Radiance Regained with Clinique's Exfoliating Scrub

It's all too easy to fall into an uninteresting routine during these long Canadian winters:

1. Wake up when it's still dark out
2. Trudge through 3 feet of snow on your way to the car/bus stop
3. Go to work
4. Head home after the sun has set
5. Go to sleep at 9pm because it's too darn cold to and dark to stay awake
6. Repeat

Along with the winter blahs, another symptom of the colder months is dry skin. The freezing winds outside and the warm, dry air inside join forces to make your skin itchy, flaky and dull. But don't worry, there's a simple solution to all your winter woes! Mix up your routine!

To cure the winter blahs make sure to get a little exercise each day (I like to dance) and eat bright, mood-enhancing foods like citrus fruit! Make sure to get out on your days off work. Go and see a movie or indulge yourself with a little retail therapy.

To cure your skin of its winter dryness takes a two-pronged attack: exfoliate and moisturize. There are a plethora of scubs for the body like Flake Away but make sure to use a gentler scrub for your delicate facial skin. My favourite right now is Clinique's Exfoliating Scrub.

Exfoliating Scrub is a little different than a lot of other scrubs on the market. First of all it isn't a scrub/cleanser because Clinique doesn't believe in making Jack-of-all-trades products. This is because Clinique caters to a number of clients who have ingredient allergies so making each product as simple, effective and specific as possible makes it usable to more people. It's also nice to have an exfoliator you use only a few times a week as oppose to an exfoliating cleanser you use every day because it allows you to control the amount of exfoliation.


This scrub is also different because it contains smooth microbeads which gently polish the skin without tearing or scratching. It also has some salicyclic acid which is a great chemical exfoliant. The last point of difference is it's refreshing burst of menthol which makes you feel as though you've just stuck your face into icy-cool water. It's a pretty intense feeling which makes this scrub best for oilier skins. For you dryer-skinned ladies try Clinique's 7-Day Scrub which has a creamier texture and is more comforting.

Clinique's Exfoliating Scrub is $22 and can be found at Sears and The Bay.

Sarah xoxo