On days when you’re racing out of the shower making a beeline to your car with a half-eaten banana in hand for nourishment, the last thing on your mind is moisturizing your extremities—that is, until you step into the office and notice your legs are ashy (plus, there’s something so unsatisfying about gooping on cream over dehydrated skin). This is why body scrubs are pretty much the best in-shower invention ever. Not only do they smell heavenly and awaken your senses, but they also slough off the dead skin that makes you flaky. But they also moisturize while doing all that — leaving you with smooth, supple, and glowing skin, eliminating the need for body lotions or creams.

The key is to use a body scrub with the perfect ratio of scrubbing agents and powerful moisturizing oils that penetrate skin but also keep you hydrated on the surface without overgreasing. Here are five that have perfected the formula so you can run out of your house like a maniac without looking parched.

1. OSEA Malibu Salts of the Earth Body Scrub

This delightful earth-rich scrub is made with a trio of salts—Bolivian rose, Dead Sea, and Himalayan pink—and glides on coarsely (in a good way) to polish off the dulling dead skin cells. Shea butter, which contains loads of essential fatty acids, adds a ton of moisture to skin and acai and babassu oils condition skin for hours and hours. The best part is the oils absorb quickly, which means you won’t be adding a trail of grease all over your car seats, but keeps your skin radiant all day long.

2. Herbivore Coco Rose Body Polish

Coco Rose Body Polish sloughs off the flakes with perfectly sized salts, which paves way for virgin coconut oil to  moisturize skin as deeply as possible. When you’re inside the shower, you feel like you’re walking through a luscious garden thanks to the delightful scent of Moroccan rose. Use it once and your skin instantly feels petal-soft and looks as healthy as ever.

3. Earth Tu Face Dead Sea Salt Scrub

Earth Tu Face uses pure sea salt to exfoliate your body and stimulate circulation of the lymphatic system, which is majorly detoxifying and known to help minimize cellulite. The organic safflower and jojoba oils (the latter is texturally similar to skin’s natural sebum) drench the driest of skin with softening hydration, while bergamot, lemon, and basil oils put you in a good mood. Use this scrub to focus on your knees and elbows, two areas that need the most quenching.

4. SpaRitual Close Your Eyes Sugar Scrub

This scrub consists of certified-organic sugar crystals that feel less gritty than the salt options if that’s what you prefer. Sunflower and safflower oils rush in to provide all-day moisture and leaves your skin with a dewy glow even when it’s been ravaged with heat, sun, and indoor AC.

5. AFRICAN BOTANICS Marula African Muti Mud Body Scrub

This super-purifying scrub is perfect for days you also want to feel extra cleansed on top of balanced, plump-up skin. Fine lava crystals help remove dead skin cells and essential minerals from Africa’s ancient volcanic lava formations improve overall skin texture and tone. Then comes in kaolin and bentonite clays to sweep out the dirt from our skin, while super-moisturizing oils, such as marula, baobab, and avocado, keep your skin hydrated like you’ve been slathering on lotion.

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The mere mention of skin peels may send most of us running for cover. Especially the sensitive skinned among us. While it may sound like a toxic ingredient nightmare, there is a valid place in the beauty regimen for peels.

The term is unfortunate. Peel sound so…harsh. And yes, chemical acid peels are harsh, causing skin to turn red and peel from the face. They are effective in revealing fresh skin, but continued use can actually weaken and thin the skin, causing irritation, inflammation, and excessive dryness or oiliness. Not good.

Peels are really just another form of exfoliation. We’ve been told that exfoliation is key to healthy, clear skin, which it is, but could we be doing it all wrong? Or at least be doing it better?

Let’s start with why exfoliating is so essential to cooperative skin. Dead skin cells build up on the top layer of skin, trapping oil and debris underneath. This leads to breakouts, sallow complexion, and enhancement of fine lines. It also inhibits the skin’s ability to properly absorb the healthy ingredients in nourishing skincare.

All skin types benefit from exfoliation, not just congested skin. It can be done in different ways, to varying degrees and frequency. So, we’ve established sloughing is indeed a good thing. But as with other beauty rituals, like cleansing for example, could we be doing this whole exfoliating thing wrong?

Granular is the name of the game with most exfoliating products. Salt, sugar, and other particles (ground nut shells and meal, pumice) are used in these products to break up and remove dry, dead skin cells.

No doubt, this abrasive method of exfoliation is effective. But you know how we are chronically talking about inflammation and its link to many health issues, including unhappy skin? This friction could be causing more harm than good for certain skin types. Have we gotten out of hand with our sloughing?

Particles, even the micro-est of the micro, can cause tearing and scratching of the skin. Delicate skin types should avoid abrasive exfoliants, as should those with irritated skin or open sores. Remember to be gentle with granular scrubs and use no more than twice per week.

What’s a delicate skinned gal to do? Men exfoliate their faces when they shave. Should we all go out and buy a Norelco? Hang on just a sec before you delve into your guy’s medicine cabinet.

The latest, greatest exfoliating ingredients are hitting the beauty scene large. True, they are acids, but they are natural fruit acids from apples and pears (malic acid), citrus fruits (citric acid), and grapes (tartaric acid). Fruit enzymes, like papaya and pineapple, are also highly effective skin sloughers. Think of these ripe ingredients as the safe way to peel.

Fruit Acid Skin Peels for Glowing Skin

Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask

La Bella Figura Bio Active Healing Mask

Living Libations Green Papay Lime AHA Mask

Dr. Alkaitis Cellular Repair Mask

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Image of happy apple face via Shutterstock

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Yes, we love our green beauty. What we don’t love? Paying $120 for a bottle of rose-infused night cream crafted by the organic-mittened kittens of Costa Rica. Seriously, doesn’t it seem like the latest biodynamic/organic/natural world can cost more than the price a Hollywood starlet pays to turn “jail” into “rehab”?

But not to worry – we went through some of our favorite eco beauty brands and made our most frugal picks for healthy dose of beauty.

Let’s start with Thayers Alcohol-Free Rose Petal Witch Hazel Toner ($9.95) which moisturizes, tones, and generally brings your skin hue to a shade it hasn’t seen since you were wearing diapers. Okay, perchance I exaggerate a wee bit, but it really does wonders for restoring your skin tone. You can read more about it here.

Ready to wash that day right out of your hair – organically? Check out the Calendula Shampoo and Body Wash by Weleda ($8.01). Formulated from natural essential oils, this shampoo gives a slight herbal scent. And don’t forget the conditioner.

Consider Peppermint Hair Conditioner and Style Crème by Dr. Bronner ($7.19). This product is USDA Organic and certified Fair Trade. Also? It smells awesome.

And finally, for when you don’t have time to shower at all, think about using the Exfoliating Cleanser to Go by Suki ($9.95). This vegan product, containing organic rice flour and sugar, naturally buffs away the day.

Now let’s get down to body business. Want a divinely vegan soap? Try Strawberry Hedgehog Ginger Blood Orange Soap ($8.00) . This product is made with 100 percent certified organic coconut oils and pure essential oils. You can read more about Strawberry Hedgehog here. Next you’ll need a great eco scrub.

The Deep Steep Grapefruit Bergamot Sugar Scrub ($7.69) is fantastic for sloughing off the day’s grime and rates a 2 from Skin Deep. Finally, think about softening up that epidermis with Natural Baby Powder by Urban Forest ($7.00). Infused with lavender, this product is an all-natural baby powder free of talc and containing only natural arrowroot, tapioca, and a touch of baking soda.

Time for deodorant. But you’re no Drugstore Cowgirl waving a stick filled with aluminum. Check out this Citrus Deodorant from Weleda ($6.43). This spray is an aluminum-free concoction made with alcohol and natural essential oils. (And you can read more about organic deodorants here.) But wait, body not bikini-ready? Check out John Masters Organics Shaving Bar ($8.00). This product contains certified organic ingredients with olive oil and more.

You’re shaved, deodorized, powdered and ready to go. But don’t forget your hands! Check out Coola Natural Hand Lotion Bar ($12.00) (shown above). Containing only all-natural ingredients, it protects the natural moisture in the skin. And finally, don’t even think about leaving the house without sun block. Consider California Baby No Fragrance SPF 30 Sunblock Stick ($14.99). This product, which rates a 1 from Skin Deep, is considered a must-have for eco-moms and babies.

You’re cleaned and covered with sun block. But won’t anyone think about your precious lips? Try Cocoa Butter Lip Balm by Badger ($5.00). This lip balm is made with simple ingredients like extra virgin olive oil, extract of Aloe Vera and more. But want to put some color into your pucker? Consider 100 percent Pure Fruit Pigment Lip Gloss: Sheer Cherry ($13.00). This product will give your lips a lovely glow with 100 percent natural ingredients.

And the big finish? Of course it’s all about the eyes. Consider accenting your peeps with Earth’s Beauty Natural Mascara ($12.95). It contains basic ingredients such as water, organic beeswax, Aloe Vera and more. And finish it all off with Pure Mineral Eye Shadow by Orglamix ($5.00). This product is free of nano particles, Bismuth Oxychloride, Synthetic Dyes, Parabens, Synthetic Fragrances, Petrochemicals, and Parabens. And they are Peta-friendly!

Image: pinksherbert

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