Beauty Babe Responds to Reader Questions

I received this question from reader Jacki recently:

HI, I JUST STARTED READING YOUR CHARLOTTE OBSERVER ARTICLES.
VERY INTERESTING!
I NEED ADVICE ON SKINCARE. WHAT WOULD YOU ADVISE AS THE BEST OVER-THE-COUNTER EXFOLIATION PRODUCT-FOR BOTH FACE AND THE BODY?

Hi Jacki,

Thanks for your questions. I'm glad you found my beauty blog. And thanks for reading my columns in The Charlotte Observer.

To answer your question about exfoliation, I think Kiehl's makes a great face scrub. It's kind of pricey, but will last forever (~6 mos.) because you only need a small amount. Plus, I'd recommend using it no more than thrice weekly. You'll find Kiehl's at SouthPark mall at both Nordstrom and Belk. Bamboo Apothecary (Phillips Place) also sells Kiehl's. Or go online to www.kiehls.com.

Of course, if South Charlotte seems like the end of the earth to you, or if you are on a tight budget, consider Wal-Mart. Many drugstore brands make decent exfoliants for the face and for the body. Aveeno, Biore, Neutrogena, Olay, et al.
But, no matter which product you select, I would not recommend using the same one on your face and on your body. Body scrubs, in general, would be too harsh for the delicate facial skin.

Here's something else to consider. What is your skin type? Are you oily or dry? Maybe you are lucky and have normal skin that never breaks out. We need to pair you with the proper product. These products can be too harsh if you have sensitive skin or allergies. I'm not trying to to scare you, I'm just saying, it's hard to recommend a specific product without knowing more about a person's skin type. Tell me more and I'll see what I can do. We'll find something that's just right for you. Thanks for checking in with me.