The formula for smooth skin, however, isn’t always a matter of frequency – ingredients are key, as well. All scrubs are not created equal. According to Vanya Skin Care, the worst exfoliating ingredients are irregularly shaped articles with sharp edges, such as apricot kernels, walnut shells and pumice.

One of the more natural and gentle exfoliating ingredients you can use are rice granules, found in UK brand Simple Cleansing Scrub.

Simple Cleansing Scrub

Without perfumes or artificial colors, Simple combines Vitamin E and the teeniest of rice granules to remove all impurities from your skin, while leaving it moisturized.

This isn’t the flashiest product, but at just $12.00, it’s proves perfectly simply and effective.

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Simple Cleansing Scrub — literally

Origins Incredible Spreadable Scrub

When I first spotted this scrub I had to laugh at the name.  It’s very catchy, don’t you think? Origins Incredible Spreadable Scrub is an easy, no fuss ginger scented body scrub. All you need to do,  is spread and massage this mixture all over your body a couple times a week, and soon you’ll have incredibly soft and glowing skin.  Origins Incredible Spreadable Scrub is made with white and brown sugar to buff away roughness and dead sea salts brighten your skin. The olive and jojoba oils give your skin the silky softness while moisturizing at the same time. Available at Nordstrom and Origins for $26

(Image: Origins)

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Origins Incredible Spreadable Scrub

Here are just some of the benefits aloe vera is said to have:

Reduction of scalp care, stings, sunburns, sore muscles, scrapes, scalds, psoriasis, acne, burns, arthritis, sprains, bruises, cold sores and abrasions.
Heals blisters
Removes the dark spots from the face.
Removes dead skin cells when applied like a moisturizer
Has anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-oxidant properties

It could possibly be a ‘miracle’ ingredient! Below are just some of the products that use this miracle ingredient.

Crabtree & Evelyn Aloe Vera Hydrating Body Lotion

Crabtree & Evelyn Hydrating Body Lotion, $18
A light, fresh and citrusy lotion that helps to restore your skin’s natural moisture with almond oil, kernel oil and pure aloe vera extract.

Mario Badescu Aloe Moisturizer (Nordstrom)

Mario Badescu Aloe Moisturizer, $22 at Nordstrom
This moisturizer is formulated to protect your skin from UVA and UBV rays while also healing and relieving sun burnt and sun damaged skin.

Mario Badescu Facial Spray (Nordstrom)

Mario Badescu Facial Spray, $7 at Nordstrom
A great pick me up spray to refresh and rejuvenate your skin after a long day or long flight! Made with rose water, herbs and of course, aloe vera.

Kiehls Aloe Vera Liquid Body Cleanser

Kiehls Aloe Vera Biodegradable Liquid Body Cleanser, $16.50 at Nordstrom
Made from 100% biodegradable ingredients, this gentle body wash will leave your skin feeling soft and refreshed.

Johnson's Baby Lotion with Aloe Vera

Johnson’s Baby Lotion with Aloe Vera & Vitamin E, $5 at drugstores
We can’t leave out the babies! I’m a fan of Johnson’s baby products because they’re mild and gentle enough for even the most sensitive skin. This one is infused with natural aloe vera, vitamin e to soothe and soften dry skin.

(Images: Newscom, Crabtree & Evelyn, Nordstrom)

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The Miracle Ingredient Aloe Vera

Last year, Steve and I discovered his Meyer Lemons and Blood Oranges. I was so sad when the citrus season ended.  Fresh off the tree and so juicy and flavorful – his produce tastes like I imagine sunshine would.  Just the pick-me-up I’ve been craving. 

My family is big with the citrus – I’ve often joked that my daughter, Sarah, is half mandarin orange. She puts away about 5 of those little oranges a day, I kid you not. I love to decorate my kitchen with big bowls piled high with citrus fruit. My sister gave me a glass triffle bowl for Christmas – it looks gorgeous filled with lovely yellows and oranges.

Steve used to make a simple vodka cocktail with the fruit from the Farmer’s Market. He skipped the simple syrup step, juiced the lemons and oranges, added a little raw sugar, a splash of vodka. Very easy, very refreshing.  If you are looking for a cocktail on the fancier side, you might want to try a Blood Orange Cosmo from Life Should Be Beautiful.

If you’d like to add a touch of citrus to your beauty routine, you can mix up a simple Citrus Sugar Scrub by combining 1 cup of raw or brown sugar, 4 Tablespoons cold-pressed oil (I suggest Almond oil), 4 tsps of honey, and 10 drops of lemon, orange, or grapefruit essential oil (use singularly or a mixture of the 3).  The Citrus Sugar Scrub will keep about a month in a well-sealed container.  

If a salt scrub is more your thing, then Aly has a great do-it-yourself recipe over at Pretty By Nature, that was the inspiration for this entire post. Thanks Aly!

I’m going to be running a citrus giveaway at Veggie Chic, starting tomorrow (1/12/09). Ten winners will recieve a shipment of Cuties Mandarin Oranges.  Don’t forget to come by and enter the giveaway!

Image credit: Michelle Smith

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Fresh Citrus – Just the Pick Me Up I Need!

Although free shipping is over, Isle of Eden is still offering an awesome discount of 31% off orders, with $4.95 shipping. But hurry! These offers are ending on Sunday at midnight!

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Get 31% off at Isle of Eden

I met Biggs & Featherbelle at Brooklyn’s Renegade Craft Fair this summer.  They are “a health conscious company that promotes the healing elements of Mother Nature by creating body care products free from synthetic fragrances, dyes and additives.”  Nice!  I’m a scrub junkie, and their scrubs are so fresh and fun and lovely!  There’s a little bit of something for everyone – a sweet coffee scrub, a salty adzuki bean scrub, and a more traditional sugary nut scrub.  They are heavenly and have natural scents from essential oils.   I sniffed them all and honestly could not pick a favorite.  They will be at Renegade in Chicago as well as Crafty Bastards in DC, so check them out if you’re in the area.

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Biggs & Featherbelle – lovely scrubs!

So, every day this week I’ve gotten an e-mail about Isle of Eden’s 7 day sale.  Until Thursday, use code 48off at checkout and, yeah.  Save almost half off your order.  I have absolutely no idea when you’ll get it.  Just order, forget about it, and then be all excited when it shows up in the mail.   Here’s the site.  The scrubs are among the best from e-tailers.  Also, there are new scents:

* The American Dream (compare to Lush’s “American Cream”)
* Fluffy Candy (compare to Lush’s “Candy Fluff”)
* High Fever (compare to Lush’s “Fever”)
* Jasmine Fox (compare to Lush’s “Flying Fox”)
* Poisoned Elixir (compare to Lush’s “Elixir”)
* Sparkling Soda (Fresh type)

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Stupid Crazy 48% off sale at Isle of Eden

A fragrant blend of juicy Sicilian blood orange and exotic pomegranate, touched with rich Bourbon vanilla. The amazing anti-oxidant properties of pomegranate extract help to defy the signs of aging, while blood orange essential oil detoxifies skin cells and brightens your mood. We add pure cane sugar for gentle exfoliation you can enjoy daily. Our exclusive formula rinses clean, leaving skin baby soft.

Yes please!  And the price, while not dirt cheap, is not Fresh Brown Sugar scrub territory, either.  $18/8 oz at Bidwell Botanicals.

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Sanguinello & Pomegranate Sugar Scrub from Bidwell Botanicals

Etsy’s chock full of wonderful small bath and body product makers, and I could hardly try them all. But this one’s going to the top of my list: Sweet Gracie gets great reviews and these body polishes look and sound to die for! My sweetie would probably pick Banana Split, but Lemon Sugar and Candied Violets or Fizzy Pop sound like the winners in my book.

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Dee-licious body polish from Sweet Gracie

The first product I purchased was a whipped body souffle with shea butter, cocoa butter,  and coconut oil as the main moisturizers.  The scent I picked, Pink Sugar Marshmallow, has a lot more punch to it than I expected.  It’s got a sweet start with a citrusy/tart kick at the end!  The balm is very comfortable to apply and didn’t leave my skin greasy.

The scrub..well, it’s a dead sea scrub, so it looks like swamp water, and it feels like sandy dirt, but when you actually use it, it smells like heaven and works like a charm!  I love the blend of essential oils used in this one!  And turbinado sugar scrubs are super scrubby, so they’re great for elbows, knees, and other really rough places.

The prices are really reasonable, and there are a lot of other products that look interesting, like natural deodorant and lip balms.  I received a sample of yuzu olive oil soap, which looks and smells nice too, but I haven’t been able to use it yet.  If you’re looking for more natural scents and products, this is a good place to start.

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Scrub and Shea!