Exfoliating powders are not new. They might be considered a novelty product in the US, but Asian beauties have been polishing their skin with them for centuries. Now that Eastern beauty trends are slowly taking over the world [where do you think BB creams, carbonated masks, and double cleansing came from?], more and more local companies are developing their own versions of popular formulas from abroad.
Exfoliating powders go way back, they are even mentioned in ancient geisha manuscripts, and the main ingredient is usually rice bran ground into a fine powder. Formulated without artificial fragrances and colors, dermalogica daily microfoliant utilizes a combination of rice enzymes, salicylic acid, green tea, colloidal oatmeal, and ginkgo biloba to gently exfoliate, brighten, and heal the skin.
“Dermalogica Microfoliant is a unique, rice-based enzyme powder activates upon contact with water, releasing Papain, Salicylic Acid and Rice Enzymes to smooth the skin and accelerate cell renewal. Their unique Skin Brightening Complex of Bearberry, Aspergillus, Grapefruit and Licorice helps to balance uneven skin pigmentation. Active agents derived from Rice Bran and Rice Extract help to regulate melanin production while micro-exfoliating dead cells. A super-soothing blend of Green Tea, Ginkgo and Colloidal Oatmeal calms inflammation, leaving the skin extraordinarily clear and refreshed. “
To use dermalogica daily microfoliant, first wash your face with a mild cleanser, then dispense half a teaspoon of powder onto soaking wet palms and rub them together to create gritty lather. Apply that lather to the skin and gently massage for 30 seconds to help those gritty particles thoroughly remove the top layer of dead cells. After that, simply wash your face, and immediately follow up with a toner or serum to seal in moisture.
I tried several exfoliating powders, and in my opinion this particular one is best suited for people with normal, combination, or oily complexions. The grit helps to physically smooth out the surface, while salicylic acid and rice enzymes will finish evening it out chemically. This double-action is especially helpful for anyone with rough, bumpy, or problem skin.
dermalogica daily microfoliant is unscented, but it does have a natural the fragrance which I would describe as “earthy”. In other words, it smells like dirt, but it’s not super strong, although people with very sensitive noses might find it unpleasant. That scent doesn’t linger on the skin, and gets completely overpowered by other skincare products that one would normally apply to the skin after cleansing – serum, moisturizer, etc…
Do you need this? I would recommend this exfoliating powder to anybody with thick, oily, combination, bumpy, or acne-prone skin. Despite not having the most delightful fragrance, this foaming exfoliant is a necessary step in achieving smooth and glowing complexion, and makes a perfect replacement for scrubs with microbeads.
dermalogica line includes dozens of different products, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed with so many to choose from. To find products best suited for your skin type, attend a local event in the month of October for a complimentary Face Mapping Skin Analysis, and share your experience on social media with #shareyourmap and tag @dermalogica for a chance to win a complete regimen worth up to $250. For more information visit www.facemapnation.com/US
This review is only the first one of many, stay tuned for more posts about different kinds of exfoliating powders and the final comparison.
PRICE & AVAILABILITY
$52 USD for 2.6 oz. Available at dermalogica, Ulta.
Ingredients:
Microcrystalline Cellulose, Magnesium Silicate, Sodium Cocoyl Idethionate, Disodiom Lauryl, Sulfosuccinate, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Collodidal Oatmeal, Oryza Sativa Bran, Oryza Sativa Starch, Oryza Sativa Extract, Papain, Salucylic Acid, Aspergillus, Ferment, Extracts Of: Arctostphylos Uva Ursi Leaf, Glycyrrhiza Glabra, Citrus Grandis Fruit, Camellia Sinensis Leaf, Ginkgo Biloba, Allantoin, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Essential Oils Of: Melameuca Alternifolia Leaf, Citrus Grandis Peel, PCA, Cyclodextrin, Allyl Methacrylates, Crosspolymer, Titanium Dioxide, Methylparaben.
