Hi there! My name is Taylor, and I am a contributor to beauty blogs like FutureDerm (as well as a few others). I recently had the opportunity to try out the ViaBuff Facial Mini Buff and ViaBuff Body Duo Exfoliator, one of the most innovative additions to the skincare market. The buffs are believed to leave the skin thoroughly exfoliated, yet without the drawbacks of other exfoliative methods. As a writer for a skincare blog, I was naturally intrigued to give these exfoliating buffs a try. For the next several weeks, I’ll be posting periodic updates about my experiences using the ViaBuff exfoliating buffs, and how well they are working to make my skin appear more vibrant and acne-free.
Why Pick the ViaBuff
As a writer for FutureDerm, I know that I should regularly exfoliate my skin. But from a combination of forgetfulness and frugalness, I sometimes forego exfoliation, even when my skin needs it badly.
The skin on my face is neither oily nor dry, but I do tend to get breakouts of beneath-the-skin acne on my cheeks and sometimes around my nose. I also have some old acne scars on my cheeks that I am hoping exfoliation with the ViaBuff will fix.
The skin on my body is also pretty normal, although a winter spent inside a warmly-heated apartment has made my skin feel a little dry and itchy. I’ve also had rough, calloused heels since I was a pre-teen which are seemingly immune to even the most vigorous scrubbing with a pumice stone.
But the more that I’ve written about skincare, the more I’ve realized: I really need to take better care of my skin (by which I mean, exfoliate it properly).
I recently purchased a drugstore loofah to use on my skin, but the loofah is so large and awkwardly-shaped that it makes exfoliation tedious. I’ve also used pumice stones and files on my heels for several years. I typically have smooth heels for a day or two, but they return to their rough state shortly after exfoliation. I’ve also used a 0.5% salicylic acid exfoliating serum since the fall, although this only provides short-term results (for about a day or so) and is suitable only for my face (it’s too expensive per bottle to use it on my body). So, to put a long story short, I’ve used a series of loofahs, pumices, files, and exfoliating serums, and I’ve had just average results.
I chose to try the ViaBuff for several reasons. One is that it’s very affordable, only costing about $4 for a Facial Mini Buff and $11 for a Body Duo Exfoliator. Two, the buffs are dermatologist-tested, cruelty-free (I’m a vegetarian), and can be customized to meet your skin’s needs, something that I really appreciate as someone with combination skin. Better yet, they last for at least three months (three times longer than your average bath pouf!), which means that I don’t have to dole out money every month for a new loofah.
More importantly, the ViaBuff just doesn’t develop a lot of the problems that I’ve experienced with other exfoliating tools. For example, my plant-based loofahs inevitably grow a weird orange film after using them for a few weeks, whereas my pumice stones quickly become dull. The ViaBuff, on the other hand, limits water retention (read: a lower chance for bacteria to develop) and is made of an open-cell polyurethane foam (read: it won’t get dull). Finally, the ViaBuff buffs are no-nonsense exfoliating tools that are easy enough for virtually anyone to use. They exfoliate the skin well without having to rely on a series of fancy brushes, buttons, and levers to impress users.
My Thoughts and Opinions
Texture and Size: The Facial Mini Buff is about the size of a clementine, and is easy to hold between my fingers. It definitely works well to exfoliate small and contoured areas like my nose and the under eye area. I used the ViaBuff Level 1 Facial Mini Buff, which is suitable for those with acne, oily skin, and psoriasis. The texture was rough enough that it satisfactorily scraped away some dead skin cells, but it wasn’t so rough that it scraped my acne or left my skin feeling irritated. The texture is similar to that of a sponge that I would use to wipe away makeup.
The Body Duo Exfoliator, on the other hand is much larger than I was expecting! The Body Duo Exfoliator is about the size of a grapefruit. I didn’t have much trouble holding and using the Body Duo Exfoliator, although if you have small hands or arthritis, I think that you would be best served by using the ViaBuff 19-inch Handle with the Body Duo Exfoliator, instead of using your hands.
Since I used a Body Duo Exfoliator, it had two strengths of foam: the Level 2 Green foam for normal to eczematous skin, and the Level 4 White foam for very dry skin. I used the green side on my body (which is generally pretty normal) and the white side on my knees and feet, which tend to become dry and calloused. The texture of the green foam is similar to that of the Level 1 Facial Mini Buff, albeit slightly more stiff. Conversely, the white foam was very rough, and reminded me of using pumice on my feet.
Durability: I’ve only used these buffs once thus far, but I am pleased to say that both the Facial Mini Buff and Body Duo Exfoliator both seem to have a well-constructed design. With regular washing and a little bit of care, I believe that these buffs may last even longer than ViaBuff’s recommended three-month lifespan.
Efficacy: As of right now, I’ve only used the Body Duo Exfoliator and Facial Mini Buff once, although they’ve already had noticeable effects on my skin. My face felt smoother after using the Facial Mini Buff, and I felt that it helped to partially reduce the size of my acne lesions as well. The Body Duo Exfoliator, on the other hand, finally eliminated that persistent feeling of dry, flaky skin that I’ve suffered from on my body. My heels also felt significantly smoother and less calloused.
Bottom Line
Although I’ve only used them once thus far, I’ve been really impressed with how the ViaBuff Facial Mini Buff and ViaBuff Body Duo Exfoliator have exfoliated my skin. After just one use, my skin feels noticeably smoother, and the acne on my cheeks isn’t quite as prominent as it was before. Please remember to check back weekly, as I will be posting updates about my experiences with the ViaBuff Exfoliating Buffs!