Let’s exfoliate… gently

It’s not hard to look around and find articles telling us to exfoliate regularly to keep our skin smooth and silky and let’s face it, who doesn’t like the silky smooth feeling of freshly exfoliated skin but here’s the thing: you can over exfoliate leaving less than silky skin but just slightly sore, aggravated skin.

The days are long gone when we had to rely on harsh granular scrubs made of ground walnut shells or sugar, now there’s a whole range of exfoliators from cleansers to powdery types or masks so there’s something for everyone. You can also find exfoliating properties in leave in products like toners and serums… but more on that another day, watch this space.

Of course you probably know the benefits of regular exfoliation but just as a reminder here are some of them: removal of dead skin, which has been the cause of dullness, less blackheads etc…,increased efficacy of skincare products, more radiance and glow,

So here’s part 1 of our guide to exfoliating gently using nonabrasive exfoliators.

Cleansers

Glow Recipe Papaya Sorbet Enzyme Cleansing Balm

Rich, buttery texture… this beautiful balm based texture melts on the skin to cleanse without stripping. The mix of exfoliating and calming papaya seed oil, papaya enzymes, papaya extract, and antioxidant-packed blueberry, leaves skin clean and bouncy.

Cult Beauty stock this beautiful cleanser

Thunderbird Recipe Enzymatic Cleanser

This cleanser is rich and thick, and I find that it gives a nice clean with a light exfoliation element, good for when you need that deeper clean, but it feels lovely and creamy on the skin too. The exfoliating element does not only come from the clay in this balm (which gives it that dark colour) but they also have fruit enzymes for natural exfoliation.

Check out the Thunderbird cleanser from Thunderbird

Love Absolute Silk and Spice Cleanser

This silky-smooth foaming face wash utilises Glycolic Acid to exfoliate the skin gently as you wash away the day. The cleanser is gentle enough for daily use without disrupting the skin barrier, your skin will be left feeling cleansed but not tight.

Buy the Love Absolute Cleanser from DOR Beauty Edit

Powders

Antonia Burrell Luminous Light Polishing Powder

As you’d expect from Antonia Burrell, this delivers on its promise to exfoliate, brighten and polish the skin. Everything in this product range is based on plant therapy so as you can imagine every ingredient here has a specific purpose. This is supremely effective while at the same time being gentle enough for sensitive skin. Plus this comes with a lovely silver spoon to help you to use the perfect amount for each use.

Buy the polishing power from Antonia Burrell

Dermatologica Daily Superfoliant

It is a powerhouse exfoliator (the brand call it a resurfacer) that really does leave you with super smooth skin and is particularly useful for those focused on positive ageing.  I love the fact that this includes the consistently popular charcoal which like in their charcoal face mask, works to purify the skin and absorb all of the nasty stuff that makes its way into our pores.

The other ingredients included in this formula is alpha hydroxy acid which are great for removing dead skin cells. There is the added bonus of red algae, Tara fruit extract and niacinamide which are known as antioxidants. Once mixed with water it releases its goodies as you massage it into your skin. Be mindful that you may experience a tingle with with this because of the acids (after my 3rd use the tingle subsided) it’s worth it to do a patch test before doing your whole face, especially if you have sensitive skin as with any product really.

Check out the Superfoliant from Dermalogica

Keys Soul Care Be Luminous

This water activated scrub utilises hojicha powder, lactic acid, oats, mung beans and green tea to polish your skin and leave it glowing.

Cult Beauty stock this fab powder

Demamiel Brightening Cleanse & Exfoliate

This powder to paste is perfect for all skin types it includes Vitamin C to brighten, colloidal oat to combat inflammation, raw cacao powders which are antioxidants, rhassoul and pink clay to absorb impurities & decongest all blended with calming gemstone powders. Again, this can be used daily or less for sensitive skin.

Buy the exfoliator from Demamiel

Masks

SKIN RG Zen Glycolic Peel 11%

This lovely quick treatment mask from SKIN RG is my go-to for glowing skin in 5 minutes! It utilizes a high level of Glycolic Acid, which does tingle upon application but doesn’t feel irritating or leave any redness… just gets the job done to exfoliate the skin beautifully, leaving it soft and glow.  Love the inclusion of Hyaluronic Acid too for that boost!

Buy the Glycolic Peel from SKIN RG

Mauli Radiance Exfoliant & Mask

Perfect for a mindful cleansing experience. It really is  a pleasure to indulge in the ritual of scooping some of this deliciously scented  powder into your hands, adding liquid, mixing it and applying it to your face.

Mauli stocks the exfoliant and mask

Wildcrafted Organics Wild Berry Honey Cleanse Exfoliant Masque

Wild Berry is a luscious honey based cleanser, exfoliant & masque, rich in skin loving nutrients, antioxidants & the purest New Zealand halloysite clay. Crushed hibiscus petals & the natural enzymes in honey dissolve dead skin cells and gently exfoliate while halloysite and zeolite clays remove toxins and the powerful antioxidants in wild harvested Maqui Berry counteract pollutant induced skin damage.

The D.O.R. Beauty Edit is the UK stockist for Wildcrafted Organics

And if you do prefer a more granular feel here are our gentle faves:

Jane Scrivener Whipped Butter Polish

This is a lush, finely milled physical scrub, with a deliciously whipped texture This scrub contains numerous skin nourishing ingredients, we’re talking mango butter and avocado butter which are jam-packed with essential fatty acids, then there’s the jojoba butter and oil, cardamom oil and cucumber seed oil.

This uses bamboo powder to exfoliate the skin which means it’s very fine but you can feel the graininess when you massage your face with it but it’s a soft gentle graininess, not a harsh scratchy one and it leaves your skin smooth, polished and radiant.

Buy the polish by Jane Scrivener

Urban Veda Soothing Exfoliating Facial Polish

This is a gentle exfoliating scrub made with ground Volcanic Pumice? This silky cream scrub doesn’t scratch or irritate but it does provide satisfyingly smooth skin. This has a fragrance well suited to a mindful cleansing experience thanks to ingredients like Sandalwood, Myrrh and Clary Sage help to soothe and moisturise. Plus it’s Enriched with Ylang Ylang, Palmarosa and Rose Geranium to hydrate, harmonise and restore radiance.

Buy the polish from Urban Veda