10 Exfoliating Face Washes That Will Leave Your Skin Fresh and Flawless and Tips to Choose the Best Before Grabbing a Random Bottle off the Shelf.

As age catches on, the cell turnover in our skin slows down and dead skin gives off a dull complexion. Here, exfoliation helps a lot both to the body and the facial skin as well. Exfoliation not only helps you get rid of the top layers of the skin that’s dead but also allows moisturizers and serums to penetrate deeply and the foundation glide smoothly as opposed to sitting on flaky skin! Exfoliating in the morning is the best time as the skin repairs itself in the night and hence you can scrub off all the dead skin cells, in the morning. Scrubbing is best when done once or twice a week, rubbing in circular movement for about 30 seconds and then washed off with lukewarm water. For oily skin, acne-prone skin or skin with large pores, you can give a microdermabrasion system at home.

Exfoliants don’t need to be always expensive. Exfoliating with natural ingredients like baking powder or brown sugar or even baking powder is excellent. You can even use a basic washcloth for both face and body exfoliation, and soft bamboo baby washcloths are ideal for gentle scrubbing. Then there are bath brushes that are designed for a good scrub before a bath or during the shower, as are dry brushes and exfoliating gloves. Some other popular exfoliators include: finely ground sugar, coffee grounds, cinnamon, finely ground sea salt, oatmeal, and you can combine these with essential oils or green/chamomile tea and honey.

As is true with using anything on your skin, there’s always a risk of getting allergic to one or more of the natural ingredients as well, especially with essential oils which act as exfoliants independently as well. It is always best to do a patch test on a small area of your skin, to begin with to test if you’re allergic to a particular item or not. Secondly, be wary of any exfoliant that’s not ground well as coarse sea salt, oatmeal, granule sugar or coffee grinds have jagged edges that can damage or scar your skin. the granules for scrubbing should be smooth and small.

While experts recommend that exfoliation’s great and often necessary to get rid of dead skin cells and find your way to fresh and naturally radiant skin, the growing popularity of cell scrubbing cleansers, serums, toners and grains signify that people are exfoliating a bit much and often. Over-exfoliation’s a big mistake as it can lead to skin inflammation, irritation and redness, thereby leading to a flaky skin, uneven tone and breakouts. Your skin may also develop a taut, waxy texture that’s often confused with healthy glow. Over exfoliation can also devolve into painful peeling and cracking of skin and expose you to increased sensitivity to products.

If you get over-exfoliated then the first thing to do is to stop exfoliating immediately until your skin heals and attains its base texture. Switch to mild cleansers and moisturizers that are free of fragrance. Stop using all foaming cleansers, chemical or physical exfoliators and retinol products. Use aloe vera gel or hydrocortisone cream and spot treat affected areas with rich emollients like Aqua veil or Aquaphor.

Perfect for sensitive skin, the Lotus Herbals Berry Scrub Strawberry & Aloe Vera Exfoliating Face Wash has strawberry seeds that help scrub and remove layers of dead skin cells making your skin pores absolutely clean. With a refreshing fragrance, and at a pocket-friendly price of Rs.159 for 120g, Lotus Herbals Berry Scrub Strawberry & Aloe Vera Exfoliating Face Wash leaves behind soft and smooth skin. Designed typically for all skin types, Lotus Herbals Berry Scrub Strawberry & Aloe Vera Exfoliating Face Wash is made of a blend of lemon, strawberry seeds, Aloe Vera and orange peel. It comes in a gel form.

An effective daily face wash, Garnier Naturals Pure Exfoliating Face Wash is suitable for combination and oily skin and works on removing excess oil, and imperfections while preventing any recurrence. Its unique formula blends and alcohol-free gel with active ingredients, while the micro-particles present in it exfoliate the dead skin cells. Garnier Naturals Pure Exfoliating Face Wash is a deep cleansing agent that purifies the skin pores. Priced at Rs. 149, Garnier Naturals Pure Exfoliating Face Wash is available in 100gm. You just need a small amount of face wash to produce enough foam to wash your face well and effectively cleanse it of all dirt and grime.

With herbal formula that’s enriched with apricot and red lentils Himalayas Gentle Exfoliating Daily Face Wash is suitable for all skin types and helps remove blackheads from the skin. With large scrub particles, it is best to use it gently on the skin. Priced at Rs.122 for 100g, Himalayas Gentle Exfoliating Daily Face Wash helps eliminate all impurities that cannot be washed away in a routine cleansing. With crab apple that’s a soothing antiseptic and keratolytic agent that loosens dead skin fragments, the face wash also includes wheat germ oil which is a significant Vitamin E source. Himalayas Gentle Exfoliating Daily Face Wash not only cleanses the skin but also nourishes it while boosting the skin’s elasticity.

Clean & Clear Morning Energy Face Wash Brightening Berry comes with raspberry extracts, salicylic acid, sodium laureth sulfate, acrylates copolymer, propylene glycol, ferric ferrocyanide, glycerin and bursting beads which together help combat common skin issues, leaving behind a cleansed, fresh and clear skin. Clean & Clear Morning Energy Face Wash Brightening Berry forms a thick foam that effectively removes all dirt and grime without drying the skin and helps restore the natural glow to your skin. Priced at Rs.145 for 100ml, Clean & Clear Morning Energy Face Wash Brightening Berry is best used twice a day, massaged gently into the skin and then rinsed off with water.

One of the best scrubs and exfoliating face wash in the market, Aroma Leaf’s Papaya Exfoliate Face Wash not only nourishes the skin but also protects it from any further damage. With an effective way to achieve flawless and youthful-looking skin, Aroma Leaf’s Papaya Exfoliate Face Wash comes infused with ingredients that leave a clean and clear look. Suitable for all skin types, it removes blackheads, dirt and grime, removes all dead skin cells and restores the natural glow. Priced at Rs. 195 for 100ml, Aroma Leaf’s Papaya Exfoliate Face Wash has papaya’s beneficial properties and provides Vitamin A and papain that act as anti-oxidants and break down inactive proteins while removing dead skin cells.

Avon Care Exfoliation face wash is a mild and gentle face wash gel that effectively cleanses the skin, refreshing it without drying the skin, eliminating excess oil and lipids in the skin pores. Priced at Rs.128 for 50ml, Avon Care Exfoliation face wash is suitable for all skin types and is formulated with bioseed complex and almond oil that restores the skin’s natural moisture balance. Formulated with licorice extracts, Avon Care Exfoliation face wash is tested dermatologically and allergy-resistant as well. Avon Care Exfoliation Face Wash is good for everyday use.

Lakme Blush and Glow Strawberry Creme Face Wash is enriched with strawberry antioxidants and moisture to nourish your skin that helps provide creamy hydration and a fruit-kissed glow to the skin. Gentle on the skin, its non-greasy texture purifies, nourishes, refreshes and rejuvenates the skin, while cleansing it, brightening the complexion, restoring soft suppleness and clear & cleansed skin. Priced at Rs.120 for 50g, Lakme Blush and Glow Strawberry Creme Face Wash is best for eliminating dead skin cells, clogged pores, fight dullness, grime, skin impurities and rejuvenate tired skin, leaving behind an improved skin texture.

Priced at Rs.599 for 150ml, Oriflame Sweden’s Pure Skin Scrub Deep Action Face Wash is a deep acting, exfoliating cleanser that targets dark spots, blackheads and skin impurities by penetrating deep into the pores. With its powerful antibacterial agents, Oriflame Pure Skin Scrub Deep Action Face Wash continues working long after your face is washed. Oriflame Pure Skin Scrub Deep Action Face Wash can be used in just a coin-sized amount on the palm and gently lathered and massaged onto wet face for about 30-60 seconds and then rinsed off with some lukewarm water.

Astaberry’s Orange Face Wash Scrub is an exfoliating cleanser that comes with neem and other active ingredients to combat typical skin issues and contains Vitamin C from the orange peel extracts that protect your skin while retaining its natural glow. Astaberry’s Orange Face Wash Scrub helps wash off all skin dulling impurities with ease and smoothens the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Priced at Rs.170 for 100ml and available in a pack of 2 tubes, Astaberry’s Orange Face Wash Scrub is best massaged gently onto damp skin with fingertips and then rinsed off with water. Astaberry’s Orange Face Wash Scrub can be used daily without drying out the skin.

Body Shop’s Seaweed Pore-Cleansing Facial Exfoliator is suitable for combination/oily skin and comes packed with jojoba beads and seaweed that refresh and clarify the skin, leaving it super soft and refreshingly clean. The Seaweed Pore-Cleansing Facial Exfoliator refines the skin pores whilst cleansing the skin deeply from within and its facial polish is made of mineral-rich seaweed from Roaring Water Bay, Ireland. Aimed specifically at pore care and oil control, Body Shop’s Seaweed Pore-Cleansing Facial Exfoliator is best massaged gently onto wet skin, creating a lather with your fingertips and then rinsed off with water. Body Shop’s Seaweed Pore-Cleansing Facial Exfoliator is priced at Rs.1,095 for 100ml.

The process of exfoliating your skin involves sloughing away dead skin cells to pave the way for a newer and more radiant skin texture, but when the skin is oily, dead skin cells are more adherent and don’t flake off easily which can also lead to breakouts. Here are some international derma recommended exfoliators that can lead you to glowing and healthy skin irrespective of whether it is sensitive, problematic or oily.