How, exactly, should we exfoliate when our skin is so dry, it's peeling? Try a rich and creamy cleanser that wields the teeniest amount of texture. This one uses sparse jojoba grains to achieve this balancing act and milk thistle and elderflower water to smooth and soothe the skin.
Manuka honey may be most commonly known as a healthy way to sweeten tea and yogurt. But the popular New Zealand export is medicinally powerful, too, with research showing antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Those with the most sensitive skin can find a stellar exfoliator in this naturally-textured honey, which is rated for methylglyoxal content (the honey's star antibacterial compound) and UMF (the third-party verification system that ensures the quality of Manuka honey inside). Better yet, this brand of manuka honey is fully traceable: To see exactly where the honey originated, just scan the jar's microchipped tag with your phone.
Of hundreds of facial scrubs we've tried in our day, this cream version is one of the most gentle and hydrating to have hit our skin. Organic aloe, glycerin and olive oil pick up dirt while teeny jojoba beads loosen gunk from pores and lift dead cells. In fact, the beads are so soft, it feels like we're cleansing with a micronized version of the tapioca pearls found in boba tea.
Gentle gommage scrubs have been a staple of French cleansing for a while, but of-the-moment active ingredients — like microbiome-nurturing probiotics — help bring this creamy version into the 21st century. Though we were at first thrown by this scrub's complete lack of texture, we quickly found it did a tremendous job of smoothing our complexion. After applying to dry skin, wait two minutes before massaging it in and you'll see what we mean: it exfoliates without making our face feel tight or dry.
Those looking for an exfoliant that's both gentle enough for daily use and packs some of the more traditional properties of an old-school scrub will find the perfect balance in this oil-free option. Jojoba esters are more generously proportioned than in other scrubs we tried, but remain non-abrasive, while light sudsing action is achieved without sulfates. What's more, ingredients like glycerin and hyaluronic acid ensure moisture isn't sucked from the skin while cleansing.
