Guides

Choosing your exfoliating treatment

Exfoliation is an often-forgotten beauty ritual, but one that is difficult to replace to keep skin looking perfectly healthy, youthful and luminous.

Its primary role is to accelerate the natural desquamation of the stratum corneum (the most superficial layer of our epidermis). Concretely, it helps eliminate dead cells and all the impurities that cling to the surface of our skin, suffocating it and dulling its radiance. In addition to smoothing roughness and skin texture, it accelerates cell renewal (which tends to slow down with age), fades pigment spots and prevents pore clogging. And of course, it optimizes the penetration of the active ingredients in your favorite skincare products, which have free rein to "circulate"!

The result: softer skin, a finer texture, and a brighter complexion. However, there's one very important rule to follow to make your love affair last: always exfoliate in the evening and systematically apply sunscreen the next morning. This golden rule applies to absolutely all scrubs, with or without grains.

#1 I choose my scrub according to its mode of action

The traditional scrub we all have in mind is the one with grains. More or less small, more or less abrasive, they perform mechanical exfoliation when massaged into the skin's surface. For the face, we mainly use sugar, bamboo powder, crushed kernels, rice powder, or silica microbeads. Massage them into your skin with (very!) gentle circular motions, paying special attention to rough areas.

There's also another type of scrub: enzymatic scrubs and acid scrubs. They both rely on chemical exfoliation. Don't be put off by this name: it's simply a way of describing their keratolytic activity, that is, their ability to nibble away at the keratin bonds that connect the cells of the stratum corneum together. No grains, no need to scrub! These exfoliating products work all by themselves in seconds or minutes.

I want grains

This scrub incorporates a trio of soothing clays (white, green, yellow), purifying vegetable charcoal and exfoliating amber powder.

Ideal for: Skin prone to shine and imperfections.

The +:

its formula with 99% ingredients of natural origin.

I want acids

Containing 15% fruit acids, this lotion is also enriched with prickly pear extract for gentler exfoliation.

Ideal for: thick skin textures.

The +: it is suitable for the whole family.

I want enzymes

Inspired by spa philosophy, this scrub with apple, kiwi and papaya extracts provides a gentle boost.

Ideal for: sensitive skin.

The +: its deliciously refreshing gel texture.

I want a hybrid exfoliant

This treatment combines mechanical exfoliation (diatom micro-algae) with chemical exfoliation (blueberry, lemon, orange, cane sugar, maple acids).

Ideal for: blemished and dull skin.

The +: its very fine grains which respect the epidermis.

#2 I choose my scrub according to my skin type

All skin types can benefit from a good scrub!

It would therefore be a shame to deprive ourselves of it under the pretext that our recent experiments in this area have proven inconclusive. As with other treatments in a routine, you must choose an exfoliant suited to your skin profile.

Dry and sensitive skin, for example, will favor formulas enriched with butters and oils, which will compensate for the abrasiveness of the grain by strengthening the permeability of the hydrolipidic film. As for combination to oily skin, BHA (salicylic acid, not to be confused with the preservative of the same acronym: butylated hydroxyanisole!) is generally recommended. AHAs and enzymes remain excellent choices common to all skin types.

I have dry skin

Like a moisturizer, with added exfoliation. Thanks to its creamy formula and exclusive exfoliating complex, it "scrubs" the skin without feeling stripped.

Ideal for: the face, but also the lips, neck, décolleté and hands.

The +: so soft that it can be used every day.

I have combination to oily skin

Enriched with niacinamide (with purifying, soothing and anti-aging properties), it reduces the appearance of enlarged pores and strengthens the skin against external stressors.

Ideal for: combating shine and blackheads.

The +: its foaming formula which cleanses and exfoliates in a single step.

I have sensitive skin

Rice powder (200 microns) gently exfoliates while RLP-3 COMPLEX® provides the skin with antioxidant, soothing and anti-dehydration benefits.

Ideal for: delicate skin exposed to the first signs of aging.

The +: its pebble format which transforms into an ultra-creamy treatment between wet hands.

#3 I choose my scrub according to its formulation

Exfoliation is also a matter of sensoriality!

If you're going to exfoliate your skin several times a week or a month, make sure the ritual is as pleasant as possible. There's the scent, the color, the sensation of rinsing, of course, but also (and above all) the nature of the formulation. The latter also determines the practicality of using the treatment—and here again, we don't all have the same criteria.

Lotion or cleanser-type formulas are ideal for those looking for light, but daily and regular exfoliation.

Exfoliating masks require a short application time: they are either chemical or hybrid formulas. Powder galenics have excellent shelf life (which allows them to incorporate powerful active ingredients that are normally difficult to stabilize, such as vitamin C) and are also very fun to use.

As for exfoliating serums, most are very concentrated: they are preferably used as a "treatment", instead of the usual serum.

In powder

Simply mix it with a few drops of water to obtain a sumptuous exfoliating cream with Hawaiian extracts and active ingredients (coconut milk, oats, banana, hibiscus, vanilla, camu camu, etc.).

Ideal for: the most greedy among us.

The +: it also contains vitamin C, perfect for dark spots.

In soap

Cold saponified on a base of butter and vegetable oils, it contains poppy seeds to exfoliate the skin without drying it out.

Ideal for: face and body.

The +: its refreshing scent of lemongrass and lavender.

In mask

In 5 to 10 minutes of application, its mix of rice powder and fruit acids helps restore healthy-looking skin and a radiant complexion.

Ideal for: all skin types.

The +: its soft texture which envelops the skin while minimizing the risk of discomfort.

In lotion

Use it every night after cleansing and before serum. Its ultra-gentle enzyme cocktail leaves skin glowing, comfortable, and visibly hydrated.

Ideal for: delicate skin that cannot tolerate traditional exfoliants.

The +: designed to offer optimal skin tolerance (alcohol-free, fragrance-free, lactic acid-free, glycolic acid-free).

And what about the body?

The skin on your body is generally thicker than that on your face. It can therefore withstand more abrasive exfoliating formulas, such as those based on salt grains, sand, or large sugar crystals. That said, keep your hand light on more delicate areas, especially the décolleté. Conversely, don't hesitate to focus on your elbows, knees, and heels to smooth out any rough patches.

Made with cane sugar, coconut oil and jojoba oil, “piña colada” scent

The traditional Moroccan glove, to be used with the brand's black soap

Practical in the shower with its tube format. With 7 active ingredients of natural origin.