Beauty Barrage: Up Close - Lush Exfoliators Part 2: Ocean Salt

We've come to Part 2 of the Lush Exfoliators series. [Check out Part 1: Dark Angels.]

Using exfoliators has become a part of my skincare routine. Like I said before, I don't have my full skincare routine down pat yet, but I now have a handle on my facial scrubs. I try to remember to exfoliate once a week, twice at the most when I have a skin emergency like a zit or something, because I have combination, mostly dry skin. If I exfoliate more than that, my skin gets very dry and goes on complete survival mode, which makes it secrete more oil than usual, and that's not good. Those with oily skin though can exfoliate two to three times a week. I use Dark Angels only when my skin feels unusually oily or rough, or if I'm breaking out. My regular scrub is Ocean Salt.

Lush Exfoliator Number 2: Ocean Salt Face and Body Scrub

Ocean Salt is such a versatile product because it can be used on both face and body. I use it mainly as a facial scrub though, because I have a variety of body scrubs in the shower. It's the one I use once or twice a week.

It comes in a black container that's pretty handy. It closes tight and the plastic's pretty hardy. I don't have to worry about accidentally getting water in it in the shower and I have no problems taking it with me when I travel. 

The first thing that struck me about Ocean Salt was how much it looks like a blue margarita, which is actually one of my favorite cocktail drinks. It has a lovely blue-yellow margarita color, with a chunky texture that reminds me of ice crystals, and the sun, sea, and sand at the same time. It smells almost like a cocktail too -- absolutely yummy, like a margarita or a tequila shot with a hint of beach in it. Ocean Salt is really the perfect name for it.

The thing is, some of its ingredients are actually the elements of a beach cocktail. There's lime, grapefruit, and lemon juices to refresh and cleanse your face. The lime used was actually extracted from vodka, which supposedly has antibacterial properties that helps the skin avoid nasty blemishes. (Yes, it has actual alcohol in it! Awesome.) I'm a sucker for citrus scents too, and all the citrus in it really energizes me in the morning. Lush used fresh avocado, coconut, and violet leaf as well, which help get rid of dryness and have rehydrating and soothing properties. All that makes for a potent body shot, right? Well a shot needs a dash of salt to top it off, and this scrub has that too. It has fine and coarse sea salt with minerals that slough away dirt and soften the skin. 

Like Dark Angels, a little of it goes a long way. Each container lasts ages. What I do is I wet my face first and then take a dollop of it and mix it with water on my palm before proceeding to scrub my face with it. I do upward, circular motions, kind of gently massaging my face, and then I rinse it all off. Also like Dark Angels, it can feel a little freaky in the beginning. It can feel rough on the skin at the start, but I just used a light and gentle hand and I got the hang of it quickly. (It's great for oily, combination, and dry skin, but if you have sensitive skin, it might be a little too rough for you.) It feels very therapeutic on the skin, and I can always feel it sloughing away at all the annoying, troublesome spots. It left a fantastic scent, and my skin was a lot softer and smoother afterwards. After a few uses, my skin even had a bit of a glow to it, just like the effects of a cocktail buzz. 

I love how the Lush Ocean Salt Face and Body Scrub is such a fun thing to have in the shower. Using it feels like having a well-deserved cocktail. Every time my skin needs a little pick-me-up, I give it a nice shot of this scrub and it instantly feels better.