St. Ives Scintillating Skin Sensations
Written: Nov 16 '00 (Updated Nov 18 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Removes dead cells, skin can BREATH again
Cons: None
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| Caleo's Full Review: St. Ives Apricot Scrub |
The Scintillating
Imagine if you will that it is a perfect summer Saturday, the sun shines overhead, a gentle breeze, soft as silk and yellow with sun caresses the trees, the sand is warm between your toes. But the lake is calling, rippling gently under blue skies, and you plunge in, diving deeply beneath the surface. Can you feel the water... cool and liquid, awakening every cell as it glides past your face in a moment of pure, earthly pleasure. That refreshing, eye popping, its-great-to-be-alive sensation is what you will feel after indulging in a little St. Ives Apricot Scrub.
This is an exfoliating cleanser. Thick and creamy, it is loaded with a natural fiber complex (unlisted on the 300 ml. jar, the exfoliant is attributed to walnut shells on the tube pictured above) that provides the sand-paper like action in whisking away dead skin cells and blackheads that can build up over time and dull your complexion. The cleanser is pleasant smelling, reminiscent of apricots, as it contains the natural oils found within the pit of this fruit, with a slight medicinal undertone that is barely noticeable. Elder flower is one of the prominent ingredients, an herb that has been used for centuries to soothe the skin and to promote the healing of acne, eczema and even burns. It also acts a gentle astringent, assisting this scrub in washing away makeup and facial oils.
The Nitty Gritty
St. Ives Apricot Scrub claims it is gentle enough to use everyday, though the deep-down gritty nature of this product may be too strong for those with very sensitive skin. I have combination skin that I often feel is about as tough and charming as a piece of rawhide, but even I have experienced some slight flaking and redness if I overuse this, scrubbing too long and too frequently. I would love to use this twice a day, but I find a nice balance using this in the evening to remove the grime of the day, while mornings are relegated to one of my other favourites: the Body Shop Pineapple Facial Wash, Neutrogena’s Deep Clean Cream Cleanser, or some good old fashioned Noxema if the mood strikes me.
Using a toner after cleansing is very important and I have noticed that after washing with this Apricot Scrub, the cotton ball will come away clean. The before mentioned cleansers are not so impressive, leaving behind small traces of dirt and makeup. The appearance of large pores will be diminished, and over time I have noticed a definite decrease in the amount of blackheads and blemishes that love to torment me.
Your face is that clean and you will feel the difference. To begin, wet your face and apply a small amount of cleanser (about 1 tsp.). It will feel very rough and grainy, but surprisingly I find it less “painful” than some of the micro-scrubbing products. Take it easy on the muscle power, the scrub will do all the work. Avoid the very delicate eye area, and be careful when rinsing, as the heavy granules tend to want to migrate towards the outer ear region.
The cool, tingling sensation you will be left with is comparative to that menthol induced euphoria created by the Neutrogena Deep Clean, but it lasts. This sensation comes from skin that has been scrubbed and cleaned deeply. It feels alive again, healthy, and vibrant as if those cool lake waters were flowing all around.
Your face will be extremely soft and smooth. You may just find yourself reaching up to stroke your cheek, but don't do this too often lest people think you have developed a nervous tick... (And to heed Mom's advice, always keep your hands off of your face to avoid depositing more grime and oils that can lead to BREAKOUTS!)
Clean, soft, heavenly skin...but there’s more
When it comes to effective cleansers, St. Ives is one of the most affordable, in fact its downright cheap, and easily found in drugstores and grocery stores alike. Now if I were to only use St. Ives on my face (and if my daughter and hubby left it alone) a 300 ml jar would last about a month. But this Apricot Scrub is versatile. Wash you feet with it, your elbows, your knees, gardening hands stained with mud. This stuff will leave the toughest opponent feeling baby soft as it smooths away callouses and dry patches. Next to a clean face, nothing quite jazzes up the human being like pampered feet that feel cool and refreshed.
St. Ives Apricot Scrub is a permanent addition to my ever-changing arsenal of beauty care products. I can rely on it to effectively, affordably and consistently give me a clean face amongst other things. A happy-I’m-alive face, a come-and-touch-me-I’m-so-so-soft face.
I highly recommend it you.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
Caleo
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Member: Brenda C
Location: Ontario, Canada
Reviews written: 49
Trusted by: 121 members
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