Detox Edition: Beauty Quick Fix

It’s not just your liver that could use a little detox. Our bodies need periodic retooling too – and it can be as simple as a twice-weekly exfoliation. Here, answers to your every detox-related question and concern.

Snafu: My face looks really blah no matter how much moisturizer and brightening eye cream I slather on.
Solution: We’ve said it once (well, more than once) but we’ll say it again: exfoliation is key. When you let the dead skin build up, your face starts to look dull, you’re prone to breakouts, and not even the most miracle of miracle creams will be able to do its job. For more on exfoliation, see our Cheat Sheet.

Snafu: I feel puffy and gross.
Solution: Bloating is caused by a number of things, from excess sodium or alcohol to your period. It’s no fun, but we have a low-tech solution: dry brush. Often used in spa treatments, dry brushing stimulates circulation and lymphatic drainage, as well as sloughing off dead skin. We’re not convinced that it can help us lose inches (as devotees claim) but it definitely helps dislodge any excess fluids and makes skin look smoother and more toned. That’s enough for us. For a primer on dry brushing, see our guide.

Snafu: I was out late and now there are epic circles and bags underneath my eyes.
Solution: Caffeine doesn’t just keep you awake — when applied topically, it causes the blood vessels to tighten up, which alleviates puffiness. Look for an eye cream with caffeine as one of the main ingredients, such as Dr. Dennis Gross MD Skincare Lift & Lighten Eye Cream. Store it in the fridge; the chill will help depuff eyes more quickly. For a quick fix, you can get a similar effect by placing chilled caffeinated tea bags over your eyes for ten to fifteen minutes.

Snafu: Where’s the reset button? My body needs an overhaul.
Solution: You could splurge on a treatment at a swank spa, but if you’re short on cash (as we usually are), you can create your own detoxifying bath at home. Baths serve several functions: the steam clears your sinuses (and, ideally, your mind), while the water helps soothe the digestive and lymphatic system. We like Naturopathica’s Deep Forest Bath and Body Oil, which has pine essential oil and an invigorating scent, and ESPA’s Detoxifying Seaweed Bath, which uses marine ingredients to remove toxins and rebalance the skin’s pH.

 - By Mollie Chen