KEY POINTS:
Exfoliating is addictive. The way a scrub can mechanically remove ugly dead skin cells so the newer, better ones have a chance to glow is one of the wonders of my world. Trouble is, I scrub so often, some of those cells getting the heave-ho may not even
be dead yet - such is the appeal of the exfoliators' quick-fix.
1. St Ives Invigorating Apricot Scrub
$9.95 for 170g
The apricot scrubs - there's also blemish fighting and gentle - are the country's top-selling scrubs. They must have been one of the scrub pioneers, which could explain the loyalty. The reasonable price must also have some bearing, although none of this would matter if they didn't do an excellent job getting rid of dead cells and deep cleaning pores with nourishing Swiss botanicals, glacial water and of course, the apricot extract.
* From selected supermarkets and pharmacies.
2. The Body Shop Seaweed Pore-Cleansing and Facial Exfoliator
$22 for 75ml
On combination and oily skins this soap-free scrub deep-cleanses blocked pores, ousting dead skin cells and trouble-making excess oil with jojoba beads and olive stone granules. And the Community Trade bladderwrack seaweed all the way from Ireland doses skin with anti-oxidants, vitamins and minerals.
* From The Body Shop.
3. Estee Lauder Soft Clean Moisture Rich Exfoliator
$65 for 75ml
This is such a creamy exfoliator, if it weren't for the itty-bitty spherical beads you can feel, you wouldn't know it was designed to be harsh on dry surface cells. The lovely moisture complex and passion flower extracts make it a pleasure to use.
* From selected department stores and pharmacies.
4. Dermalogica Daily Resurfacer
$138.40 for 35 doses
The word daily is an exciting development. Permission to do it every day is granted. Even better, these are leave-on treatments measured into exact doses. Each contains Japanese Unshiu Citrus (no idea what it is but it sounds exotic), rice extract, green tea and hyaluronic acid to brighten and smooth skin. Perfect travelling companions.
* From selected beauty therapists.
5. Freeze 24.7 IceCrystals Anti-Ageing Prep and Polish
$179 for 57g
The mantra of Freeze 24.7 is "Nature. Not needles." The patented Age-Less technology uses a natural muscle relaxant - think Botox for a day. Staying with the theme, the Prep and Polish's massage beads with jojoba improves circulation and the production of collagen. Bye-bye surface roughness, and lab studies even show a 55 per cent reduction of age spots.
* From selected department stores and pharmacies.