HOW TO SCRUB UP WITH THE BEST

Sue Conley

Sigh: may as well scrub off the last of the tan. Wait! Is that the sun, peeking out from behind the clouds?

May as well exfoliate and have one more round of self-tan!

VOYA Love a Scrub, right, €28 HHHHH

The winner and possibly all-time champion. I probably should have saved this for last, but my regard for this is so high, I can't help but sing its praises. Excellent texture, the precisely correct amount of granules and a refreshing scent. Plus: made in Ireland. Also: beautiful, sparkling clean skin. Enough said.

DERMALOGICA Gentle Cream Exfoliant, right, €43.75 HHHHI

This is so gentle I don't even know how it works. As I always say, I've got a hide like rhino, so on contact, this didn't seem to be doing anything at all. I did get a nice, smooth, clear complexion afterwards, though! Maybe I can be gentler on my poor face? Perfect for people who are terrified of face scrubs.

L'OCCITANE A L'Huile Essentielle Et Eau D'Angelique Bio Gommage Rosee du Matin Exfoliating Gel, right, €22.95, HHIII

Very heavy on the gommage and with seemingly only a cursory amount of granules. I didn't feel like this did much, although it smelled really nice.

PHILOSOPHY Micro-Massage Exfoliating Wash, right, €32, HHHHI

Another one that is very heavy in its base gel, but this one doubles as a mask and it is fabulous, in that regard. The micro-massage aspect actually does work, so be careful: you may not want to stop massaging, and you'll rub your face off. It's that good.

VICHY Normaderm 3 In 1: Cleanser + Scrub + Mask, left, €13.25 HHHHI

Okay, this may give the Voya a run for its money because this does the three things listed on its label. It works its magic best as a mask, I must admit, but as a scrub it does well, too: it is gentle yet thorough and it smells refreshing. Since you don't need to use much, it is great value for the money.

Sue Conley