My Top Skin Saving Exfoliator Treatments from Kate Somerville & Amore Pacific

My Top Exfoliators from Kate Somerville & Amore Pacific

I exfoliate once or twice a week to keep my skin smooth and clear. You need to exfoliate so your skincare products can absorb into the skin otherwise it's not as effective and your moisturizer will just sit on top of the skin. Having smooth skin also provides a better base for makeup. No matter what type of foundation you apply it will not look as good if your face is not smooth and clear. A part of my routine also includes using the Clarisonic cleansing brush every night to thoroughly remove all my makeup from the day. On the days I use these exfoliating treatments I don't use the Clarisonic and cleanse my face with my hands since it can be too harsh using both. Some people think Clarisonic is an exfoliator so there's no need to use another treatment but it doesn't remove the dead layer of skin like these treatments. It does a good job in thoroughly cleaning the skin of any makeup. Now let's get into the current exfoliating treatments I use.

Amore Pacific Treatment Enzyme Peel
(This is not in the original packaging because I emptied it when I was traveling)

I use this about once a week after I've cleansed my face and it's still wet. This is very different from your typical scrubbing exfoliator. It comes in a pale yellow powder form that activates with water. I pour about a quarter size amount in my palm and use my fingers to apply on my forehead, cheeks, nose, and chin. My fingers are already wet since I use this in the shower so there's no need to add water, a little bit turns this into a thick and foamy constancy. I gently massage the product all over for about 15 seconds and leave it on for another 30 seconds. After that I massage it again for another 15 seconds and wash it off. I have pretty sensitive skin but this is very gentle and does not sting at all. It has a natural soapy smell which is not strong. You can instantly feel the change in the texture of your skin. I follow up with my night time skin care moisturizers and the next morning my face is plump and really smooth.

Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment

This is a pretty popular product and it's a scrubbing microbead exfoliator compared to Amore Pacific which is completely different in texture. The scent of this is pretty strong. I would described it as a mix of citrus and mint. The directions says to massage in circular motions and then leave it on for 2 minutes but my face is pretty sensitive so I scrub very gently for about 30 seconds and leave on for 1 minute then massage for another 10 seconds and wash it off. This does slightly sting when you first put it on but it fades. You have to be gentle when applying since it can be harsh if you massage with too much pressure. I find the results are not great immediately after rinsing off the product. I'm left with a gritty uneven surface to my skin which feels like it has raised my impurities to the surface. I tried leaving it on longer but it still does the same thing. I'm not sure if that's the result for others as well but after I've put on my nighttime skincare, the next morning my skin does feel smoother and brighter. I don't think this product is suitable for really sensitive skin though. They do have another option, a more gentle version that might be more suitable for me but I'll still be using up this one.

Kate Somerville Micro Glycolic Polisher

This saves my skin! Every few months I end up with irritated dry patches from seasonal weather changes and during winter when my skin is really dehydrated.  This also happens after any vacations that involves long flights since the air is so drying on airplanes. The micro glycolic polisher is a harsher chemical than the above two exfoliators. I use this after I've cleansed my face and I'm out of the shower. I let my face dry and use 4 pumps onto a cotton pad and wipe all over my face avoiding the eye area. It has a potent smell and can make the eyes water if it gets too close. It stings immediately on contact and varies with each use depending on the condition of your skin but fades after the first minute. I leave it on for about 10 minutes and rinse off. The directions say to leave on to 2-5 minutes so use your own judgement based on your own skin condition. The results after is glowing radiant skin and this greatly alleviates my dry patches or any irritated red spots.

Bridal Tip: Don't try any new exfolitors or treatments right before your wedding. Use something you know that works on you and do exfoliate the night before for smooth makeup application or two nights before if your skin gets red easily.