A lovely reader tweeted me this week asking if I had any recommendations for a gentle acid or exfoliating toner; well it just so happens that I’ve been trying one out. As a rule, I tend to stay away from acids (AHAs, BHAs) during pregnancy because my skin becomes quite sensitive and they seem to cause more harm than good, but I had it on a promise that the Gentle Exfoliating Toner from Merumaya was – well, gentle.
And do you know what" Slight tingle, but nothing too horrendous, and then, the following morning, lovely bright skin. What I like about exfoliating liquids, or “acid toners”, is that you see very quick results – the acids nibble away at dead skin cells to reveal fresher, more radiant skin, and there’s none of the abrasiveness of a scrub or “microdermabrasion” style product. Merumaya’s Exfoliating Toner combines AHAs (which exfoliate for smoother, fresher skin) with hyaluronic acid and natural betaine to help keep the skin hydrated. There’s no dryness or tightness after use and I didn’t see any red patches around my nose or chin the next morning – redness, for me, is a classic sign that I’ve gone a bit overboard with the old exfoliation. Even though I’m pregnant (and yes, it’s safe for use during pregnancy) my skin has tolerated this really nicely, so it bodes quite well for those who have tried acid exfoliants before and found them too harsh.

Anyway, as I was reco...