The dr. brandt microdermabrasion skin exfoliant is designed to mimic a professional in-office procedure that uses aluminum oxide, the second hardest mineral (9 out of 10 on the Mohs scale of hardness, diamond being 10). In-office mircrodermabrasion involves using a wand to spray aluminum oxide crystals over the face. The loose crystals abrade the skin and an attached vacuum sucks up dead skin cells and used crystals as it passes across the skin. These treatments work! Microderm fades dark spots, lessens the appearance of fine lines, improves skin tone and texture, helps other products penetrate deeper…but it’s a couple hundred bucks per session and you need to do it regularly to really see results. Enter at home version.

Price: $79
Find it HERE
Tested September 2019
I bought this on a whim. I didn’t have any other Dr. Brandt products but I did have a wedding coming up and I wanted that extra glow on a tight budget. Allure’s Best of Beauty is usually spot on so that seal of approval (combined with a discount code I found online) gave me the courage to try this pricey little scrub. Honestly, I’m hooked. I keep this in the shower and use it 1-2 times a week. My husband tried it once out of curiosity and said “ouch, it’s sand!”…duh?
There are several factors that make this “sand” worth the price tag for me. First, you only need the tiniest amount (half a dime) and since the crystals aren’t salt or sugar like some scrubs they don’t melt away. This also means I can gently massage away for the recommended 1-2 minutes without needing any more. This gives the lactic acid that’s also in it time to work. One bottle usually lasts about 12 months for me, yes TWELVE. And because it’s fragrance free, those oils aren’t there to go rancid (or irritate your skin). The scent is a combination of natural lemon and peppermint and it feels a little tingly- in a refreshing way. After the luxurious scrub you’re left feeling fresh-faced but not stripped. I’m assuming this is the result of aloe, chamomile and jojoba oil though neither the product nor my face felt “oily”. It’s a cream with imperceptibly tiny crystals that feels luxurious. I find my moisturizer sinks in better after using this and it seems to help prevent breakouts by opening up congested pores. I’ve never used anything with such fine crystals; it really does feel professional grade.

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