By stufflovely
I’m very cautious about the concentration of acids (of the alpha hydroxy and beta hydroxy varieties) that I use in my skin-care routine. My skin isn’t the most sensitive, but I sure as heck don’t feel like pushing its resilience by loading up on potent ingredients. (I’ve tried enough products that have left my face burning to know what it can handle.) As such, I’m always on the hunt for products that promise gentle exfoliation. That’s where Saturday Skin Rub-A-Dub Refining Peel Gel comes into play.
It leaves my skin feeling as soft as a baby’s bottom with no hint of irritation. That’s because it sweeps away dead skin cells and buildup with natural enzymes like papaya, which I’m already a fan of, and bromelain found in pineapples. Papaya extract also “contains natural vitamin A and vitamin C to exfoliate and brighten skin,’ Ginger King, a cosmetic chemist and founder of Grace Kingdom Beauty, has previously told Allure. In turn, my skin appears more radiant, which is something I’m in need of as we inch closer towards the one-year mark of the pandemic and working-from-home life.
That brings us to the best part of this gel: the application process. As I rub the product in circular motions around my face — a sensation that I, like so many others, find so darn satisfying — I love being able to feel and see the accumulation of dead skin cells and debris, which can’t be said for most skin-care products. Kenneth Howe, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, previously told Allure that only “a small amount of exfoliated skin [on the surface] comes off when you use a peeling exfoliant.” So you don’t have to freak out that too much skin is being sloughed off.
I’ll spend about 30 seconds rubbing the gel around my face until I’ve covered every centimeter (focusing the most on and around my nose), and then I wash it all off in a few swift motions. I have to resist touching my face, it’s that too soft. It looks like I actually got a full, uninterrupted night of rest. The product also contains a blend of firming peptides, moisturizing glycerin, and soothing aloe leaf, which is why I never experience any tightness. I simply follow up with my essence, serum, and moisturizer, which seem to absorb a little faster. All things considered, it’s definitely earned a permanent spot in my nighttime skin-care routine.
You’ll find the Saturday Skin Rub-A-Dub Refining Peel Gel in our January 2021 Allure Beauty Box.
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