There’s no better feeling than emerging from a day spent steaming and scrubbing until you’re blissfully relaxed, polished and super soft.
cover photo via: Google Images
I love my Moroccan heritage; boisterous mint tea and shisha partakings at midnight are a casual Tuesday evening family gathering, but my all-time favourite activity is, without question, lolling the day away in a Moroccan Hammam.
While a ticket to Marrakech would be far more favourable, there are a few favourite at-home exfoliating picks that work wonders from the comfort of my Toronto-based walk up. Here are the best of the bunch for summer skin as smooth as Moroccan sabra silk.
THE LOWDOWN ON FORMULATIONS
Believe it or not, there are actually three types of exfoliators. Generally, enzyme-based exfoliators are the most gentle, while chemical (think acids like AHA, BHA, lactic and glycolic) and physical (anything that manually scrubs skin, both natural and man-made from nut shells to facial brushes) are more powerful. “Most skins benefit from exfoliation once or twice a week,” advises Fiona Tuck, skin and nutrition expert.
Tuck breaks it down further, explaining that physical exfoliants “literally push the out the dead skin cells of by way of a mechanical abrasive action. These are fab for brightening and invigorating the skin but may be too stimulating for sensitive or inflamed acneic types.” She continues, “chemical exfoliants dissolve the intracellular glue-like substance that holds the skin cells together and are suitable for most skin types. Lastly, there are enzyme-based exfoliants, which work by having a proteolytic action on the skin (imagine these products munching up the dead skin cells by dissolving the protein.) Got it? Good. Read on to pick your best-suited scrub below.
FACE
If it’s an enzyme-based exfoliator you’re after, look no further than Amorepacific’s Enzyme Treatment Enzyme Peel Cleansing Powder. Formulated with both papaya and an innovative green tea and probiotic derived enzyme complex, this gentle powder transforms into a foam while transcending skin without stripping it.
Amorepacific – www.sephora.com
For a natural and organic skin-softening scrub, turn to Provence Apothecary’s Regenerating + Stimulating Exfoliator. Formulated with just six ingredients, this versatile powder can be mixed with anything from water to Manuka honey to yogurt to cream to oil for a made-to-measure paste that treats your individual skin’s concerns.
BODY
Not in the mood to hop in a shower? No problem — dry brushing is the perfect solution. Mega wellness conglomerate GOOP’s G.Tox Ultimate Dry Brush is a favourite for its natural bristles that offer just the right amount of stiffness for an invigorating yet gentle exfoliation. Volition Turmeric Brightening Polish is the most versatile in the bunch — it can be used on either face or body. Glow inducing turmeric paired with inflammation reducing sandalwood extract and ultra-hydrating olive and sesame oil equate to a trifecta of radiance.
www.goop.com
Beauty Counter is known for their high standards — strictly using safe, clean and quality ingredients that are equal parts effective and enjoyable to use. Their Sugar Body Scrub is no exception, and uses coarse brown sugar to buff and polish skin. Sweet almond, apricot and sunflower oils nourish skin, while its citrus and lemongrass oil spiked formula lifts spirits.
Prefer a salt scrub? GOOP’s D.Tox 5 Salt Scrub is on of the beauty line’s most beloved products, and for a good reason. It’s formulated with a blend of five mineral-rich, exotic salts like New Zealand solar salt, and Dead Sea salt. Packed with essential oils like rosemary and grapefruit, this scrub softens, hydrates and delicately perfumes the skin beautifully.
Hair Leg Mask, www.walmart.ca
More of a multi-tasking type? Get rid of leg hair while exfoliating at the same time with Nair’s new Leg Mask with 100% Natural Clay + Seaweed. Gently removing dead skin cells and hair below the surface, legs are left smooth and stubble-free.
So there you have it — the products you need to try this season for super smooth skin.