Review: Aveeno Skin Brightening Daily Scrub

Have I ever mentioned how much I love scrubs? Yes, it's true. I adore them. And I really love a good facial scrub.

Lately, I've been using Aveeno Skin Brightening Daily Scrub. I've wanted to try it long before I ever mentioned it in my Radiant Skin articles, by the way. While I don't think my skin requires much brightening (it's about as white as it can get), it can look a little dull sometimes. I was looking for a gentle, everyday scrub that would still be effective at evening out texture and giving me a little more radiance.

Product Description: "This daily facial scrub helps improve skin tone, texture and clarity to reveal brighter, more radiant skin. This unique formula combines natural soy extracts with smooth, round microbeads to gently exfoliate while you cleanse, leaving skin soft, smooth and even-looking. Good for everyday use and gentle enough for sensitive skin."

Price: $7.50/5 oz.

Other: Soap-free, oil-free, noncomedogenic, hypoallergenic.

Results: First, this scrub definitely lives up to its title of a daily facial product - it's very gentle, and since Aveeno products are made to be good for sensitive skin, you can bet it won't irritate or hurt. (Yes, I've actually experienced pain with some scrubs!) While I did feel a slight tingle during the first few applications, there was no major redness or negative reaction.

The scrub is very much like a liquid cleanser with exfoliants, allowing it to glide easily over wet skin without any discomfort or irritation. It's very simple and pleasant to massage in, and has no overpowering fragrance (another good sign for sensitive skin). There's no oily residue left after, and it won't dry out most skin types.

The microbeads are my favorite part of this product. As opposed to many other scrubs with big, jagged, harsh particles for exfoliating, this scrub contains very fine - nearly invisible - round, microbead exfoliants. Because there are so many, though, it still does a great job at gently removing dead skin, dirt, makeup, what have you.

Note, though, that this is not meant to replace your "heavy-duty" exfoliator that you might use once a week or every few days - and this will not create an immediate, significant change in your skin's texture, clarity, or brightness. Used daily, however, it's intended to gradually smooth and brighten.

All in all, a lovely daily scrub that is perfect for frequent use, sensitive skin, and mild but efficient exfoliation. I can't back up its claims of improved clarity or skin tone, but I definitely enjoy its effectiveness and how non-abrasive it is while it cleans and smoothes my fussy skin.