The Best Five Liquid Exfoliants

Gone are the days when exfoliation meant gritty, harsh scrubs. Removing dead skin and debris using acids is more effective and gentler – and there are now many options on the market. Here are five of the best exfoliants.

Exfoliants: Best For a Babyface

Glossier Solution

Perhaps the most hyped release of late, the Glossier Solution combines a 10% blend of AHA, BHA and the more mysterious and thus sexy LHA to make a once-a-day treatment that is both gentle and effective. It leaves your face slightly sticky, so we recommend using it at night when you can pile on your moisturiser and wake up looking baby-faced. As with all of the Glossier brands, the packaging doesn’t go amiss, either.

Exfoliants: Best For a Glow

Tarte Knockout Tingling Treatment

Something a little more intense is Tarte’s offering. This exfoliant smells like vinegar and has a slightly stingy, squeaky trajectory across the skin. But the results speak for themselves: smoothed-out, glowy skin with closed comedones or blocked pores significantly reduced. It contains a 10% blend of lactic acid, the most hydrating of the alpha hydroxy acids, and blackhead-busting salicylic acid, alongside soothing niacinamide. 

Exfoliants: Best For a Budget

CosRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner

If acid toning scares you, I stand firmly behind this K Beauty option. It’s much more gentle, meaning it can be applied morning and night, and it never stings or tingles. However, over time, the results can be quite dramatic. It contains both glycolic acid and salicylic acid, meaning it exfoliation both the skin and inside the pore. It’s also a total bargain, at around £10 for 150ml.

Exfoliants: Best For Anti-ageing

Vichy Idealia Night Peeling

This night treatment combines 5% glycolic acid with antioxidant blueberry extract and fermented black tea, offering a superior anti-ageing option. It’s extremely smoothing and illuminating – although less effective on blemish-prone skin.

Exfoliants: Best For Redness

Mario Badescu Glycolic Toner

A simple formulation which gets straight to the point, this 2% glycolic acid formulation gently sloughs off the outermost layer of skin, revealing a fresher, newer complexion. The aloe gel gives the toner more slip while soothing any irritation or redness. It’s another great price, too, with 236ml costing £15.