Our favourite exfoliators for smooth, radiant skin

We all have our top tips for glowing, healthy skin but by far the quickest and easiest way to achieve polished perfection is to slough off those dead skin cells. With summer fast approaching, it’s time to rid ourselves of our dull winter pallor and get a fresh faced, clear complexion ready to welcome the sun. There is plenty of choice out there from a wide range of manual exfoliators containing grains, particles and beads to shift those cells or chemical exfoliators which work to actually dissolve the debris. Here are our top five facial exfoliators to help you buff your way to beautiful skin…

Elemis Gentle Rose Exfoliator

With extracts of Moroccan Rose, this mild exfoliator is suitable for dry, sensitive and mature skins. Its rich gel formula with soothing cucumber, rich in Vitamin C and a natural anti-oxidant leaves skin feeling soft and silky while micro-spherical Jojoba beads gently exfoliate the surface. This forms part of the Elemis anti-ageing range and is perfect for a luxurious treat! Available online here.

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant

This super-fine microfoliant starts life as a rice-based enzyme powder. Make a paste with a little water to remove dulling debris leaving your skin noticeably smoother and brighter. It’s a playful product which can be used daily as part of your regime without being too abrasive and contains no artificial colours or fragrance. Buy online here.

St Ives Apricot Invigorating Scrub

This high street favourite formulated in the Swiss Alps harnesses the power of nature to leave your skin refreshed and radiant. Ground apricot kernels are the basis for this product to slough away dead skin cells. If you’re after an invigorating deep cleanse, you’ll enjoy the gritty texture which is perhaps better suited to younger and oilier skins. Available online here.

Clinique Clarifying Lotion

Exfoliating is the middle stage in Clinique’s staple 3-step programme. It uses hydroxy acids to dissolve dull, dead cells leaving behind clean and refreshed skin which allows more effective moisturising and helps your make-up to stay put for longer. It sounds scary but with four strengths of Clarifying Lotion plus an extra one for blemish control, there is a formula to suit every skin type. Buy online here.

Sanctuary Warming Microbrasion Polish

Natural Marine Earth which has a microbrasion effect and detoxifying Kaolin clays are combined with a thermal action to open pores, draw out toxins and exfoliate the surface of the skin. Jojoba and Beeswax smooth and soften and work to reduce the appearance of fine lines. This smells like you should be in a spa and its warming sensation on your skin ensures that exfoliating with this polish is no chore. Available online here.

Looking for more tips on prepping skin for summer? See our feature on bodycare products.

For more advice on exfoliating, watch skincare expert Sarah Chapman’s tutorial