Claim: this self-heating skin polisher softens, smoothes and refines skin texture. It contains physical and chemical exfoliants to help stimulate cell turnover and accelerate cell renewal rates.

Cle de Peau Beaute Micro-Refining Treatment (HK$1,500/40ml, plus 12 half-face masks)

Claim: a dual-performance exfoliating cream containing ultrafine micro-particles to polish away dead surface cells, which is followed by a soothing mask to restore moisture to skin.

Verdict

Aesop's old-school paste contains small granules to serve up a high polish, with a light herbaceous scent of rosemary leaf left lingering. The surprising warmth of Dermalogica's thick gel scrub as it makes contact with the skin creates a clinical, very satisfying clean. But if you're prepared to pay the price, Cl? de Peau is the Rolls-Royce of exfoliants, with a two-step process - a gentle but deeply sloughing cream, followed by supercharged moisturising masks placed on the upper and lower face for 10 minutes.