The Best Exfoliator I Have Ever Used
As you know, I’m incorporating more beauty posts into Raindrops of Sapphire as I know a lot of you are interested in them. I frequently get asked about my skincare, so I thought I might share with you one of the best exfoliators that I have ever used! I have tried many in my time, and while they’re good, none have come close to how the Jan Marini Holiday Exfoliator makes my skin feel! It’s literally amazing. Now this isn’t sponsored in any way, neither have I worked with Jan Marini or with a beauty store that sent me their products, I’ve always purchased this product every year! You might remember my review on the Jan Marini skincare from back in 2014, but I stopped using it a long time ago as I couldn’t keep up with the expenditure and I found other products that suited my skin better for a daily regime, but this scrub is something I kept in my weekly routine and will never be without.
So what is the Jan Marini Holiday Exfoliator? It’s a facial exfoliator that the brand releases as a special edition every holiday season! When I first got one, it was Orange & Cranberry that was the featured scent, then the next year it was Sugar Plum, this time around here I have Sugar Cookie, but there’s also Chocolate Truffle and I am super excited to see what is released very soon for Christmas this year! It combines physical and chemical exfoliators with antioxidants for a silky smooth, glowing complexion. Proteolytic enzymes and glycolic acid polish the skin for superior exfoliation without the need for harsh abrasives, and let me tell you, it works! It features specially designed microscopic particles that will gently exfoliate the skin while releasing a skin protectant for a silky smooth finish. I can safely say, it’s the best and leaves your skin feeling amazing, especially if you suffer from breakouts.
How do you use it and how long does it last? After cleansing with your normal cleanser, gently apply an even layer to a wet/moist face using circular motions for approximately 15-30 seconds. If it’s your first time using it, a mild stinging or tingling may occur, but it didn’t with me. The lady I used to see at the skin clinic told me you can also leave it on for a few minutes to get a better result, but you need to build up to that. Make sure you rub it in everywhere, especially around the jawline too, but avoid the eyes, then gently remove using a washcloth with tepid water, then I splash my face with warm water to make sure all of the grains are gone, then blot dry. You can use it up to two to three times per week, AM or PM, but I personally use it just once a week in the evening. As I only use it once, I find that one 2oz jar is enough to last me the entire year until the new flavour comes out, so I literally only buy one a year, which for the price of around £50-£60 (depending where you buy it) doesn’t work out too bad if you split that over the months. That’s only £4-5 per month.
What are the ingredients and what does it look like? The Jan Marini Holiday Exfoliator contains Glycolic Acid. Proteolytic Enzymes – Papain from Green Unripened Papaya, Bromelain from Pineapple. Dimethicone filled particles, and antioxidants etc and it’s wonderful. As I don’t really cope with scents or chemical smells, I’ve never had any issues with these flavours as they smell like foods really. I would say Sugar Cookie smells like fruits. The consistency is a thick paste, which is a warm brown shade in colour (as you can see) so you don’t need to use a lot of it on your skin to get a good scrub going. Once it’s on your skin, it gives you an orangey hue as that’s its colour, then you wash it off. You can tell by the texture and the way it looks just how high quality it is.
Why do I love it? Honestly, it’s because it does what it says. Rarely do I find products that actually do what they say on the box, but this one does. It’s easy to use, it smells nice, it’s a high quality product, and after using it my skin is so much smoother and softer, even after the very first use, plus I have noticed that it helps greatly with acne breakouts which I suffer from. It’s very calming on the skin and the next day I always have a glow, especially if I use my Vitamin C oil afterwards, and my moisturiser. It just works. And that’s why I wanted to share it with you as I’m going through the products I regularly use and love to give you all some recommendations.
