Claire Wolinsky, M.D. is a board-certified dermatologist who treats both medical and cosmetic concerns in her Manhattan practice. She is revered for her ability to resolve even the most stubborn cases of acne or rosacea. Her nuanced approach to skin rejuvenation creates natural-looking results that never appear obvious or overdone.

The benefits of physical exfoliation are clear and St. Ives scrubs contain 100% natural exfoliants and all variants contain a creamy formula to allow the product to gently glide over the skin. Oil free and non-comedogenic, St. Ives scrubs help with congestion, leaving the skin looking and feeling fresh every season. Select a St. Ives scrub that suits your skin and rest assured these dermatologist-tested products will incorporate nicely into your skincare regimen and leave you with a glow! If you’ve ever spent too much time in the sun, you know all about aloe vera’s soothing and refreshing properties. But did you know that rose water benefits for the skin are similar? And when you put them together, their soothing powers are off the charts! Our Rose Water & Aloe Vera is the ultimate refreshing body wash. We included 100% natural rose water and aloe vera extracts into one super soothing formula. There’s no questioning this classic beauty care duo! Physical exfoliants are great adjuvants to other skincare products like retinol and sunscreen. Going into the summer months, physical exfoliants can help remove residual sunscreen. In the winter months when skin dryness and irritation are more likely, a physical exfoliant can gently remove flaky dry skin, but it’s important to follow up with a hydrating moisturizer like St. Ives Renewing Collagen Elastin Moisturizer. In retinol users, light physical exfoliation twice a week or more can be a great first morning step to remove dead skin cells caused by nighttime deep cell turnover. In this way, physical exfoliants prime the skin before applying moisturizer and other skincare products like makeup and sunscreen. Physical exfoliation is the process of manually removing dead skin cells and dirt typically with either a scrub containing small particles or tools like loofahs, towels, or gloves. Dead skin cells can clog pores, so exfoliation is essential for all skin types. The first benefit of physical exfoliation is removing the top layer of skin cells – exfoliation can lead to an immediately brighter appearance of skin for any skin type. Another benefit of physical exfoliation is a smoother, even texture which allows makeup and other skincare products to sit more evenly. There are so many “a-peeling” things about physical exfoliation, and we love the power it has to make your skin feel refreshed. Our St. Ives Board-Certified Dermatologist partner, Dr. Claire Wolinsky loves the benefits of physical exfoliation as much as we do, so we asked her to share the advantages of this important step in your skincare routine, all year round!

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Upon graduation, Dr. Wolinsky received the school’s Keynotes Award, which recognizes a medical student who also displays a special talent in the arts. She completed her dermatology residency at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, having been selected as chief resident there her final year.

Confession: We’ve got a soft spot for soft skin. If you do too, you’ve got to try our hydrating body wash! Made with 100% natural coconut water and orchid flower extracts, our Coconut Water & Orchid Body Wash leaves your skin feeling soft and hydrated from head to toe. Referred to as “dew from the heavens” by native Hawaiians and known for its rich hydration properties, coconut water is widely believed to help revitalize and refresh skin. Even someone with dry, sensitive skin can use St. Ives’ Gentle Smoothing Rose Water & Aloe Vera Scrub two times a week and increase to four times a week as tolerated. It’s so important as a first timer with any skincare product to start slow and increase usage to avoid irritation. If you want to try a more moderate scrub, the St. Ives Soft Skin Avocado & Honey Scrub is a great choice to use a few times a week. For a deep exfoliation, try the Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub twice a week, increasing usage to three times a week as the skin acclimates.As this happens, older cells are forced upward through the various layers of the epidermis toward the surface, where they dry out and eventually shed. The official, tongue-twisting science word for this shedding process is “desquamation” (pronounced DE-SKWA-MAY-SHUN). Once the cells naturally flake off, they eventually become the dust that settles on furniture and in the nooks and crannies around your home. Gross, but true!

In this article, we’ll dig into the science of skin exfoliation and why it pays to introduce a face scrub to your skincare routine. DESQUAMA- …WHA? As a dermatologist, I know that skincare isn’t a one size fits all approach. That’s why I love that St. Ives has created a variety of facial scrubs with three exfoliation levels – deep, moderate, and gentle. These tried and true, affordable scrubs are a great option for anyone wanting to incorporate physical exfoliation into their skincare regimen.

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Did you know your skin is constantly renewing itself? (Crazy, we know.) Basically, your body is always making new skin cells: While you sleep, when you eat, during class or morning status meetings at work—you get the point! The entire skin renewal cycle takes anywhere from 30 to 75 days, depending on things like your age, skin type, the products you apply, and even where you live. It takes most adults roughly a month to naturally produce a fresh set of skin cells. Because everyone’s desquamation process works differently, your natural skin renewal process isn’t always able to remove enough dead cells to maintain the kind of bright, clear skin most of us strive for. Enter the exfoliating face scrub.