9 Skin Exfoliators for the Fresh-Faced and Glowing—No Microbeads Required

In Vogue’s May issue we discuss the hot-button skin-care topic that’s been on the table ever since microbeads (those tiny, environmentally unfriendly plastic granules found in drugstore scrubs for the past two decades) were officially banned in late 2015: exfoliation. Beauty brands have created a new wave of alternatives to the nonbiodegradable pollutants, with many turning a fresh eye toward old-school ingredients like sugar, baking soda, and even coffee for their natural, eco-friendly polishing powers.

Those who shudder at the idea of physical scrubs (perhaps scarred by the memory of an overly vigorous application of noughties-era apricot seeds) can reach for products containing fruit enzymes or chemical exfoliants—like vitamin C, glycolic acid, and retinol to name a few—which encourage cell turnover on the skin’s surface. In recent years, at-home peels have emerged as the easiest way to speed skin shedding, especially those applied at night that do the heavy lifting while you sleep, like Dr. Dennis Gross’s moisture-balancing Ferulic + Retinol Wrinkle Recovery Peel and Kiehl’s Nightly Refining Micro-Peel Concentrate which goes on as simply as a daily serum.

The best route to a glowing complexion without irritation? Try alternating physical and chemical exfoliants in your routine to keep your skin from overdosing on one method. New York dermatologist Ellen Marmur, M.D. also recommends revisiting familiar staples by cleansing with a nubby washcloth and a dollop of face cream, which hydrates while gently resurfacing skin’s texture. Arriving in the form of a pillowy Konjac cleansing sponge, K-beauty’s buff-puff alternative is a current Vogue office obsession that slips across the complexion without scratching. The takeaway? A consistent soft touch beats out heavy-handed scrubbing every time—no round plastic beads required.

Above, nine exfoliating options for a total face (and body) refresh this spring.

 

The post 9 Skin Exfoliators for the Fresh-Faced and Glowing—No Microbeads Required appeared first on Vogue.