Oatmeal – A Natural Exfoliator

Oatmeal is part of a balanced skin care routine!

Brief: “Oatmeal doesn’t just support healthy colons – it supports healthy skin!”

Price: $2.00-$3.00 for 1 kg of instant oatmeal

Overview

I know what you’re probably thinking: “Is this guy nuts? What’s oatmeal got to do with skin care?” Just hang on a minute and I’ll tell you my story. A few months ago, I was searching online for natural acne remedies and came across things like egg whites, crushed aspirin, and apple cider vinegar. I decided to try using oatmeal because, hey, its in my kitchen already and I’m eating it everyday. The results were absolutely fantastic and better than any store-bought brand that I’ve ever used, such as St. Ives Apricot Scrub or Spectro Jel Cleanser. My face always feels fresher, more moisturized and firmer after a good oatmeal mask and a hot shower.

Exposed Facial Cleanser Review

EXPOSED: “For Spotless Sensationally Smooth Skin.” – Try Saying THAT Four Times!

PROS

• Skin feels super clean and hydrated
• Carefully chosen, high quality ingredients – a mixture of nature and science!
• Smooth and glides over face without a fuss

CONS

• Bit expensive compared to ordinary cleansers
• Lid could be designed better to allow easier flow of cleanser
• Very cost-prohibitive to purchase this cleanser individually – much cheaper to buy products in kits

Spectro Jel Facial Cleanser Review

“BIGGER IS BETTER, PERIOD.”

Nickname: The Never-Ending Cleanser

Where: Grocery, Drug & Wholesale Stores (Canada Only)

Price: $18.00 for 900mL at Costco, $11.91 for 500mL at Well.ca

ABOUT

Spectro Jel was first recommended to me by my dermatologist. Years later, I continue to rely upon this brand for its basic, no-nonsense facial cleanser. Spectro Jel is a no-frills facial cleanser that provides great value for your money while getting the job done right. It does have one unique feature – the product has a gel-like texture which makes it sticky and thick. I personally don’t mind this because you rinse the cleanser off anyways but it can be discomforting for some people.

Unlike other cleansers, Spectro Jel contains no active ingredients for treating acne such as benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. In my opinion, this is not an issue because I want my cleanser to be just a cleanser and be able to do that function really well. The product also claims to deep clean pores and contain no irritating ingredients.

PROS

• Highly cost-effective
• Dermatologist recommended
• Free of “irritating ingredients” (see here)
• Does not dry out skin (hooray!)

CONS

• Gel can feel discomforting and gooey
• Only available in Canada (also available on-line at Well.ca)

VERDICT

Spectro Jel is a good starter cleanser for any skin care regimen or for anyone wanting a cheaper and no-frills substitute. The product delivers medium effectiveness at a very attractive price range. In addition, I can testify that I’ve never experienced dryness or irritation from using Spectro Jel.

ADVICE

Get free samples from your dermatologist if you have one. Otherwise, start off with the smaller 200mL version available in grocery stores. The last thing you want to do is buy the large format only to find out it’s not for you. For greater cost savings, go with the 900mL version available only at Costco. For greater convenience, Well.ca offers the 500mL format for $11.91 with free shipping in Canada.

Apply generously (I find 2-3 pumps suitable) and massage the cleanser around the face and neck in slow but firm movements. Feel free to use a bit more than usual because the cleanser is cheaper and non-irritating. I recommend the purple “Blemish-Prone” version however the other versions are pretty much the same. The blue “Blemish-Prone” is lightly scented and the orange “Combination Skin” is geared towards normal and dry skin types.

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