Review: Simple Smoothing Facial Scrub

I ran out of my Olay Skin Smoothing Cream Scrub--which I love--and thought that now would be a good time to try out this Simple Smoothing Facial Scrub that I keep seeing everywhere. I've been using the Simple wipes for months and really like them, and my Mom's been raving about their undereye roller. Ulta sent me a $5 off coupon, so really, there was no time like the present. I snapped up one of the last bottles in the store, and excitedly went home to wash my face.

Um...I don't like it. At all. Not. A. Fan.

Let's break this down:

The Good
I like the packaging. The product comes in an inverted Spring green squeeze tube. The tube is also translucent, so you can see how much product you have left and not be caught off guard by an empty tube. The print work on the tube is attractive and...well, simple. I'm also impressed by Simple's promise to never use dyes, fragrances, or irritants, as well as their low price point. This tube was $7.99 before coupon.

The Bad
This stuff smells awful. I'm all for not using perfumes, but this product doesn't smell "natural"; in fact, it smells downright chemical. That's actually the word Thomas used to describe it when I asked him to sniff the tube. To me, the scrub reeks of bug spray. It's just not pleasant.

Another thing that's not pleasant is the exfoliator. Simple uses rice granules, but they're so large that they don't so much smooth your skin as assault it. If I wanted to scrape my skin, I could just use my fingernails, thank you. Also, the granules do not dissolve, so if you use this in the bath (and I do), the granules stay in the bath water. Granted, this does mean that they, in effect, scrub your entire body, but not well, not comfortably, and not on purpose. It's just kind of gross.

The Ugly
In in a fancy circle on the front of the tube, you'll see the word "moisturizing". Ignore that. My skin has felt tight and dry after each washing. I've also experienced some breakouts, but I can't definitively point to this as the culprit. I'm pretty sure, but can't say for a fact.

I'm stuck with this stuff for the moment, so I'll keep you posted if anything new develops. The wipes are great. I've really enjoyed the toner. This is not up to par with those. If you're looking for an inexpensive scrub, go with the Olay. I know I will be.

Final Verdict: 3.6 out of 10. Try the line, but skip this.

Frugal Friday: Simple Skin Care Facial Wipes Review

Here are your Frugal Friday deals for this week:

Old Navy: Saturday ONLY, girls' and women's basic cardis (reg. $15-$19.94) will be on sale for $8. Offer only valid in stores.

StyleMint: Today ONLY, get a free gift with every StyleMint purchase. At least one JewelMint piece will be included with your order. Other gifts could include StyleMint tees or a StyleMint totebag.

Sephora: VIBs and Beauty Insiders get 15% off through April 6th. Check your email for coupon and code.

You know how I tried the Olay Total Effects facial wipes, then quickly repented and vowed never to abandon my beloved Neutrogena wipes again? Well, that was before their price, at least at my grocery store, skyrocketed. Oops. (Actually, all the prices at my grocery store have inflated. A change may be in order, methinks.)

Photo Credit: simple.co.uk

So...seeing as I could no longer afford the freaking face wipes, I needed to find a less expensive alternative. Enter Simple Kind To Skin Cleansing Facial Wipes. I was out. I was desperate. These were cheap and claimed to remove even waterproof mascara. Why the heck not?

Why the heck not, indeed! They work! I've used these for about two weeks, now, and my skin is clear and actually looks younger and healthier. The first time I tried the wipe, I was blown away at how quickly it removed my eye makeup, and I've only become more impressed as time wears on. This even removed my Urban Decay 24/7 Shadow Pencils, which aren't supposed to budge for any reason. The aqua blue was a little stubborn, but generally speaking, makeup whisks off. Even better, my skin doesn't feel greasy or look super-shiny, like it did with the Neutrogena wipes, and the fragrance is so light, I don't even notice it. At just $5.99 for 25 wipes, this is a bargain, and one I'll be sticking with for a while. 10 out of 10.

***Drugstore.com has an instant online coupon to save $2 on Simple Skin Care. Get your wipes for only $3.99! (not an ad, just a fact)***