St. Ives Fresh Skin Invigorating Apricot Scrub, 10 Ounce

CUSTOMER REVIEW



I'm a guy and so I wasn't as well versed or educated about skin care products as women my age are. I only found out about skin care regimens over a year ago (and I'm in my mid-20s approaching my late 20s). As a guy, I thought, solely washing my face was sufficient. I went to a esthetician for a microdermabrasion appointment, due to the hyperpigmentation after marks and she questioned me about what cleanser, exfoliator, moisturizer, etc., I was using. I was surprised at my lack of knowledge. I didn't know what any of those, aside from a cleanser, was for, including exfoliating products like this. So I did a little research about what an exfoliator, moisturizer, toner, etc. was, seen the high reviews for this product, and bought this. I gave it five stars because the beads provide the necessary function of an exoliator in cleansing away the dead skin cells on the surface (epidermis-outer layer) of the skin that cleansers don't efficiently or effectively handle. Plus, although it does contain chemicals, I'm far more concerned with utilizing chemical peel. I bought a glycolic acid peel on here, used it a couple of times, and despite reading the instructions, was concerned because I didn't know if I was doing it right. Chemical peels also exfoliate the skin, but can be very hazardous if you're not highly knowledgeable about what you're doing or if you're not being cared for by an expert-and there's no f'ing way I'm going to pay approximately $100-$200 a week solely for an exfoliation. The part you should be careful with when using this product, is when you use this against your face. I've had episodes, including now, where the jagged beads left a red/pink mark on my face. So when you're applying this to your face and scrubing your face, don't apply pressure to the beads because they'll also apply pressure to your skin. Just gently move the beads across your face, let it to the job for you. Let it scrape off the dead skin cells so that new and fresh ones become exposed and accessed. People like to discuss the smell of products. For me, how a product smells is almost of no value, unless it's unbearably pungent. I only care if a product is working properly and effectively for me. But the smell is pleasant. Now another important portion of this review, part of the reason that this item has gotten the attention and acclaim that it has, by reviewers, isn't only that it exfoliates the skin, but also due to the price of this item. Where exfoliaters are unreasonably exorbitant in price, this is generally priced sensibly at Walgreens and other retailers, approximately $3-$7, along with the Mint Julep face mask which also shares similar characteristics as this, from the amount of people who love the product to its affordable price point. I read articles to see how many times a week it was advisable to use this product and I've encountered many websites with diverse recommendations from every day to 3-4 times a week to once a week or two. For me, I try to use it twice a week or every 3-4 days when I feel that dirt and dead skin cells accumulate on my face. That should be a decent amount. You don't want to use it too much or not too often, because if you use it too much, you're not allowing the new and fresh skin to breathe, because you're constantly ridding it from your face, and as a result you will first notice that your skin will become dry and then dehydrated and also sensitive and inflamed, and if you wait for an extended period of time before you exfoliate your face, the oil, dirt and dead skin cells will accumulate and will result in breaking your face out with pimples. So, two times a week or once every 3-4 days for me. Overall, 5/5 for the product.