Whenever I go for a facial, the esthetician always tells me my skin is so dry. “You need to exfoliate,” she always says.

And I know I do. As we age (don’t remind me!), our skin turnover slows from a 30-day cycle (in our teen years), to 40-60 days, so instead of having smooth, soft skin, it looks dry, crepey and flaky.

Exfoliation sloughs off the dead skin cells, helping reveal the new, soft skin sooner. This is key not only for having a fresher, more youthful look, but moisturizers are able to better penetrate into the skin, which means fine lines get plumped up and less visible!

The trouble with so many cleansers, exfoliators and creams is that they contain so many chemicals, they can create a shield on the surface of the skin and actually prevent moisturizers from penetrating into the skin. Which is why organic skin care can work so well. 

I recently discovered a new totally organic and wildcrafted skin care line called Livia. Not only do I love most of the products in the line, but they have an all-natural, eco-friendly, paraben-, sulfate- and filler-free Fresh Peppermint Exfoliating Cleanser that works wonders. It contains a whole range of essential oils including witch hazel, geranium and dandelion, as well as aloe vera and tea tree oil (and of course, peppermint, which is a fantastic wake-up call in the morning), which work together to stimulate blood flow, refresh the skin and hydrate it, leaving all skin types silky smooth. And unlike some exfoliators, which are so abrasive they can only be used once or twice a week, Fresh Peppermint Exfoliating Cleanser contains so many nourishing oils it can be used one to two times daily — which makes it the perfect prep for any anti-aging or anti-wrinkle cream.

For more info on Livia products or to find a retail outlet near you, visit liviaskincare.ca