REVIEW: Simple Smoothing Facial Scrub

I admit I went a little crazy when Simple first was introduced to the US. I purchased a bunch of products they came out with and after I went through a few bottles of the refreshing facial wash gel I decided it would be best to give the Smoothing Facial Scrub a try. I don’t exfoliate my face everyday and I was hoping this would be a wonderful alternative to using harsh exfoliates in the shower. Sadly, I don’t think this will be my everyday exfoliate in the shower. I feel as though it does a decent job when my face is all sweaty and gross, but for an everyday product, I don’t feel it’s that fabulous as exfoliating. The exfoliates in it are VERY small. Granted, Simple is a sensitive skin product, so I can understand why the exfoliating particles are so fine – but I personally would prefer something that’s a little grittier to pull the gunk off my face.

PACKAGING & PRICE
A full size bottle comes with 5 fl ounces of product in it. The bottle itself is a light lime green which is a bit opaque, but not completely. The price itself truly varies where you purchase it. CVS sells this for $7.99 a bottle – but you’d more inclined to receive some sort of ECB offer, or a buy 1 get 1 offer at CVS/Walgreens than you would at say a Target or Walmart. The bottle sells for $6.99 at Target and I do know there is currently a coupon available online for $2.50 off the purchase of 2, or $1.50 off the purchase of one.

PRODUCT
The product is white in color and has very small exfoliating beads in it. You can’t quite see them to the naked eye, but when you rub your hands together you can feel them. There aren’t a whole lot in there, considering it is made for sensitive skin. It glides onto the skin nicely and you don’t need a whole lot of product to clean your face. For me this would be my “every once in a while” facial scrub and not my everyday facial scrub.

PURCHASING
This is available at all major pharmacy locations (CVS, Walmart, Rite Aid) while it is also available at department stores like Target and Walmart. Target and Walmart do generally have them for the cheapest out of pocket proce, but pharmacy locations tend to be the locations where you can get a good deal of the week. You can also purchase the line at Drugstore.com, Walgreens.com, CVS.com, Amazon.com, Target.com, and Walmart.com.

OVERALL
I would recommend this product if you are looking for a very light exfoliating product for your face – particularly if you have sensitive skin. But if you have sensitive skin and can handle a little harsher of an exfoliate I would not strongly recommend this. I do notice it works when my face is really grimy, but I don’t really notice a difference in my face when I use this on a daily basis. Would I repurchase? Probably but only when my acne meds flare up my face and I can ONLY use sensitive skin products on my face. I find Simple doesn’t aggravate my skin at all and I truly enjoy everything that I have tried from this line.

REVIEW: Simple Skin Care Refreshing Facial Wash Gel

First and foremost, I will say this product has TRULY changed my skin for the better! Why do I say this? I have been following an acne regiment (Retin-A) where my skin peels rather hideously. I had been buying and trying face washes, moisturizers, Vitamin E lotions, Cocoa Butter oils, etc., and nothing was really working. My face hurt, was dry, and was peeling regardless of how much I deeply moisturized, exfoliated, etc. I picked up a small travel size bottle of this at Target figuring I’ll just add this onto the list of other items I’m using. I had read online that Simple skin care was the UK’s #1 face product for sensitive skin. Figuring if it’s the #1 in the UK and it’s geared towards sensitive skin I might as well give it a try. Now my skin is generally sensitive to some items, but when using Retin-A it’s incredibly sensitive to everything – even sensitive skin items! I used it that night while taking a shower, putting a small amount in my hand, rubbed it over my hands and gently rubbed it onto my face. I was expecting it to sting like no other, because that’s what usually happens (even with items like Cetaphil) … and it didn’t. Okay, that was unexpected (I felt this way due to the general sensitivity of my face due to the continuous peeling). I rubbed it over my skin, cleansed my face and washed it off. Immediately I could feel my face felt smooth, but I thought perhaps it was just due to it being slick from being wet. I finished up my shower; toweled dry and gingerly patted my face dry. I went about my business, putting on my pajamas, taking care of my hair and I realized – my face doesn’t feel tight or feel like it’s cracking when I smile. That’s how it always felt prior to using Simple skin’s product. I felt like Joanne Rivers, my face was so tight I thought it would split from blinking or even making the slightest facial gesture. I’d run and lather on globs of lotion for just some relief … but I didn’t have to do that. My face felt amazing and refreshed and even an hour AFTER my shower, my face still felt smooth. Whaat? I realize this is not the moisturizing facial wash, but it’s completely gotten rid of all the surface issues I’d been suffering with. I have been using this product for, almost 2 months now and I love it to pieces. It’s my go-to face wash and I’ve branched out into trying out and using other Simple products (facial scrub, eye make up remover, etc.). I am completely in LOVE with this line and am so happy it’s now being sold in the US!

PACKAGING & PRICE:
The Refreshing Facial Wash Gel comes in a translucent green tube which is sold in a full-size bottle (5 fl. oz. which retails $5.99-6.99 but less if found on sale) as well as a travel size bottle (50mL’s which retails $1.99 or less if found on sale). The packaging itself is pretty sturdy. It comes with a flip-top cap made for easy dispensing as you squeeze the amount of product you would like into your hand. The bottle shape is easy enough to hold and since it sits upright it also promotes easy storage either in the shower or out.

PRODUCT:
The contents are a clear gel, which is not very thick but is also not very runny; it’s in the middle in consistency. The product line is geared towards sensitive skin, although those with any type of skin type can use it. All of the items in this line do not contain perfumes or colors (there is no soap in this so it is NOT drying), are made from the purest of ingredients (they do contain vitamins), are dermatologist tested & hypoallergenic, and all the products do not contain animal-derived ingredients.

PURCHASING:
Simple skin care items are available for purchase in pharmacies and department stores throughout the US and UK. Originally these items were only available in the UK, but I want to say due to the acquisition of a US based company, it has since branched abroad. For stores that I have personally seen these for sale have been: Target (they also sell the travel sizes here), Rite Aid, Walgreen’s, CVS, and Walmart. These items can also be purchased from online retailers such as: Amazon.com, Drugstore.com, soap.com, Target.com, and Walmart.com.

OVERALL:
I highly recommend this line to anyone who is in the market for a new skin care product – that being whether you have sensitive skin or not. It’s completely changed my face and has made following a generally painful acne regiment a breeze. I do have days where my skin does look a little flakey, but it’s nothing that some moisturizer won’t solve. Then again this particular Refreshing facial gel is NOT a moisturizing facial wash, but it does do wonders on my skin. It’s incredibly gentle and I am able to also exfoliate with my facial brush without it being over the top and hurting. When I exfoliate with this, I simply dip the head of my brush into the gel and massage on in circular motions over my face. Works like a charm!

QUESTIONS:
Have you tried the Simple skin care line? If so, what is your favorite product of theirs?
Would you give Simple skin care a try?

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SheSpeaks FREEBIE: Simple Light Moisturizer!

I received a full-size Simple skin care Hydrating Light Moisturizer from SheSpeaks! How did I receive this freebie? I signed up to be part of their Simple Skin Care program, where I answered a few questions then went into a local Walgreen's to see if the beauty advisor in Walgreen's could provide me with some background information on the product. Upon going into Walgreen's, the beauty advisor was not there, but there was a kid working in the department stocking shelves, etc., and unfortunately he wasn't familiar with the product and just gave me a pamphlet off the display which had a $1 off coupon attached to it. Upon going home, I checked off that I completed the task and a 2 question survey. I answered it and was e-mailed that in a few days I'd receive a questionnaire to fill out based on my experience. All I had to do was type up a 500 character or less scenario as to what I experienced and submitted it -- then was told in 3-5 weeks I'd receive my free product as a thank you.

According to the paperwork received, they were sending out full-sized light moisturizer, moisturizing facial wash or the smoothing facial scrub. I personally own all of these products and love each and every one of them - so I'm glad to have a backup moisturizer now!