Exfoliators for face

[JinglingHellsBells]

What's 'new' now?

In the past I've used 'scrubs' but know they aren't really good for the skin.

I've used a couple of products (organic) by Evolve Beauty which were ok (fruit acid peels) but they are pricey.

I'm using niacinamide and a weak retinoid (The Ordinary and LRP) but using a high magnifying mirror I can see my skin is very slightly flaky.
I use a balm and wash cloth to remove make up.

Any recommendations? Something uncomplicated, suitable to sensitive skin and under £20-ish.

I have always sworn by st Ives apricot scrub. All natural and no plastic crap. My skin looks great when I use it.

Have you tried the ordinary peeling solution? I used to use scrubs but much prefer this now.
It’s amazing, you do have to start slowly though and build up to the maximum 10 mins, maybe start a 5 mins for first application & only once a week.
I think maximum is 10 mins twice a week.
Do make sure you wear spf though. I stupidly went for a walk the day after applying & forgot to put my city block on. It was grey and overcast but my face was hot and stinging in the shower that night!

I'd second the Ordinary face peel - my face is hardened to it now and I can keep it on for a while but as PP said, definitely start small.

You could also buy an exfoliating toner and do a bit every day which would be more gentle? My favourite is the Glow Up watermelon one - it smells lovely too 😊

Glow Recipe, not Glow Up! (I've been watching the new Irish one on iplayer ). This is the stuff: www.cultbeauty.co.uk/glow-recipe-watermelon-glow-pha-bha-pore-tight-toner/13317625.html

Eek step away from the St Ives! Agree with chemical exfoliants like AHA. I like REN Ready Steady Glow and Alpha H liquid gold, but REN is quite harsh so not the best if you have sensitive skin. Pixi Glow tonic is meant to be good and cheaper than the Alpha H. Looks like the Ordinary do a budget-friendly glycolic acid too.

If you have sensitive skin it's possible you'll do better without an exfoliant. Exfoliants hasten the usual skin cell turnover process, which makes skin look softer by taking off the top layer esrlier than it would naturally shed. But doing that can disrupt the skin's natural protective barrier layer and function, increasing sensitivity, redness, dryness, etc.

Some skins cope well with exfoliants but not all of them do. For some people the gentle action of just a flannel (which just gently dislodges the cells that are ready to come off anyway) is quite enough.

I've been using the Olay daily cleanse and glow polish, it's gentle enough to use daily (funnily enough, given the name) and my skin is so much smoother and has less flakiness going on.

@WeddingFavour

Eek step away from the St Ives! Agree with chemical exfoliants like AHA. I like REN Ready Steady Glow and Alpha H liquid gold, but REN is quite harsh so not the best if you have sensitive skin. Pixi Glow tonic is meant to be good and cheaper than the Alpha H. Looks like the Ordinary do a budget-friendly glycolic acid too.

What's the issue with the st Ives? I've used it for years and never had an issue?

Another vote for ren glow.

Got rid of my flakiness and gives such an amazing glow. It says to use twice a day but i use it in the am as I use a retinal in the pm and its not advised to use together.

If you have sensitive skin don’t use a physical exfoliant, esp saint ives. Its so bad for the skin in the long run.. and thats my own personL experience talking.

Step away from St Ives!

Either it can actually scrub in which case it can cause damage or it can't so it's pointless.

Science has moved on from scraping scratchy things across your skin to gentler and more effective methods. Unfortunately those are called acids which puts people off.

If you have oily or acne-prone skin you need BHA. Otherwise you want AHA like glycolic. If you are v sensitive then you may find lactic suits you better.

I used St Ives about 35 years ago and would not touch it now. It's an outdated way of exfoliating, is perfumed and full of harsh 'beads' (apricot shells.)

I too use The Ordinary red face peel.
I have sensitive skin, so only leave it on for 5 minutes. It is making a difference to my 48 year old dry, yet blemished skin.

I use COSRX BHA BLACKHEAD POWER LIQUID which I prefer to Paula’s choice which I found didn’t do much.

The Ordinary did absolutely nothing but I found that with all of their products.

Every now and then I do a deeper exfoliation using Dermalogica daily exfoliant and sometimes just for a pampering session I use Mizon apple peeling gel.