The Beauty Girl

3 Legit, Inexpensive Exfoliators

Skin has a way of taking on reptilian qualities this time of year. In order to allow your creams and serums to fully penetrate your skin, exfoliation is key. The Beauty Girl and I are both maj fans of ExfoliKate (check out her interview with Somerville!), but the stuff can cost you close to $90. Here are three great exfoliators, at lower price points, that I’m digging right now:

Queen Helene Gentle Oatmeal 'n Honey Natural Facial Scrub ($5) Cheap, gentle and light enough for everyday use: it’s the Cetaphil of exfoliators. It’s esthetician approved and the creamy formula sloughs off dead skin cells lickety-split.

Biore SkinPreservation Even Smoother Microderm Exfoliator ($14) A quick 30-60 second massage of the alumina crystals, the same type used in professional microdermabrasion, clears all traces of sallowness. It’s also infused with ceramides and antioxidants that amp up its anti-aging benefits. My makeup is going on smoother.

philosophy the microdelivery micro-massage exfoliating wash ($8-$58) Virtually fragrance free with eensie weensie particles, it’s far from irritating. Again, a 30-60 massage reveals a refreshed, glowy complexion. I’ve found that the scrubbing action works up a satisfying, light froth. Use it at night to clear pores of a day’s worth of grime and prep skin for the rest of your nighttime routine.

(Posted by Cody)

Tags Philosophy, face scrub, exfoliators, Biore, ExfoliKate, Queen Helene Gentle Oatmeal 'n Honey Natural Facial Scrub, Biore SkinPreservation Even Smoother Microderm Exfoliator, philosophy the microdelivery micro-massage exfoliating wash, budget beauty buys

3 Secrets To Flawless Skin

Tags moisturizer, face scrub, zits, kate somerville, exfoliation, ExfoliKate, winter skin, skin tips

Face Scrub Giveaway Winners Announced!

Congrats to Aylin, Linda and Sydney -- winners of the ExfoliKate giveaway. Thank you to everyone who entered. Good news is I've got more giveaways in store so stay tuned!

Tags Giveaway, face scrub, ExfoliKate

Beauty Giveaway! Win $85 ExfoliKate Face Scrub

Snakeskin is sexy. On a handbag or pair of shoes, that is. But when skin’s texture starts to coordinate with accessories, the look becomes downright icky.

The easiest fix for a smoother, brighter complexion is to exfoliate – a fancy word for scrubbing skin.

I first learned about Kate Somerville’s best-selling face scrub back in the glory days of magazines when beauty editors like myself chewed up car services like a pack of gum. At the time, I was working at Shop Etc. magazine, writing a story about celebs' favorite beauty products. Molly Sims told me hers was Exfolikate, created by esthetician to the stars Kate Somerville (Paula Abdul, Jessica Alba and Paris Hilton are among her many A-list clients). I’m not usually a sucker when it comes to star endorsements, but Molly’s complexion sold me, and I gave it a try.

Expense accounts have since dwindled and Shop Etc. no longer exists (R.I.P.). However, my relationship with Kate Somerville’s ExfoliKate has been a fairytale. The formula is as green as the Wicked Witch but don't be scared. Its powers are all positive. Fruit enzymes like papaya and pineapple eat up dead cells and its got tiny granules that further help to gently polish and soften skin. I recommend using a couple of nights a week after cleansing. Just lightly rub on a thin layer, using circular motions, and rinse off after about twenty or thirty seconds. You'll be left with the best accessory yet  -- a radiant complexion.

Here's your chance to try it for yourself! I’m giving 3 lucky readers the chance to score this $85 exfoliating treatment.

To enter to win, comment on this post, follow me on twitter (twitter.com/NPTheBeautyGirl) and RT this message. Good luck!

Tags Giveaway, skincare, Paris Hilton, Molly Sims, Jessica Alba, face scrub, kate somerville, paula abdul, Exfoliator, ExfoliKate

The Secret to Getting Your Man Buff

Since TheBeautyGirl's inception, I've tended to the ladies way more than the men. Shouldn't life always be that way? (Note: if any guys are reading, that was a rhetorical question). To be fair, dudes have their share of grooming issues, too. I'll be covering those as time goes on. For now, I'm tossing them a carrot, which comes in the form of a new Word of the Week, to make up for any feelings of neglect.

Word of the Week: Exfoliate [x-fo-le-ate] verb
Removing dead cells from the skin's surface. Exfoliation can occur with a scrub that is gently applied in a circular motion. Scrubs contain physical agents such as spherical beads or granules to slough the dead cells. Or, exfoliation can be done with a chemical-based formula, which often contains alpha-hydroxy or glycolic acid, that you apply to the skin as you would a moisturizer.

Exfoliation is the first piece of advice I give to guys interested in improving their skin. It helps to prevent clogged pores, which means fewer breakouts, exposes the hair follicles to allow for a better shave and brightens the appearance of skin. Exfoliators can be easily incorporated into the most basic of skincare routines. Use at night, no more than three times a week, after cleansing. They're a dime a dozen, but here are two worth highlighting:

For Face: L'Oreal Mens Expert Power Buff Anti-Roughness Exfoliator, $9.

For Body: Anthony Logistics Sea Salt Body Scrub. I love a good deal and this is a steal! The retail value is $35 but the company is selling a limited-edition jumbo size version (32 oz.) of the popular skin softener for $15 in honor of prostate cancer month in September. 100% of the proceeds will be donated to the prostate cancer research program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

Tags exfoliate, anthony-logistics-body-scrub, body-scrub, face-scrub, loreal-mens-power-buff, mens-grooming