A face exfoliator is nothing new, it was the buzz-word of nineties skincare and still remains the most effective way of polishing your skin. Surprisingly, however, according to Mintel's 2014 skincare report, a mere 39 per cent of women regularly use a facial exfoliator. Perhaps this is due to the fact that exfoliators conjure up memories of abrasive grains being vigorously scrubbed on your face or the uncertainty that the tingling sensation may be doing more harm than good. New innovative yet super-gentle formulations have been born with the same addictive personality of their predecessors, but minus any discomfort or redness to the skin.

There was a time when cleanse, tone and moisturise were our three steps to gorgeous healthy skin, For decades this twice daily regime was what women adhered to for the pursuit of youth and beauty. Today, however, skincare has become more complex with super-creams promising miracles continuously grabbing the spotlight.

We could, if time allowed, spend hours, even days in our bathroom pampering, preening, hydrating, misting and steaming but the one act that really does make a difference to your skin's tone, texture and overall look is an exfoliant. Since my teen love affair with St Ives Apricot Scrub gave my skin a new-found glow and that squeaky clean feeling, I became hooked on the wonders of a good old scrub and have always encouraged my peers to scrub up!

Contrary to belief we should all be buffing away when we reach "adulthood". Young skin naturally self-exfoliates by shedding its dead surface cells every 28 days or so. But older skin is less efficient and dead cells hang around on the surface for longer. Plus they supercharge every other product you use on your skin clearing a pathway so your serums, moisturisers etc. absorb better and even increase the longevity of make-up.

But the real beauty of an exfoliator is it's quick and easy to use in an affordable way to get that luminous glow all year round. With the harsh winter weather causing all sorts of mayhem to our skin - dryness, chapping and tightness, it's the perfect time of the year to introduce an exfoliator to your skincare regime.