When it comes to skincare it can be tricky to sperate the magic from the marketing. Having the perfect regime doesn’t necessarily mean you need a complicated 10-step routine BUT there are certain products that really are a MUST for regular skin upkeep and an exfoliator is most certainly one of them.

Have you ever heard the term ‘baby soft skin’? Whilst it is a charming phrase it also rings very true. Babies have extremely soft skin because their cell turnover rate is so fast, and their bodies naturally shed old dead skin every few days revealing soft and healthy-looking skin.  Roll-on a couple of decades and the cell turnover rate drastically slows down and sadly that dead skin that’s left on the skin’s surface can emphasize fine lines and wrinkles worsening the look of ageing and highlighting a dull lacklustre complexion.  FACT: Children have a cell turnover of around 10 – 14 days but by the age of 40 its around 45 days!

So, let’s get down to the ‘nitty gritty’! The reality is that exfoliation is SUCH a crucial step in your skincare routine because it holds the key to boosting cell turnover eliminating dead skin cells and encouraging the generation of new cells. As well as being fast track to naturally glowing skin, exfoliation can be key in ensuring skin is decongested and free from debris whilst improving clarity, tone, and youthfulness. Think of exfoliating as playing the role of groundskeeper, clearing the path so your other skincare can access your skin more effectively.

There have been phenomenal advancements in exfoliation techniques even since the early days of my beauty training over three decades ago when it was all about ‘scratchy’ abrasive scrubs which, with over-use, could cause tiny micro-tears in the skin surface triggering redness and literally sabotaging your complexion. If you are new to exfoliators there are two main types - chemical and physical (granular). The former primarily uses various kinds of acids (think Alpha Hydroxy Acids, Beta Hydroxy Acids and Polyhydroxy Acids) to nibble away at the bonds that hold the dead skin cells to the surface lifting them away. Physical exfoliation is a more abrasive method that manually removes dead skin cells using granular particles or a coarse cloth to detach dead cells by buffing the surface of the skin.

Dedicated to finding solutions for all skin concerns no matter how big or small, Gatineau’s tried and tested exfoliating formulas are second to none with our top priorities being ease of application, and immediate visible results.  Specialising in non-abrasive formulas boasting a host of results-driven hero ingredients your face can have all the fun and what’s even better is that they ALL can be incorporated easily into your existing regime.

Effectively resurfacing yet gentle enough to use daily, a brighter, more balanced skin is yours for the taking with our Exfoliating PHA + BHA Glow Tonique. Ideal for addressing dullness, uneven skin tone, enlarged pores, congestion and even fine lines and wrinkles, this formula features a gentle Polyhydroxy Acid called Gluconolactone and a pore purifying Beta Hydroxy Acid called Salicylic Acid which work together to reduce cohesion between dead cells triggering skin’s natural resurfacing process. The perfect daily tonic to bring energy back to skin affected by pollution or fatigue it has been charged with Oxygeskin derived from the Nasturtium Flower which optimizes radiance and dials up the dew. This bright bottle is not only going to look gorgeous on your shelf but will give you glowy skin in an instant.

An exfoliator that needs no introduction is Gatineau’s Radiance Enhancing Gommage, an original multi award-winning resurfacing gel to oil formula and the ultimate multitasker that can be used as a gommage or mask. If you’ve misplaced your radiance then its time to get acquainted with this game-changing gommage which has been loaded with a cocktail of AHA’s – Glycolic, Malic and Lactic Acid adding star power sloughing away dead skin and reducing the look of fine lines and dark spots. But it doesn’t stop there, alongside these incredible exfoliating effects that reveal radiant skin, this jam-packed formula is also ultra-hydrating thanks to the addition of Hyaluronic Acid. This is a true does-it-all-complexion rescue treatment and the ultimate spa-at-home hero!  

And exfoliators don’t get more sophisticated than our Anti-aging Peeling Gommage originally heralded as a ‘salon grade’ formula and with a carefully ‘thought-through’ difference, this has to be my true desert island hero. Like a mini facial from the comfort of your home, this genius’s talents aren’t confined to exfoliation as it strikes the perfect balance between exfoliating, smoothing, brightening, and hydrating.  Upon application let the enzymes work their magic, melting away the dulling surface ‘scurf’ (an accumulation of dead skin cells, grime, and oxidised sebum) that can compromise skin’s youthful lustre whilst the cocktail of conditioning oils enhances elasticity leaving your face feeling wonderfully supple and touchably soft.  With a refreshing thick creamy texture this ‘roll-off’ formula works overtime for its coveted space in your bathroom cabinet and if you want to cast some calm on a chaotic day it makes for a decadent face mask that can be left on before being peeled away unveiling a dramatically smoother, brighter and suppler visage.  Trust me when I say this formula is a must for your collection.

A host of utterly must-have exfoliators that will be your complexion’s saving grace and there are some serious benefits of mixing and matching the acid regime to suit particular concerns. Radiance Enhancing Gommage and Ant-aging Peeling Gommage are twice weekly resurfacing gym sessions that will work their stealthy magic brightening, hydrating and defying time and either formula will be a match made in heaven for our daily Exfoliating PHA + BHA Glow Tonique formulated to balance all skin types and ward off imperfections promoting a visibly clearer, smoother skin in no time at all.

The road to glass-like skin can often be bumpy, but this trio of game-changers will definitely smoothen the journey.

Lucy x