All skin builds up layers of dead skin cells. Daily grime and oils get into pores, clogging them. Both can give skin a dull look.

A facial scrub will exfoliate dead skin cells to expose new skin as well as removing makeup, dirt and oil clogged in pores. The ingredient that actually does the “scrubbing” can be synthetic or natural, ranging from “microbeads” to old-fashioned oatmeal. The price of a scrub isn’t necessarily a good indication of its efficiency.

For the most reasonably priced facial scrub, choose one you make yourself. I found several recipes for facial scrubs available on the net, and the basic ingredients are probably in your kitchen now. This recipe in Woman’s Day magazine is easy to make using everyday ingredients and a blender.

I have two or three facial scrubs, one I use only when giving myself a total facial treatment (can you guess that this is the expensive one?) but let’s face it, most women are too busy and pressed for time for a long facial regimen every day. That’s why for everyday use, I like to keep a tube of St Ives Apricot Scrub right in the shower. The steamy shower opens pores which makes the scrub more effective in unclogging them. I like the St Ives Apricot Scrub because it’s effective, reasonably priced and easy to dispense from the tube in the shower. It comes in a formula for all skin types but is also available in special formulas for oily and sensitive skin.

Regular use of a facial scrub will banish the dullness and bring forth a shiny, new you.