13 Sep 2024

Smooth and glowing skin starts with these top face scrubs

by | posted in: Society | 0

Which face scrub is best?

If you want radiant, smooth skin with a healthy, youthful glow, add a facial scrub to your skin care routine. Exfoliating regularly offers compelling benefits like a more even skin tone, increased circulation and the cleansing of clogged pores. It also removes dead skin cells, stimulating cell turnover and encouraging new, plump skin to replace fine lines, wrinkles and blemishes.

The Era Organics Microdermabrasion Facial Scrub and Face Exfoliator is an excellent choice for those seeking an organic, all-natural facial scrub that’s also effective. This gentle microdermabrasion sugar scrub can be used in several ways and is packed with high-quality botanical ingredients like organic aloe vera, manuka honey, walnut and vitamin C.

What to know before you buy a facial scrub

Decide if you want a physical exfoliant or chemical exfoliant

Exfoliants fall into two categories: physical and chemical. Physical exfoliants include facial scrubs, which use granules to literally scrub dead skin cells, oil, dirt and grime from your skin. Chemical exfoliants, like peels and acid serums, dissolve dead skin cells at the skin’s surface and within the skin. Some products incorporate both physical and chemical exfoliating agents.

Look for highly effective ingredients

Some ingredients excel at exfoliating skin. If you’re using a physical exfoliant, make it a priority to find a facial scrub with skin-friendly, gentle ingredients like jojoba beads, poppy seeds and pumice. These ingredients moisturize your skin while they exfoliate it.

Excellent natural ingredients for chemical exfoliants include pomegranate, pineapple and papaya. The star line-up of chemical exfoliants consists of acids that ramp up cell turnover. These include salicylic, lactic, glycolic, mandelic, lactobionic and malic acids.

Take your skin type into account

As with any skin care product, you should always consider your skin type when shopping for a facial scrub. Look for exfoliating products that contain the following ingredients.

Sensitive skin: gentle chemical exfoliants with lactic acid
Normal/combination skin: mild physical exfoliant agents, glycolic acid and salicylic acid
Oily skin: salicylic acid and charcoal
Dry skin: moisturizing ingredients like lactic acid, jojoba beads, poppy seeds and pumice

What to look for in a quality facial scrub

Scrubs designed for your face

You should never use products intended for use on your body to exfoliate your face. The skin on your face is more sensitive and oilier than the skin on your body, so you should only use products specially formulated for your face.

Plant-based or synthetic facial scrubs

If using an all-natural face scrub formulated solely with plant-based ingredients is a top priority for you, carefully research every ingredient contained in any facial scrub you consider. Doing so may take some time, but your peace of mind is well worth the investment.

Fragrance or fragrance-free facial scrubs

Fragrances, both synthetic and natural, can cause reactions in people who are sensitive to fragrance. These reactions can range from headaches to full-blown allergic reactions. On the other hand, some people aren’t bothered one bit by fragrances and enjoy them. If you’re in the former category, stick to facial scrubs that are fragrance-free to be on the safe side.

How much you can expect to spend on facial scrub

The price of facial scrubs is low compared to many other skin care products. You can find a high-quality facial scrub for as low as $15. Facial scrubs top out around $30, but most don’t cost this much.

Facial scrub FAQ

Is using a facial scrub necessary?

A. Exfoliating your face with a scrub is important and very beneficial. It serves three purposes. First, exfoliating encourages healthy cell turnover by removing dead skin cells to reveal new ones. Second, by eliminating dead skin cells, a facial scrub refines the appearance of pores and makes them appear smaller. Third, exfoliating allows skin products to penetrate more deeply and work more effectively.

How often should you use a facial scrub?

A. You should never go overboard with how often you use a facial scrub. Two to three times per week is sufficient. Exfoliating more often risks irritating your skin, which can cause more harm than good.

What’s the best facial scrub to buy?

Top facial scrub

Era Organics Microdermabrasion Facial Scrub & Face Exfoliator

What you need to know: With the ability to be used as a facial scrub or mask, this product exfoliates, moisturizes, minimizes your pores and removes blackheads.

What you’ll love: This gentle microdermabrasion sugar scrub gently exfoliates your skin to banish dirt and grime to reveal healthy, glowing skin. You can also apply this non-toxic scrub as a facial mask that minimizes the appearance of spots, fine lines and wrinkles while balancing your skin tone. The paraben- and alcohol-free formula contains high-quality botanical ingredients, including organic aloe vera, manuka honey, walnut and vitamin C.

What you should consider: Some users say the granules weren’t fine enough and that the scrub left a film even after rinsing with water.

Top facial scrub for the money

Clinique Seven Day Scrub

What you need to know: This exfoliating cream with fine granules clears and refines your pores, along with de-flaking your skin, to produce a polished complexion.

What you’ll love: You can use this fragrance-free scrub regardless of your skin type, as it’s suitable for regular, dry, combination and oily skin. Buyers praise this scrub for leaving their skin smooth and soft.

What you should consider: A few buyers felt the scrub lacked enough granules to exfoliate effectively.

Worth checking out

Fresh Sugar Strawberry Exfoliating Face Wash

What you need to know: A clinical study showed that this facial scrub refined skin texture and removed impurities for most participants.

What you’ll love: This exfoliating face wash is formulated with sugar crystals and real strawberries and boasts powerful natural ingredients. Grapeseed oil delivers hydration, strawberry and black currant extracts nurture a healthy-looking complexion, and a blend of white sugar crystals softens and smooths the appearance of your skin.

What you should consider: Some buyers report a lack of exfoliating power and an artificial smell.

Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.

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13 Sep 2024

Transform your skin care routine with the best Drunk Elephant products

by | posted in: News | 0

Which Drunk Elephant skin care product is best?

Drunk Elephant is a vegan, cruelty-free beauty brand dedicated to all-natural, pH-balanced skin care. Though more expensive than average skin care, it can leave a long-lasting, positive effect on skin. The philosophy of this brand is that when you strip products of six specific harmful chemicals and fragrances, you’re left with balanced formulas that help perfect the look of skin in the present while providing anti-aging effects over time.

If you are looking for an all-natural, age-defying moisturizer with vital nutrients and proteins that replenish the skin, the Protini Polypeptide Cream is the top choice.

What to know before you buy a Drunk Elephant skin care product

Ingredients

One of the most important things to consider when purchasing a product that will be directly applied to your skin is the ingredients. Located on the side of the packaging, the ingredients will tell users if the product contains chemicals or substances that won’t benefit their skin type. Drunk Elephant is very transparent about the ingredients used in its products and does its best to formulate them without chemicals and skin-harming ingredients such as parabens, sulfates, fragrances and SLS. It’s still a good idea to be aware of each ingredient going on your skin.

Formulas

Products formulated as creams will typically be oil-based. These products tend to provide a smooth application but take longer to absorb into the skin. Depending on the ingredients, they are extensively moisturizing and can benefit those needing to repair dry or damaged skin. These products can leave streaks and are usually white.

Water-based products are typically lighter and safer for use on oily and combination skin types. This type of product has less chance of clogged pores and build-up on the skin; however, it does not deeply moisturize as well as a product that uses a creamy formula. These products are typically colorless and absorb quickly into the skin while hydrating.

Skin type

Purchasing the right product and formula for your skin type will ensure that your skin remains hydrated as needed. People with dry skin should consider a cream formula. When applied to dry skin, this formula will deeply hydrate. Lightweight water-based formulas may not moisturize as effectively if a user has extra dry skin.

People with oily skin should consider an oil-free, lightweight, water-based skin care product. This will lessen the chances of the pores getting clogged and the skin looking extra shiny. If you have oily skin, avoid heavy products containing many oils.

It’s trickier for people with combination skin types to find products that match their needs. This skin type does well with hydrating formulas that are oil-free. Users with this skin type will experience oil in their T-zone (forehead, nose and chin) and can use different types of formulas accordingly. To find the right product for you, test a few different formulas.

Those with sensitive skin should avoid chemical fragrances. Drunk Elephant doesn’t use sulfates or parabens in its products, making them safer for use on sensitive skin and less likely to cause irritation. If a product is particularly good for sensitive skin, it will likely be mentioned in the product description.

What to look for in a quality Drunk Elephant skin care product

Cruelty-free

Most brands have adopted a more natural, eco-friendly way of life, including a reduction of animal testing on products. Just because a product claims to be natural and organic does not mean it is cruelty-free. Drunk Elephant has run an entirely vegan and cruelty-free operation since opening their doors in 2013. To make sure an item is not tested on animals, look for a PETA-approved bunny, a leaping bunny, or the words “not tested on animals” directly on the packaging.

Mission

Drunk Elephant is committed to using only ingredients that directly benefit the skin’s health. They source ingredients based on biocompatibility, meaning the product is effective without affecting the skin’s physiology and causing a negative reaction. Drunk Elephant uses an ingredient elimination philosophy. Less is more for the maximum results in skin care. They run a campaign called #BareWithUs where users can post selfies of themselves after using their Drunk Elephant skin products to promote confidence in one’s own skin and beauty. A few of their products directly support the International Elephant Foundation.

Skin smoothies

Skin smoothies are unique to the Drunk Elephant brand. A skin smoothie is a specific skin care routine put together by the experts at Drunk Elephant to aid whatever skin problems you’re trying to target. This idea got its smoothie name because you add ingredients to a smoothie to benefit specific regions of heath, just as you should do for your skin. Each different skin smoothie has a different purpose.

Because the products are silicone-free and biocompatible, they mix easily and absorb into the skin. The only product in a skin smoothie that does not absorb into the skin is its sunscreen, as the zinc used sits on the face as a protective barrier against the sun. In the skin smoothie glossary section of the Drunk Elephant website, users can find out what products mix and for what purpose.

How much you can expect to spend on Drunk Elephant skin care products

Drunk Elephant products range in price depending on the quantity and ingredients of the products. You can find less-expensive skin care products for around $18, midrange products for $40, and high-end products with added benefits for your skin for around $140.

Drunk Elephant skin care products FAQ

How do I know when these products expire?

A. On the bottom or the side of the products container there will be a small jar graphic. Inside this jar will be a number. That number will specify the time that the product can be used effectively before the ingredients expire. For example, if the product that you purchase says 12 inside of the jar graphic, that means that the product expires after 12 months and should no longer be used. You can also find the expiration date in the product FAQ on the website listing.

How do I know how much I am paying per ounce for the product?

A. To know how much money you’re paying per ounce and to discover if it is a good deal, divide the price by the number of ounces the product contains. For example, if a product is $40 and it is four ounces, then you are paying $10 per ounce of the product. This is important to know when comparing the product to similar products when trying to find the best deal.

What’s the best Drunk Elephant skin care product to buy?

Top Drunk Elephant skin care product

Protini Polypeptide Cream

What you need to know: Protini’s formula restores skin and provides a youthful appearance. It reduces signs of aging, fine lines and sun damage.

What you’ll love: This product contains an abundance of proteins and nutrients to replenish the skin barrier and is formulated at a 4.0 pH. Its 100% free of essential oils, silicones and fragrances, and it’s vegan and cruelty-free with proceeds supporting the International Elephant Foundation.

What you should consider: It’s difficult to get the cream out of the dispenser for some users.

Top Drunk Elephant skin care product for the money

Lippe Balm

What you need to know: This product contains an antioxidant-rich blend of avocado and mongongo nut oils, tripeptide and sea fern algae. The formula is buttery and absorbs while leaving a lasting shine.

What you’ll love: This product plumps while providing hydration to the lips and softens coarse lips with vitamin C and green tea extracts. You can use this product under your eyes to prevent crows’ feet and soften the cuticles.

What you should consider: There isn’t much product for the money, and it runs out quickly.

Worth checking out

A-Passioni Retinol Cream

What you need to know: This product uses retinol and peptides to restore bounce within the skin and brighten it. It evens the skin tone without causing redness and irritation and improves the skin’s texture.

What you’ll love: The ingredients replenish essential lipids and moisture while antioxidants fight environmental stressors. This formula is lightweight, and proceeds benefit the International Elephant Foundation.

What you should consider: In rare cases, this product has been known to cause burning on those with extra-dry skin.

Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.

Check out our Daily Deals for the best products at the best prices and sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter full of shopping inspo and sales.

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13 Sep 2024

Too much? Many Americans feel the need to limit their political news, poll finds

by | posted in: Politics | 0

By DAVID BAUDER and LINLEY SANDERS Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — When her husband turns on the television to hear news about the upcoming presidential election, that’s often a signal for Lori Johnson Malveaux to leave the room.

It can get to be too much. Often, she’ll go to a TV in another room to watch a movie on the Hallmark Channel or BET. She craves something comforting and entertaining. And in that, she has company.

While about half of Americans say they are following political news “extremely” or “very” closely, about 6 in 10 say they need to limit how much information they consume about the government and politics to avoid feeling overloaded or fatigued, according to a new survey from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and USAFacts.

Make no mistake: Malveaux plans to vote. She always does. “I just get to the point where I don’t want to hear the rhetoric,” she said.

The 54-year-old Democrat said she’s most bothered when she hears people on the news telling her that something she saw with her own eyes — like the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol — didn’t really happen.

“I feel like I’m being gaslit. That’s the way to put it,” she said.

Sometimes it feels like ‘a bombardment’

Caleb Pack, 23, a Republican from Ardmore, Oklahoma, who works in IT, tries to keep informed through the news feeds on his phone, which is stocked with a variety of sources, including CNN, Fox News, The Wall Street Journal and The Associated Press.

Yet sometimes, Pack says, it seems like a bombardment.

“It’s good to know what’s going on, but both sides are pulling a little bit extreme,” he said. “It just feels like it’s a conversation piece everywhere, and it’s hard to escape it.”

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Media fatigue isn’t a new phenomenon. A Pew Research Center survey conducted in late 2019 found roughly two in three Americans felt worn out by the amount of news there is, about the same as in a poll taken in early 2018. During the 2016 presidential campaign, about 6 in 10 people felt overloaded by campaign news.

But it can be particularly acute with news related to politics. The AP-NORC/USAFacts poll found that half of Americans feel a need to limit their consumption of information related to crime or overseas conflicts, while only about 4 in 10 are limiting news about the economy and jobs.

It’s easy to understand, with television outlets like CNN, Fox News Channel and MSNBC full of political talk and a wide array of political news online, sometimes complicated by disinformation.

“There’s a glut of information,” said Richard Coffin, director of research and advocacy for USAFacts, “and people are having a hard time figuring out what is true or not.”

Women are more likely to feel they need to limit media

In the AP-NORC poll, about 6 in 10 men said they follow news about elections and politics at least “very” closely, compared to about half of women. For all types of news, not just politics, women are more likely than men to report the need to limit their media consumption, the survey found.

White adults are also more likely than Black or Hispanic adults to say they need to limit media consumption on politics, the poll found.

Kaleb Aravzo, 19, a Democrat, gets a baseline of news by listening to National Public Radio in the morning at home in Logan, Utah. Too much politics, particularly when he’s on social media sites like TikTok and Instagram, can trigger anxiety and depression.

“If it pops up on my page when I’m on social media,” he said, “I’ll just scroll past it.”

Sanders reported from Washington. David Bauder writes about media for the AP. Follow him at http://x.com/dbauder.

The AP poll of 1,019 adults was conducted July 29-August 8, 2024, using a sample drawn from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for all respondents is plus or minus 4.0 percentage points.

13 Sep 2024

Elevate your mixology game with the best cocktail smokers

by | posted in: News | 0

Which cocktail smokers are best?

Previously, homemade cocktails were basic and didn’t have much flair beyond an orange slice or two. Forget about tasting a smoked cocktail! You could only get those made from a fancy mixologist at a high-end bar uptown. However, with the sudden surge of homebrewers and increased interest in creating the perfect drink, cocktail smokers have become more accessible to meet the demand.

The best smokers, like the Breville Polyscience Gun Pro Smoke Infuser, are made with high-quality materials that ensure the perfect smoked cocktail but are also easy enough for a beginner to use.

What to know before you buy a cocktail smoker

Aesthetics

Making a cocktail is about the flair as much as it is about the flavor. You tend to appreciate the drink more when you watch the bartender flip bottles behind them in the air and light your drink on fire.

In regards to smoked cocktails, the smoker plays a vital role in maintaining the aesthetics. Consider if the smoker is for your eyes only or if you plan on entertaining guests at a party or outdoor get-together. Some cocktail smoker kits available tend to look like they’re haphazardly put together and may ruin a great ambiance. While that’s perfectly fine when you’re creating your own smoked drinks, a nice smoker serves to make you and the drinks you serve look that much more remarkable.

Wood chips

There is a seemingly limitless list of options regarding what you can use to smoke your cocktail. Some excellent types of wood include mesquite, apple and cherry, but you can also use herbs, like rosemary and thyme, to enhance your drink.

For example, after putting on a show with your best cocktail shaker, you can use your smoker to infuse cinnamon bark and sage into the drink to leave a lasting impression.

Drink types

The most common smoked cocktails tend to be whiskey-based because of how their aging process compliments a smoky flavor. Similar to how you’re not limited to using wood chips in a smoker, you can also enhance cocktails with various base liquors.

For example, a smoked old-fashioned is a favorite among home mixologists, but you’ll find that smoking martinis and even mojitos can take those cocktails to the next level.

What to look for in a quality cocktail smoker

Kit

Whether you’re a seasoned mixologist or a budding home cocktail enthusiast, it’s much easier to purchase a smoker that comes with all the necessary accessories. In fact, it may be beneficial to start with a smoker kit that comes with the wood chips, a dome and a board so that you’re ready to go the second it arrives. It can be incredibly frustrating to start making your favorite drink only to find that you forgot to purchase smoke screens.

Getting a kit allows you to get a feel for your smoker and determine if you require upgraded accessories. That can include a larger or customized glass dome or a tray full of various herbs and types of wood.

Size

Most cocktail smokers you find are compact handheld devices. This makes them more portable, so you can impress your family and friends at their house party or create delicious smoked cocktails in the great outdoors.

However, some cocktail smokers are quite large and require an abundance of additional equipment compared to handheld versions. Consider where you’ll be using your smoker and if a smaller handheld device is enough for your smoking needs or if you need a more powerful device.

Power

Consider how often you plan on using your cocktail smoker to determine which power source would best suit your needs. For example, if you plan on using it for large parties, a battery-powered smoker is advantageous.

However, if you plan on mixing a few drinks at a time, a rechargeable smoker that uses a USB cable port and can be plugged into an outlet is more than sufficient.

How much you can expect to spend on cocktail smokers

Depending on the quality and items included, you can expect to spend between $80-$150 on a quality cocktail smoker.

Cocktail smoker FAQ

How long does a tin of wood chips last?

A. That entirely depends on how often you use your cocktail smoker. Most standard-size tins of wood chips can last several months because you only require a small pinch each time.

Are cocktail smokers safe?

A. Cocktail smokers are safe as long as you follow the manufacturer’s instructions. The only issues arise when you forget to put out the wood chips before throwing them away. Similar to camping, the wood chips must be completely put out. A single spark can cause more problems than you bargained for. Additionally, when lighting the smoker, ensure that it’s lit in a well-ventilated area. You don’t want to inhale accumulated smoke continuously.

What are the best cocktail smokers to buy?

Top cocktail smoker

Breville Polyscience Gun Pro Smoke Infuser

What you need to know: Breville presents a smoke infuser that’s high-quality enough for professional use and intuitive enough for beginners.

What you’ll love: This smoker allows you to get the exact smoke flavor profile you need by allowing you to control the airflow and smoke intensity with a smooth dial. It also comes with a built-in stand that you can use to keep your smoker in place while making other drinks. There’s no need to go out and purchase additional supplies because it comes with an extender hose, batteries and additional smoke screens to help with clogging. You can also remove the chamber and barrel for a quick and easy machine wash.

What you should consider: It includes sample kits, but it would be nice if it had an entire bag of wood chips. While it works great on cocktails, it’s not the best option to smoke meat.

Top cocktail smoker for the money

MITBAK Cocktail Smoker Kit

What you need to know: MITBAK presents a high-quality smoker complete with a kit at an affordable price.

What you’ll love: This cocktail smoker kit comes with everything you need, including the all-important infuser, wood chips, a lid and a charger cable. It’s beginner-friendly, so it’s intuitive to use. While it’s cheaper than its competitors, the quality makes it rank among some of the best.

What you should consider: The dome may be too low for high balls or other taller glasses.

Worth checking out

Smoke Board Smoked Cocktail Kit

What you need to know: Be the center of attention at your next party or create delicious smoked cocktails with the compact and portable Smoke Board Cocktail Kit.

What you’ll love: This compact kit comes with various wood chips, like pecan, apple and cherry, to help you create drool-worthy cocktails. It also has an oak smoking board to safely burn your wood chips and a glass Mason jar to contain all the smoke. This is an extremely versatile smoking kit because it’s not only effective for cocktails but also deeply infuses the flavor in deli meats, cheeses and more.

What you should consider: You must purchase the butane gas can separately.

Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.