin too. But I don’t know how comparatively large the beads are.
St. Ives does have a Blemish Control line with their apricot scrub that’s more specifically targeted toward oily skin (http://www.stives.com/skin-care-products/facial-blemish-scrub.cfm), although I’m not sure why you didn’t find it at CVS.
The St. Ives MEDICATED apricot scrub is awesome! If you have any doubt, open the tube and smell… it’s not fruity, but smells like it means business (in a good way).
A few years ago a skin consultant told me St. Ives was terrible for your skin, because the shards o seeds are way too pointy and rough, and they tear your skin as opposed to exfoliating it. Dunno, this was part of a pitch to sell me Dermalogica products, but it stuck with me. The Dermalogica powder cleanser could be a little cheaper, but it does some heavy-duty scrubbing, and it’s not as pricey as some of the department store stuff.
I use this: http://www.neutrogena.com/ProductsDetails_376.asp
It says every day, but that is too much for my face. I always follow up with my regular soap (which also happens to be Neutrogena)
I would like to point out that while makeup counter people do have some training, it is likely only in the products in their own line and not about skin care regimens in general. The advice of one of those people is not akin to the advice of a dermatologist.
**Also… please consider that her recommendation for a large bead product could be code for “buy this particular Lancome products that has – wait for it – large beads.”
The “Neutrogena Acne Stress Control Scrub”: pictured here provides a pretty vigorous cleansing experience, I’d say.
Did the makeup counter lady say why larger beads would be better for oily skin?
I kind of think she’s making up the “large bead” stuff. I have the same issues and the stuff that’s worked best for me had very small scrubbies. You can get proactive in a lot of malls at the stand alone kiosks and you don’t have to buy kits – just what you want. Also, qvc sells it individually. If you want inexpensive I’d try someplace like CVS that will let you return things. Almost every line has a scrub; try out a few and see what works. I’m using the “microdelivery exfoliating wash” from philosophy and I like it. I’ve also used remede sweep and it is wonderful but pricey even though it does last a long time.
I am happy with Neutrogena’s Blackhead Eliminating Daily Scrub. Though it bills itself as a “gentle scrub” it is anything but, and definitely made for oily skin.
Just use your normal cleanser and some kosher salt. The salt costs about $1.59 for a lb and it will last forever. My skin is super oily and this has worked for me.
I don’t know how “cheap” this is ($16.50 USD), but my fiance uses it on his super-oily face and loves it. I can certainly tell a difference, too.
http://www.clinique.com/templates/products/sp_nonshaded.tmpl?ngextredir=1&CATEGORY_ID=CATEGORY4917&PRODUCT_ID=PROD715
Clinique is generally a good bet, especially if you have sensitive skin. Also, there are a number of ProActiv knockoffs lining store shelves these days for about $20 USD per package. I’m not brave enough to try them, but I’m sure someone out there has!
I like Origins’ “Never a Dull Moment.” It’s $23 for a jar, but you only need a teeny bit for your whole face, so one jar lasts a long time.
I got hooked on philosophy products a few years ago. I usually get it at Sephora, but looking at their website, it appears you can “shop by skincare concern”, including “large pores” and “oily skin”.
It’s not as cheap as stuff you can buy at CVS, but it also won’t break the bank.
I’m personally a big fan of their “greatest love” microdermabrasion scrub, which does, actually, leave my skin feeling so baby smooth afterwards that I can’t stop touching it.
Actually, if you can find a way to swing it, the Lancome exfoliant is kick-ass… that being said, I’m pretty sure Lancome also makes one of the more inexpensive drug-store brands… Loreal, I think (and, according to their website, Garnier). So I would start with one of those two brands to see if they have a similar-styled exfoliant.
I use Clearasil Ultra Daily Face Scrub, I feel like the beads are big, and like it exfoliates really well. A plus is the fact that at around 6 dollars a tube, it’s relatively inexpensive.
I use the Dove “SkinVitalizer” exfoliating thingy. It’s basically a wand that vibrates that you attach little “cleaning pillows” to. Each pillow has two sides, one rougher than the other. I have fairly oily skin and the rough side definitely takes off the dead skin and it leaves my face feeling SO SOFT. It’s not too pricey, and there’s an “e-coupon” on their website now for $3.50 off. I got mine at Target.
I’d suggest making your own, really, so that you can decide how big you want the “beads” to be. Usually, oatmeal is a perfect place to start for oily skin. Here’s a recipe I like:
Combine in a blender 1 cup rolled oats and ΒΌ cup dried mint until coarsely ground. Keep in a jar by the sink. Use a handful of the scrub with water to gently clean your face.
Blend it as finely as you like; the oatmeal tends to soak up oil and act as a gentle abrasive. Steel cut oats will be more “beady” than rolled or instant oats would be, but they’re also more expensive. A can of oatmeal is still FAR cheaper than anything by Lancome.
I share O&C’s love of Proactiv – nothing has worked as well as the cleanser for my oily, acne-prone skin, or the refining mask for livening up a dull complexion – but I hear her on the “commit to buy us FOREVAH!” thing. If O&C’s okay with spending a little more for Proactiv than she would for a drugstore brand, she can try eBaying it.
I’d also take the whole “really large beads” thing with a grain (or a really large bead? Heh) of salt. That just doesn’t make sense to me at all and I may be cynical, but I’m thinking that Lancome must have a “really large beads” cleanser that the consultant was trying to sell. If Proactiv works for O&C, she could try other OTC acne cleansers instead.
So, I am addicted to reading about beauty products. Not the actual buying, just learning about them. I can’t explain it.
Anyway, all exfoliators are going to say they’re gentle, because that is what people want to hear. You can pretty much disregard that, unless it specifically says it’s for sensitive skin. The trick is to get an exfoliator with beads, as the consultant said, rather than one with sharp, abrasive ingredients like, I’m sorry to say, St. Ives. Something like crushed apricot seed can scratch your face and spread acne infection, giving you more breakouts. Go with synthetic ingredients here – Clean & Clear, Neutrogena, etc. Also, try not to use it more than twice a week, or the effectiveness will lessen, and don’t use it where you’re having an active breakout. I hope this helps, and good luck!
I make my own exfoliant out of table sugar & Johnson & Johnson’s baby wash. You can add sugar as needed to make it more or less scrubby. My skin tends to be dry, and I like the J&J baby wash because it’s soap free. For oily skin, you may want to add sugar to another liquid cleanser.
I’ve used St. Ives for years..it should be fine. You don’t want to be too harsh since that will irritate the skin and cause more breakouts..
Too much exfoliating can irritate the skin and end up making it more oily. For a super cheap scrub – you can use a little bit of baking soda mixed with your regular cleanser or water.
I don’t follow all of Paula Begoun’s advice to the letter, but it is often a good starting point: http://www.cosmeticscop.com/learn/art.asp?ID=202
I’ve had good luck with Oil of Olay Clarify and Cleanse Daily Scrub. It’s got these weird blue beads that are pretty big, but smooth. Plus, you can grab it at any Walgreen’s or Target.
If you like Proactiv there’s a generic version that Target carry (as do Costco, the size of the bottles being sufficient to exfoliate half of Brooklyn, naturally) but of course I can’t remember the name. I’m sure someone else here can…
I use (and adore) the skin brightening daily scrub by Aveeno. It is a little pricy at 6 bucks but a dime sized dollop has gagillions of scrubbing dudes in there so it lasts a long time. The thing I like about it is that the beads are small, its like microsandpaper. The large beads tend to be few and far between in large bead products and honestly I feel like they scratch me more than exfoliate. Do not be fooled into buying the cheaper target brand product. It is NOT the same. Then I follow up with clean and clear continuous control acne cleanser to prevent flair ups. If I use the two together at least every other day, I’m set and zit free. If I get lazy, zits galore! The two together might run you 15 bucks for a two or three month supply. But hey, its your face, its worth it.
http://www.aveeno.com/productDetail.do?prodid=3876
http://www.cleanandclear.com/productDetail.do?productid=44&productpos=0
The only product that I liked more than this combo was Proactiv, but I hate that they send me stuff without me asking.
I think they were just trying to sell you on something. Most companies are going towards microexfoliation because it’s less damaging. The apricot pits in St. Ives are truly damaging to your skin, independent of its oil-producing nature. I use the Dermalogica daily scrub, though not “daily” as recommended. It’s made of crushed rice bits, much smoother and less damaging. Sure it’s $25, but it was totally worth it to me.
I used to use the apricot scrub and OW! It’s really abrasive!
Honestly, for my oily problem skin, gentle exfoliation is fine. You don’t want something that’s going to actually scratch your face (which seemed to happen to me with the apricot scrub); that will only invite more redness and irritation. I’ve used Clean & Clear and other drugstore brands with success.
My breakout prevention secret is the Neutrogena or CVS brand 2.5% benzoyl peroxide cream. (You can also find 10%, I find this to be too strong.) It’s the active ingredient in Proactiv and similar acne treatment systems. After cleansing, let your face dry completely, then put one or two pea-sized amounts of the cream on your finger, dab onto your face, and gently rub it in. ALL over your face or at least the T-zone, not just on breakouts, the same way you use Proactiv-esque lotions. If you can only find the 10%, dilute it with a little oil-free moisturizer.
I have had horrible skin since adolescence (now 23) and this is the only thing that has consistently worked. Make sure you use a moisturizer with sunscreen, as benzoyl peroxide can cause sun sensitivity. Also don’t wipe it on colored towels, as it can bleach some fabrics. Eep.
Speaking as someone with oily skin, you might want to try a chemical exfoliant, like salicylic acid/BHA (sounds scary but it’s not). Here’s a place with some info – About exfoliants: http://www.cosmeticscop.com/learn/art.asp?ID=159. Info about dealing with oily skin: http://www.cosmeticscop.com/learn/art.asp?ID=138. I would say that the Lancome person was just trying to sell you stuff. There is no truth that large beads are going to make your skin less oily, etc. You want to be gentle to your skin or you’re just going to irritate it. Wet baking soda and a wash cloth work quite well (don’t scrub the hell out of it :). The FDA does a crappy job of regulating the cosmetics industry so they can claim almost anything.
I use Oil of Olay daily facial scrub (I think it’s called). It has exfoliating beads (not sure if they’re considered large or not), and I love the way it makes my oily yet flaky skin feel. Plus, it’s about $7.
My experience has been that a lot of those makeup counter ladies DO NOT know what they are talking about. Who knows what training she has had… I think your best bet (if possible) would be seeing a derm.
But… have you tried the St. Ives Apricot Scrub for Acne Prone skin? I’ve used that in the past and I think it would be a better bet than just the plain one. It’s in a white tube with blue top.
Since you’ve used Proactiv maybe also try Acne Free. It compares itself to Proactic. You can buy it in drug stores… it’s a three step system, but usually you can also buy the cleanser separately (and it’s BIG). I know I get it at my local walmart. These “beads” feel fairly large to me, but aren’t as concentrated.
Not a specific recommendation, but a comment about packaging copy. Chances are that even a scrub made from shards of glass and bits of gravel will claim to “gently” exfoliate. That doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s got small beads or is for dry skin, it’s just advertising-speak for “will rip your skin somewhat less than a belt sander.” I mean, it could actually do the job gently, but it’s such a relative term (gently compared to what/according to whom?) that it doesn’t mean much. Some may say “gently exfoliates” and still be formulated for oily skin. I’m thinking maybe Neutrogena might have something?
I’m not so sure why it matters if you have big beads or small beads (heh – dirty). I have a cheap and effective solution from “Don’t Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me”. Use baking soda mixed with a little cetaphil or your regular cleanser – works like a charm.
I use a thin paste of baking soda and water to scrub in the shower. Then rinse with plain water, and then a rinse (or a pat-down with a soaked cotton ball) with cider vinegar diluted 1:10 in water to restore the acid balance. It’s stupid cheap if you get the store brand rather than name brands, and you can make cosmetic vinegar with various herbs and such if you don’t like the idea of plain vinegar.
If you’re feeling really masochistic, you can use finely-ground cornmeal instead of baking soda, or google for natural cosmetics recipes and see what you can find for oily skin.
I don’t know what your definition of cheap is, but Origins has a scrub formulated for oily skin, “Swept Clean”. I’ve used it in the past, and I like it a lot. It is 18.50 for a bottle, but you only need a little so it lasts. (I never used it everyday.)
I posted this comment earlier, but it’s not showing up for some reason. So I’ll say it again and see if it works this time!
I use Aveeno’s Skin Brightening Cleanser, and I love it. I have t-zone issues, so that’s where my oiliest spots are, but it handles it like a pro.
I also avoid dairy in order to keep breakouts at bay. It’s worked for me for 14 years now…
I use a thin paste of baking soda as a scrub. After that a rinse with plain warm water, then a rinse or pat-down of cider vinegar diluted 1:10 with water. If you don’t like the plain vinegar idea you can do an herbal infusion and make it into cosmetic vinegar.
You can also try googling for natural cosmetics recipes and see what you find.
I love Lush, so I plug them every chance I get, but their Angels on Bare Skin facial cleanser may have some of what you’re looking for. It’s made with almond meal and you mix it up with water when you use it, so you can make it the consistency that you like.
It may look pricey on the website, but it lasts and lasts. I’m still working my way through a chunk from a year ago, and it’ll last me another year, at this rate.
I don’t have a particular recommendation for “big beads” but I found that I had better luck using chemical exfoliants, AHA and BHA (alpha and beta hydroxy acids. I use the alpha (8%) at night and the beta (1%) in the morning under my sunscreen or moisturizer and have had fabulous results. No abrasive scrubbing necessary. The alpha works to brighten skin by clearing away the old, dead skin. The beta cleans out pores to prevent blackheads.
I’ve been using them for years with excellent results.
They’re not “cheap” per se, $16/bottle, but the bottles are huge and last me about 1 year each.
I get these from the Cosmetics Cop website. The brand is called Paula’s Choice and they’re created by the woman who writes those “Don’t Go To The Cosmetics Counter Without Me” books. Everything is fragrance-free, too, which is nice.
Lush has a great line of skin care products. Personally, I use Angels on Bare Skin, but I have dry and peely skin.
For oily skin, I’d recommend Coalface as a bar-type cleanser. Herbalism, which is more of the consistency of clay, is recommended for “sensitive, oily skin. Soothing powdered herbs with ground almonds to exfoliate, rice bran to absorb oil, clay to deeply cleanse, and antibacterial essential oils.” There is also Ocean Salt, which is a great exfoliator; it’s filled with kosher-sized salt grains. Plus, should you get some in your mouth, it tastes sort of like a margarita.
All the U.S. skin care products and consumer reviews can be found on this page. They’re pricier than CVS, but not nearly as pricey as Lancome. Bonus: they’re organic, not tested on animals, and a lot of them are 100% vegan.
I also enjoy Clean & Clear stuff, but I also use St Ives Apricot – I find natural exfoliants (like the walnut shell) better on my skin. They do have different formulations of it. In the winter, when my skin is more dry, I use the regular, but in the summer, when I tend to get shiny-faced from the humidity, I use the combination- or oily-skinned formulas. Good luck!
I have very oily skin too, and I’ve never gotten it analyzed but I discovered that using oily scrubs actually calmed it down. Guess it felt relieved of the obligation to provide all the grease. Trader Joe’s Sugar Scrubs worked really well for me –the orange/satsuma one smells amazing, too. The sugar has a nice consistency, and the grains are certainly much larger than what you get in more conventional scrubs.
I use Clean and Clear Morning Burst Shine Control Facial Cleanser (oil free). However I use a Buf-Puf to apply it to my very oily t-zone which manages to be oily and flaky at the same time. (Like most of my ex-boyfriends) I picked up both in CVS and probably paid less than $10.
Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Daily Scrub. It’s in an orange squeeze tube. It sounds like you have the exact same skin type as I do (fun, right?) and it’s the first stuff since Proactiv (which I am too cheap for too) that’s actually worked for me. I mean, I don’t suddenly have the skin of a newborn or anything, but it definitely works better than anything else I’ve tried off the shelf, including the apricot stuff. And it’s definitely in the affordable range. Good luck! And let me know if you find something better ;)