SKINFOOD Scrubs

All SKINFOOD scrubs in this collection use physical (mechanical) exfoliation: granule particles that abrade the skin surface to dislodge dead cells. The granule type determines the exfoliation intensity and how the product feels. Sugar granules (Black Sugar) are angular and dissolve slightly in the moisture of the skin during use, softening as the scrub warms up. Rice bran particles (Rice Daily) are the finest and least abrasive. Clay-like soybean particles (Black Shoe Essential Scrub 2X) provide a different texture with absorption properties alongside the physical action.

SKINFOOD's scrubs do not use microbeads (banned in cosmetics since the US Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015). All exfoliants are natural plant-derived, which means they are larger and more irregular than perfectly spherical microbeads - they provide effective exfoliation but less predictably uniform compared to synthetic spheres. This is cosmetically acceptable and environmentally preferable.

The Black Sugar Perfect Scrub Foam (180 ml) is a foam cleanser with sugar granules - used as the second-cleanse step with active scrubbing action during application. It produces a dense foam through a pump dispenser and deposits sugar granules during the cleanse. The granules dissolve partially during the massage step, transitioning from a scrub to a foam cleanse as they break down.

The Black Sugar Essential Scrub 2X (210 g) is a different format - a thicker paste-type scrub applied to damp skin for 2-3 minutes of massage before rinsing. The "2X" indicates double-strength granule content compared to the standard foam format. It is a standalone exfoliation step, not a cleanser - use it after cleansing (or as the only mechanical step on the evening it is used). The 210 g provides approximately 40-50 applications at a full-face dose.

The Black Shoe Perfect Scrub Foam (180 ml, available in original and NEW formulation) is a sebum-control scrub foam for oily and combination skin. The fermented black soybean extract acts as a mild surface-active agent alongside the scrub particles, drawing sebum from pores during the massage step. It is the right scrub foam for skin that combines texture concerns with oiliness.

The Black Shoe Perfect Essential Scrub 2X (210 g) is the intensive paste version - double granule load, applied as a dedicated exfoliation step. The black soybean addition makes it more effective for oily skin than the Black Sugar 2X in terms of sebum management. For combination-oily skin with pore congestion and surface texture, the Black Shoe 2X is the most comprehensive scrub in the collection.

The Rice Daily Brightening Scrub Foam (150 ml) is the gentlest scrub in the face collection. Fine rice bran particles provide light physical exfoliation alongside the brightening rice bran extract. It is formulated for 2-3 times per week use within a daily brightening routine - the scrub option for days when deeper exfoliation is needed compared to the plain Rice Daily Brightening Cleansing Foam.

As the lowest-intensity scrub in this collection, it is appropriate for normal, dry, and mildly sensitive skin. It is the starting recommendation for anyone new to facial scrubs who wants to build exfoliation tolerance gradually before trying the more aggressive Black Sugar or Black Shoe formulas.

The Essential Scrub 2X (both Black Sugar and Black Shoe) is a paste-type product applied to damp skin. Dispense a small amount (a heaped teaspoon) into a wet palm, then spread onto damp skin in circular motions. Massage for 2-3 minutes - longer than a typical cleanser step - to allow the granules to work through the surface layer. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water. The exfoliation is visible: the rinse water runs slightly cloudy with loosened dead skin material.

Do not use the 2X paste on the same day as any other exfoliant - AHAs, BHAs, another scrub foam, or a wash-off mask. Weekly use is the safe ceiling for the 2X format on most skin types; every 5-7 days gives the barrier adequate recovery time between sessions. The 210 g provides approximately 40-50 applications, lasting 10-12 months at once-weekly use.

The Avocado & Sugar Lip Scrub (14 g, also listed as 14 ml in variant packaging) uses avocado oil and sugar granules to exfoliate dry and flaky lip skin while delivering avocado's oleic and linoleic acid emollient benefit. At 14 g, it is a compact jar providing several months of weekly use. The formula is food-safe (sugar and avocado are the primary ingredients) and can be licked off safely after exfoliation.

Apply a small amount to dry lips, massage in gentle circular motions for 30-60 seconds, then wipe off with a damp cloth or lick clean. Follow immediately with a lip balm or lip treatment to lock in the post-exfoliation softness. Use once or twice per week; daily lip exfoliation is excessive for most people unless chapped lips are a constant condition.

The Strawberry Shoe Food Mask Lip Scrub (21 ml) provides a larger-volume lip scrub option than the 14 g Avocado Sugar. The Strawberry Shoe formula adds strawberry extract (natural fruit acids) to the soybean and sugar base, which contributes mild chemical exfoliation alongside the physical granule action. The dual-mode exfoliation makes it slightly more effective per session for very dry or chronically chapped lips.

At 21 ml, this lip scrub lasts longer than the 14 g Avocado version with the same once-or-twice-weekly use frequency. The strawberry fruit acids may cause mild tingling on sensitive or cracked lips - apply to healthy intact lip skin only, not over open cracks or bleeding areas. The 21 ml tube is more hygienic than a jar (no repeated finger-dipping).

Normal or dry skin, new to scrubs: Rice Daily Brightening Scrub Foam - lightest granule, use 2-3x per week. Oily skin with congestion: Black Shoe Perfect Scrub Foam - sebum-absorbing black soybean plus physical exfoliation. Oily skin with both congestion and dullness: Black Shoe Essential Scrub 2X as a weekly intensive session. Normal to oily skin wanting brightening exfoliation: Black Sugar Perfect Scrub Foam or Black Sugar Essential Scrub 2X.

The Essential Scrub 2X versions (both lines) are the most intensive and should not be the first purchase for someone new to mechanical exfoliation. Start with the foam formats (lighter, rinseable, shorter contact time), confirm tolerance, then move to the 2X paste if deeper exfoliation is needed.