Battle of the Scrubs

On a recent episode of my favorite guilty pleasure, What Not to Wear, makeup artist Carmindy recommended sugar as a daily facial scrub. Yes, the kind often used to stabilize rocky tables. So, I decided to try it out and compare it to some other facial scrubs – one drug store brand and one higher-end scrub. Let the games begin!

C&H Pure Cane Sugar

Price: Cheap

Trial: First up is sugar. This is the brand we have for coffee, etc. so I went with that. On the show, she just added a little bit of water to make it into more of a paste and voila! I used about half of a packet for my whole face and I have to admit, I was pleasantly surprised. It was grittier than I realized, which I prefer – a scrub should scrub in my opinion. It left my skin incredibly soft and fresh feeling. The only downside for me is that it’s totally fragrance free, but if you get a little in your mouth it certainly doesn’t taste like a normal scrub or face wash.

St. Ives Apricot Scrub

Price: Typically $4-$5

Trial: Although I do appreciate the new packaging, I’m not a huge fan of this scrub. I actually prefer it as a body scrub. It does the trick and leaves skin feeling pretty smooth, but it’s missing that “wow” factor for me.

C.O. Bigelow Brown Sugar Crystal Face Polish

Price: $19.50

Trial: This scrub has the best scent by far, which I think is partially because of the strawberry seeds (0.03%). I would recommend it if you have dry skin as it has a thicker consistency and can also be used as a mask. The exfoliants/granules are not always perfectly round though and can feel a bit sharp on the face, but it’s very soothing overall.

Now, drumroll please…the winner is…sugar! I was a little shocked by my decision since I’m usually drawn towards fancy packaging, but for the price and results, I don’t think it can be beat. So go ahead and ask your neighbor for a cup – just don’t tell them what it’s for.