Who doesn’t dream of sporting plump, bouncy and glowing skin? Sure great serums, fancy creams and luxe-smelling oils help, but they would be nothing without a great exfoliant.

Skincare experts say that aside from clearing away dry and dead skin, a regular exfoliation habit increases your skin’s radiance, clarity, and youthfulness, and that’s just the start. Do you want to zero in on anti-aging? Exfoliate. Want a brighter complexion? Exfoliate. Coveting smaller-looking, cleaner pores? Exfoliate!

Exfoliation helps other skincare products penetrate deeper

As aforementioned, regular exfoliation is essential to get the best out of your routine. Exfoliation helps serums, moisturisers and the like penetrate deeper into the skin. When something that’s rich in active ingredients penetrates deeper, it’s able to work more effectively. Quite simply: dead skin basically becomes a barrier between your skin and skincare formulas. By removing it, you allow everything that follows to work much better.

Exfoliation unclogs pores

Sweeping away dry skin and other build up that might remain on your skin after cleansing stops it from clogging your pores. This effectively prevents the formation of whiteheads and blackheads over time. These are two skin issues that are insanely difficult to get rid of, which is why exfoliating on the regular is so important. Dead skin seals pores, so when sebaceous glands produce oil, it’s ‘stuck’ under the dry skin. Breakouts occur when there is nowhere for the oil to go.

Exfoliation evens skin tone

People with dark spots, hyperpigmentation, and acne scars know how frustrating these issues can be to treat, but exfoliation most definitely helps. A great exfoliant will help to break down dead skin while at the same time smoothing its overall texture, making the skin appear more uniform over time. And when dead skin cells are removed from the surface of the skin, brown patches and sunspots will appear less noticeable overall.

Exfoliation increases cell turnover

In addition to increasing circulation, exfoliation can also help to boost your skin’s overall radiance. It helps increase cell turnover so that elusive glow can return, due to fresh, healthy cells sitting right at the surface. The newly exposed layer of skin also reflects light better, so fine lines and wrinkles can become less visible.

The frequency of your exfoliation will greatly depend on the intensity of the product and your skin type. People with rosacea or sensitivity should exfoliate just once a week, but normal skin types can handle three or four times a week with a gentle exfoliant, but less if you’re using something more intense. Oh, and some people prefer chemical exfoliants over physical ones and vice versa, but it’s up to your specific needs.

Read on for some of our favourite formulas and why we love them…

Tailor Skincare Polish

The much-loved New Zealand brand calls this “your secret weapon to banish breakouts, unclog pores, soothe and smooth for baby soft, glowing skin”, which we can definitely get behind. The formula includes locally-sourced bentonite clay and coconut glycerin to deeply cleanse without drying, whilst wintergreen extract and pumice powder gently break down congestion and buff away dead skin cells for a brighter, clearer complexion.

Trilogy Vitamin C Polishing Powder

Trilogy’s certified natural Vitamin C Polishing Powder is a non-abrasive, freshly activated powder exfoliant that gently buffs, brightens and smooths skin. Once activated with water, this polishing powder becomes a foaming milk that helps remove dead skin cells and reveals a more illuminated, youthful-looking complexion. It’s suitable for all skin types, but especially those with uneven skin tone or those looking for a radiance boost.

Nuori Supreme Polishing Treatment

This is another formula that lets you be the alchemist. It’s a daily adaptable treatment that effectively removes impurities, gently sloughs away dead skin cells, and buffs and infuses skin with highly nourishing ingredients. The potent formula is activated at home by blending the two components, Enzyme Complex and Powder Booster, in your preferred ratio. This kit allows you to achieve optimal results by creating a personalised, day-to-day blend that adapts to the changing needs of the skin.

Henne Organics Lip Exfoliator –  Nordic Berries

Inspired by the fresh-picked forest berries found in nature in Sweden, this lip mask looks and smells incredible. Apply it to damp lips and gently massage in a circular motion, then rinse with warm water and apply a layer of lip balm to lock in the moisture and keep your lips extra smooth.