In case you haven’t noticed, I enjoy keeping my skincare routine interesting. In my world, a task as banal as cleansing can indeed be kept interesting, which is why I have a selection of gels, oils, lotions—and now a powder—among my washing “wardrobe.” It’s been YEARS since I used a powder-based cleanser, and the ones that really stand out are Dermalogica’s Microfoliant and Babor’s Enzyme Cleanser. To this day, both are still among my all-time favorites, so when I got wind of Boscia’s new Tsubaki Oil-Infused Exfoliating Powder I was all in.
If you’re skittish, let it be known that washing with a powder-based cleanser isn’t all that different than using a gel or a cream. You still put a little in your palm, rub your hands together and wash your face. But powders have other formulations beat in that you can control just how exfoliating they are. More water yields a more liquidy cleansing experience, while less water gives the cleanser a paste-like (and more abrasive) consistency.
Formulation aside, this new offering features ground grains of adzuki beans and rice bran, which are dried and covered in Tsubaki oil. When mixed with water, the oil is released to hydrate skin as the super-fine grains do the exfoliating. This oil is also unique because it contains a high level of vitamin C that works to brighten, increase collagen production and protect cells from free radical damage.
My skin felt supremely smooth and soft after just one use, even though I didn’t feel the telltale scratching and scrubbing associated with other exfoliating cleansers. And since I do try to tailor my skincare to how my skin is acting that day, I really enjoy the flexibility—and it’s safe to say this cleanser will be sticking around for a while.
