Out of all of the skincare lessons I have learned, this remains perhaps the most controversial. You see, this is something I have sort of figured out for myself and I want you to hear me out. I grew up during a time when St. Ives Apricot Face Scrub was the skincare product to own. I used it once a week throughout my teens and loved the way it made my skin feel so smooth and soft. And then, the beauty world decided that all face scrubs were basically the devil, and we should be using acid exfoliants instead (like glycolic acid). In my early twenties, I binned all of my much-loved scrubs and started incorporating acids into my routine whenever I could (2–3 times a week, in the evenings).
During those years, I battled redness, sensitivity, breakouts and even a bout of perioral dermatitis. Even as a beauty journalist, I struggled to strike a balance between strong acid exfoliants and the necessary moisture my skin would require after treatment. After speaking to a number of dermatologists, they insisted that the right acid is likely out there for me, but if trying to find it is causing my skin trauma, there is a place in most routines for a scrub too. Now, I like to use both, just in moderation. The key, I have learned, to a great face scrub that isn’t too abrasive is looking for a gentle formula designed for weekly use (at a maximum) and knowing when to lay off if the skin turns red and irritated.
