Exfoliants have always been my numero uno when it comes to skincare. There’s nothing quite like sloughing off half your face in the name of beauty. Besides, it’s one of the quickest fixes in the game. Physical exfoliants – you know, the gritty ones – can take my face from rags to riches in a matter of seconds, a process I’ve been loyal to since my tweenage days (shout out to St. Ives’ apricot scrub). A process I was loyal to, until now…Let me introduce you to my latest squeeze – Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum.

Like most of my favourite products, I found this gem while rummaging through TF’s beauty cupboard, looking for something new and exciting to play with. I’d heard such good things about Drunk Elephant that it practically leapt from its box into my hands, its pretty pink packaging giving me *heart eyes*. And so began my love affair with chemical exfoliants.

So it goes like this: I give my face some T.L.C., literally, just before bed. Post-cleanse, pre-moisturiser. It’s lightweight, and absorbs quickly. There’s a tingling sensation at first, but as with most chemical exfoliants, this is pretty normal. I’m not expecting anything drastic to happen – maybe some smoothness if I’m lucky. Come AM, I’ve got the softest, smoothest, most plump skin I’ve had in a long time, and that’s when I know – this product deserves its own review. #UNsponsored.

Honestly, I’ve never used a product that works this quickly. I’ve been using this serum for three or so weeks now, every other night so as to avoid irritating my hypersensitive skin. My skin is hydrated, bright, and even. I’ve noticed my pigmentation fading, and my pores feel significantly tighter. There’s no irritating smell, and its sanitary packaging – an airless pump with a mechanical twist – relieves me of my fear of bacteria haunting my products. There’s no need to scoop the product out with my finger, which isn’t great for shelf life.

It’s important to make sure your skin is completely dry before you use this serum, and to shake the bottle to activate the gel before each use. Of course, it’s also important to try a sample of it before committing to purchase – chemical exfoliants aren’t for everyone.

It’s a relatively gentle AHA and BHA exfoliant, so it works a treat on breakout-prone skin. And it’s formulated using clean, non-toxic ingredients, as if I didn’t love it enough already. I can’t recommend it enough for sensitive or damaged skin. Go on, give your visage the T.L.C. it deserves.

Words, Betsy Greaves.