So it was my birthday the other day (okay, okay, so it was like a month ago) and the sweet peeps at Nimue SA sent me a li’l gift in the form of their Exfoliating Enzyme treatment.

My flatmate almost started hyperventilating when it arrived as she’s a freak for Nimue and has been using the brand for years. I’ve actually used quite a bit of Nimue myself as, back in the day, my mom used to own a slimming and beauty clinic and it was one of their bestselling brands.

What I like about Nimue is that they’re a fab example of a brand that’s doing it right. They don’t stuff around with bullshit fancy-sounding ingredients like dew collected from a midnight blooming forest rose. Oh no. They’re all about retinol, alpha hydroxy acid and vitamin C; ingredients that might not sound particularly exciting but have been proven time after time to be the best at what they do.

Anyway, Nimue’s Exfoliating Enzyme, in a nutshell, is a chemical exfoliant that contains pineapple and papaya enzymes to sizzles away dead skin. I’m a big fan of chemical exfoliators but tend to head straight for AHA (alpha hydroxy acids) as they’re one of the strongest types on the shelf and I can tolerate them. Those with sensitive skin, however, should consider investing in an enzyme-based exfoliator. These do a good job of increasing your skin’s cellular turnover but are less likely to cause any irritation.

As far as Nimue’s goes, its gentle enough to use two or three times a week and promises to help reveal brighter, more refined-looking skin and improve the penetration of any other products you’re using. To use it, simply apply it to clean, dry skin and leave it on for two minutes. You’re to then re-activate it by massaging a little warm water into your face and then leave it on for an additional three to five minutes before rinsing well.

I’ve been using it in the bath and like how it managed to get rid of a little dry skin I had around the side of my nose, the result of lambasting the area with Differin gel, a retinoid, to blitz a massive blind pimple from hell. Despite the fact that the skin in that area was already ‘annoyed’, this exfoliant didn’t cause it to freak out further. Love that.

If you’ve been looking for a good chemical exfoliator this is definitely one of the nicer one’s I’ve tried.

Love, love

Leigh

Nimue is available from selected spas and salons nationwide. To find one near you call 086 122 6688 or check out the stockists page on their local website.