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Ria Bhatia profile imageRia BhatiaPublished on

One cleanse is all it takes to unveil smoother, softer skin

The best facial polishes to slough away dead skin

One cleanse is all it takes to unveil smoother, softer skin. We list eight facial polishes that do the job

From hot chocolate to warm knitwear, there’s barely anything that’s deplorable about winters, save for the nippy, dry climate that takes an evident toll on your skin. While dry skin is prone to  turning flaky and scaly, oily skin feels almost impaired, since the drop in temperatures stirs up an imbalance in the level of sebum production. While you may precipitate much less in the winter than the rest of the year, the lack of humidity furtively sabotages the health of your skin. At such times, exfoliation becomes the need of the hour.

However, if you tend to steer clear of gritty face scrubs and aren’t satisfied with the chemical exfoliant-infused serums on your shelf either, you might want to give face polishes a chance. Usually comprising natural ingredients, face polishes have exfoliative properties that are high on efficacy but low on abrasion, hitting the sweet spot between cleansers and traditional face scrubs. Some are made up of both natural and modern ingredients to maximise the softening, purifying and resurfacing effect on your skin. We list a selection of face polishes that deserve your attention.

If compromising on smooth AF skin is a no-no for you, this luxe, creamy facial polish is what your skincare routine needs to champion. It’s both gentle and effective—while finely-milled licorice and rice powder (combined with other common cooking ingredients like cardamom and triphala) exfoliate the skin, ashwagandha, rose essential oil, geranium, vitamin E and sesame seed oil nourish and fortify it. Its whipped texture minimises the gritty sensation to almost zilch.₹ 5,350Shop here

If compromising on smooth AF skin is a no-no for you, this luxe, creamy facial polish is what your skincare routine needs to champion. It’s both gentle and effective—while finely-milled licorice and rice powder (combined with other common cooking ingredients like cardamom and triphala) exfoliate the skin, ashwagandha, rose essential oil, geranium, vitamin E and sesame seed oil nourish and fortify it. Its whipped texture minimises the gritty sensation to almost zilch.

₹ 5,350

Shop here

Dermatologists across the world swear by Dermalogica, and Oprah Winfrey called this skin polish a “superstar”, but that’s not why we recommend it. It has a promising ingredient list, comprising rice enzymes, licorice, colloidal oatmeal, papain, salicylic acid, tea tree oil, white tea and so much more that makes it universally flattering as well as appropriate for everyday use. The best part? You also get a refillable pouch.₹ 950 onwardsShop here

Dermatologists across the world swear by Dermalogica, and Oprah Winfrey called this skin polish a “superstar”, but that’s not why we recommend it. It has a promising ingredient list, comprising rice enzymes, licorice, colloidal oatmeal, papain, salicylic acid, tea tree oil, white tea and so much more that makes it universally flattering as well as appropriate for everyday use. The best part? You also get a refillable pouch.

₹ 950 onwards

Shop here

This gel-based polish resurfaces, mildly exfoliates and smoothens out the skin by undoing the damage your skin is exposed to during the day. It’s safe for everyday use, especially if your skin is oily or dry. From Centella Asiatica to plant-based AHA (from sugarcane) and BHA (derived from White Willow Bark), it is packed with ingredients that meet the needs of all skin types. Plus, it alleviates dullness and renders glow.₹ 5,600Shop here

This gel-based polish resurfaces, mildly exfoliates and smoothens out the skin by undoing the damage your skin is exposed to during the day. It’s safe for everyday use, especially if your skin is oily or dry. From Centella Asiatica to plant-based AHA (from sugarcane) and BHA (derived from White Willow Bark), it is packed with ingredients that meet the needs of all skin types. Plus, it alleviates dullness and renders glow.

₹ 5,600

Shop here

Ayurveda-inspired beauty brand Prakti offers minimal but high-performing products that get the job done deftly. With pomegranate extract and naturally-derived AHA (alpha hydroxy acid), the polish powder has several botanical ingredients, with rice powder being a constant component in most face polishes. This one is specifically indulgent, for the off-white powder transforms into a lilac paste as soon as you whisk it up with a liquid. We recommend you give water a miss and explore rose water, aloe vera water or coconut milk instead to make the best out of this polish.₹ 5,610Shop here

Ayurveda-inspired beauty brand Prakti offers minimal but high-performing products that get the job done deftly. With pomegranate extract and naturally-derived AHA (alpha hydroxy acid), the polish powder has several botanical ingredients, with rice powder being a constant component in most face polishes. This one is specifically indulgent, for the off-white powder transforms into a lilac paste as soon as you whisk it up with a liquid. We recommend you give water a miss and explore rose water, aloe vera water or coconut milk instead to make the best out of this polish.

₹ 5,610

Shop here

Founded by dermatologist Dr Zein Obagi, the brand thrives on the expertise of doctors, lending it much credibility. This exfoliating polish uses fine magnesium oxide crystals and vitamin C to eliminate dead skin and roughness while inducing brightness too. Other constituents include linoleic acid, tea tree oil, vitamin E and other fatty acids, enabling it to address multiple concerns at once.  ₹ 6,900Shop here

Founded by dermatologist Dr Zein Obagi, the brand thrives on the expertise of doctors, lending it much credibility. This exfoliating polish uses fine magnesium oxide crystals and vitamin C to eliminate dead skin and roughness while inducing brightness too. Other constituents include linoleic acid, tea tree oil, vitamin E and other fatty acids, enabling it to address multiple concerns at once.  

₹ 6,900

Shop here

Don’t invest in this one just because it’s Huda’s favourite or has been fabricated by her. Instead, give it a shot for the perfect balance its ingredients strike between physical and chemical exfoliants and nourishing botanical oils and extracts. Hence, it jettisons gunk and grime without leaving the skin deprived of hydration and nourishment. Special shoutout to its dead skin-peeling action—it’s satisfying and efficacious in equal parts.₹ 1,850 onwardsShop here

Don’t invest in this one just because it’s Huda’s favourite or has been fabricated by her. Instead, give it a shot for the perfect balance its ingredients strike between physical and chemical exfoliants and nourishing botanical oils and extracts. Hence, it jettisons gunk and grime without leaving the skin deprived of hydration and nourishment. Special shoutout to its dead skin-peeling action—it’s satisfying and efficacious in equal parts.

₹ 1,850 onwards

Shop here

This polishing peel is an apt addition to your skincare arsenal if you like the feeling of squeaky clean skin sans any abrasion. It employs natural fruit extracts that act as exfoliants, and combined with witch hazel and cucumber extracts, it is a worthy pick for oily skin in particular. It’s creamy and not gel-based, which is indicative of some nourishment it offers too.₹ 2,400Shop here

This polishing peel is an apt addition to your skincare arsenal if you like the feeling of squeaky clean skin sans any abrasion. It employs natural fruit extracts that act as exfoliants, and combined with witch hazel and cucumber extracts, it is a worthy pick for oily skin in particular. It’s creamy and not gel-based, which is indicative of some nourishment it offers too.

₹ 2,400

Shop here

Want to subscribe to weekly exfoliation sessions but have qualms about how your dry skin will react to them? The consistency of this sugar-based polish is such that it will melt on your skin to keep away any episodes of over-scrubbing. The product gets its texture from lots of sugar amalgamated with antioxidant-rich fruit oils that refine and smoothen simultaneously. You can expect this luxurious formulation (it contains a complex of deeply-moisturising oils) to buff away dead skin, offset texture and provide an even skin tone. ₹ 2,139 onwardsShop here 

Want to subscribe to weekly exfoliation sessions but have qualms about how your dry skin will react to them? The consistency of this sugar-based polish is such that it will melt on your skin to keep away any episodes of over-scrubbing. The product gets its texture from lots of sugar amalgamated with antioxidant-rich fruit oils that refine and smoothen simultaneously. You can expect this luxurious formulation (it contains a complex of deeply-moisturising oils) to buff away dead skin, offset texture and provide an even skin tone. 

₹ 2,139 onwards

Shop here 

Also Read: Eight face scrubs for refreshing, squeaky-clean skin

Also Read: Do you really need exfoliating pads?

Also Read: Could the best skin exfoliators be found in fruits?

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