Reading the ingredient list is only the starting point. I test every exfoliator as directed, based on how much dead skin my face actually needs to shed, and alongside the other products in my rotation. The goal is to find out whether it will boost your skincare efforts or sabotage them.
This is where I review all of it: acids, enzymes, peel pads, and scrubs.
New to exfoliating? Start with how to exfoliate without irritation.
Already overdid it? Here is what to use on over-exfoliated, angry skin.
Do you ever randomly think of a brand you used to love and now hardly see anywhere? That’s Darphin for me. I actually had to look up whether it’s still owned by Estée Lauder. (It is.) In Spain, a handful…
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I loathe the concept of a dupe. To me, it implies cutting corners, a lack of creativity, being sneaky and uninspiring. All of that should not be rewarded. In a beauty industry that relies heavily on outselling the competition by…
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Mandelic acid is the most underrated acid in skincare, full stop. Quiet part out loud: glycolic acid’s reign as the default chemical exfoliant is mostly habit, not superiority. Actually, could it be notoriety? For as long as I can remember,…
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My thirties were defined by acid toners and peel pads. Not in a reckless way, but in a very compliant, beauty-industry-trained way. Everything was about resurfacing. Exfoliate more. Brighten faster. Turnover, turnover, turnover. If your skin wasn’t tingling, it probably…
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Smoothing and soothing are technically skincare opposites. And opposites attract. Here’s how I combine the two for best results. When it comes to my own skincare efforts, smoothing almost always comes before soothing. My skin isn’t naturally sensitive, so I…
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The cult-classic exfoliant gets a clever new format. Few products are as instantly recognizable as the Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant. The little black bottle has long been a staple for oilier skin types. I have had…
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We may not be getting younger, but our pores don’t need to know that. I have a long and complicated history with Ole Henriksen. It all started with a throwaway blurb in Us Weekly—back when I never missed an issue…
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Exfoliation For The Easily Iritated For those who appreciate artisan-grade formulas, Votary is probably already on your radar. My first encounter with this London brand remains a highlight of my skincare journey. If you are new to Votary, the key…
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