Who else loves a fruity porridge for breakfast? Good news is that oatmeal is also perfect for the face!
What is it?
St.Ives Gentle Smoothing Oatmeal Scrub & Mask is a gently exfoliating face scrub to soften and smooth away dryness which can also be used as a face mask to instantly nourish the skin (who doesn’t love a 2 in 1, bargain).
Oatmeal can soak up the excess oil on your skin whilst gently exfoliating, helping treat dry skin. This product also contains 100% natural walnut shell powder that acts as a natural exfoliant.
St.Ives Gentle Smoothing Oatmeal Scrub & Mask properties:
- Smoothes away dryness
- Natural exfoliant
- Sulfate & paraben free
- Non-comedogenic
- Dermatologically tested
- Hypoallergenic
Bonus Points
- Certified by PETA as cruelty-free. This means they do not and NEVER WILL test on animals. Makes the brand very trustworthy!
- Can be used as a scrub or a mask
- Made with 100% natural exfoliants
Packaging
This scrub/face mask comes in an upright soft and thin, plastic tube which makes it easy to use as it comes out right on the palm of your hand as soon as you squeeeze the tube. It may also be perfect for dry skin during winter months. I love the design on the packaging, it just looks so appealing and FRESH, if you know what I mean…
How to Use
As a Scrub
- Apply product onto fingertips and massage over damp skin.
- Spread in small circular motions
- Rinse off and pat dry with a clean towel / face cloth
As a Mask
- Apply product onto fingertips and massage over damp skin.
- Leave on for 5-7 minutes
- Gently massage & Rinse off
For best results, St.Ives recommends using it up to 3-4 times a week.
Closer look at the Key Ingredients
OATMEAL
- Natural Ingredient
Natural exfoliants are gentle and safe on the skin - Soaks up excess oil on skin
Which is perfect for acne/oily skin as it helps to control the amount of sebum on the surface of the skin. - Contains Antioxidant & Anti-Inflammatory properties
Helps to treat dry skin as well as remove dead skin cells. - Contain compounds called Saponins
Saponins are natural cleansers. They remove dirt and oil that contribute to clogging the pores & can also exfoliate the skin. - Forms an Occlusive layer
Keeps skin hydrated by increasing moisture levels in skin as it provides a physical barrier to epidermal water loss.
100% NATURAL WALNUT SHELL POWDER
- A natural Exfoliant
Exfoliates dead skin cells which increases cell turnover and collagen production.Even though this product has been dermatologically tested, some dermatologists claim that walnut shell powder creates micro-tears in the skin causing an increased risk for irritation, infection and long-term skin damage. I guess scrubs containing sugar for example do not have that effect as sugar granules are more rounded. Then again, it depends on how fine the walnut shell powder really is…Joshua Zeichner, MD, director of cosmetic & clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City has said that “Walnut shell scrubs have traditionally been considered to be harsh on the skin”. He also added that “The issue was that if the powder wasn’t finally ground up enough, sharp edges may disrupt the skin barrier”. Finally, he also said that “To my knowledge, there is no real data showing that walnut shell powder is any more harmful to the skin than other forms of manual exfoliation”.People also argue that other physical scrubs may cause such damage if not done correctly, if you apply too much pressure or if you’re over using it…I think I just figured out why experts advise that chemical exfoliators are the “better” option & saves the confusion…
Interesting facts about Oatmeal
- Has been found to protect the skin from irritation caused by Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS)
- Has antioxidant properties due to the presence of different types of phenols including ferulic & caffeic acids
- contains flavonoids that are strong UVA screens (they absorb UVA)
My Experience
Because it is so gentle yet effective it is perfect for my dry skin especially during the winter months! Definitely my go to especially during these cold months that reduce blood circulation and tighten pores, decreasing sebum production & the decreased humidity in air contributes to dry skin.
Due to its natural ingredients, it will not interfere with any of your serums / active ingredients! So it was very easy to implement it into my skincare routine (which gave my brain cells a rest lol).
This is one of my favourite scrubs as it is very gentle on my acne yet exfoliates the skin at the same time, keeping it clean and unclogged. My skin always feels very soft after using this product. When I have days I’m more inflamed, this is when I use it as a face mask as it calms my skin a lot! After writing this post, I just want to go and use this FANTASTIC scrub/mask hehehe. I love oatmeal benefits so if you guys recommend any products worth trying containing this fantastic ingredient I’d be very grateful if you could let me know please! ]
DISCLAIMER: Due to the “walnut shell powder dilema” I will not use this scrub/mask on a regular basis to avoid the possibility of the micro-tears from developing from regular usage of this product…just to be on the safe side.
