It’s another day, another drama for Kylie Jenner right now. First, dermatologists everywhere warned us against using the walnut-shell face scrub from her new Kylie Skin line. Then, sister Kim joined the rest of the world in dragging her for not knowing how to wash her face properly. And now beauty influencers across the globe are jumping on the bandwagon to deliver their mixed verdicts on the star’s first foray into skincare.
But while we might not be putting Kylie Skin’s face exfoliator near our precious complexions any time soon, the whole furore has reminded us of just how satisfying a good old face scrub can be.
Good news then, that not all grainy physical exfoliators spell bad news for your skin. The trick is to steer away from anything with natural shells in (walnut and apricot are the key culprits), as these have jagged edges that cause tiny tears in your dermis, potentially leading to long-term skin-barrier damage.
Instead, look for exfoliators containing perfectly spherical particles (biodegradable jojoba beads and silica are common winners) which will gently clean clogged pores without snagging your skin.
One more thing: if you’re looking for an old favourite containing microbeads, you’re not going to have much luck. These tiny beads previously played a starring role in many a face scrub, but they’re since been banned in the UK as part of a bid to reduce plastic pollution. Below, we’ve rounded up the seven best face scrubs to place your trust in now…
Dr. Goldfaden’s extra-rich scrub is the closest you’ll get to an in-salon microdermabrasion treatment at home. But first, a warning: this one is seriously heavy-duty, so apply with a light hand, and steer clear if you have very sensitive skin. That said, if an extra-deep cleanse is what you’re after, nothing beats this creamy concoction. Ruby crystals work to reveal brighter, fresher skin, while hyaluronic acid and vegan squalane deliver lasting hydration.
Physical face scrubs are especially useful on congested, blemish-prone skin. This supercharged formula combines biodegradable microbeads with salicylic acid, which gets right to the root of breakouts to clean away congestion. It’s ideal for skin that’s been thrown out of whack by the heatwave.
