Like many of HydroPeptide’s products, the Anti-Wrinkle Exfoliating Cleanser ($38) has a lovely citrus scent along with panax ginseng root extract and green tea, which leaves skin feeling clean and refreshed. The gel exfoliant is a thick, hydrating cleanser that contains chunky exfoliating jojoba beads to activate cell turnover and improve skin tone over time. While some may not find the exfoliating beads to be fine enough (YBF Prep is ideal), this is an especially good exfoliator for those with sensitive skin. It’s hard to believe this gentle exfoliant has 10% glycolic acid because it is so well buffered.

Soothing ingredients include chamomilla recutita (matricaria) flower extract to reduce puffiness and pseudoalteromonas ferment extract, a bacterial strain from Antarctica that speeds wound healing. The cleanser exfoliates well enough to dissolve dead skin cells and help reduce the appearance of wrinkles, but gentle enough so it does not aggravate or dry out skin. Glycerin keeps skin soft and smooth, while antioxidant-rich hydrolyzed soy protein strengthens and tones.

Of course there’s no shortage of active peptides, including neuropeptide acetyl hexapeptide-8 as well as tripeptide-1 and tripeptide-10 citrulline, targeting skin renewal through the regeneration of collagen. Like the other HydroPeptide products, it is also good value for the money and a bottle should easily last a few months. You can even skip the cleansing brush when using this effective exfoliant. I would, however, recommend a separate makeup remover. It’s worth noting that some people might be allergic to cocamidopropyl betaine and sodium hydroxide. As with the HydroPeptide Instant Peptide Mask, the final ingredient is methylisothiazolinone, which is a sensitizer and potential irritant but given that it’s the final ingredient on the list, I wouldn’t personally write it off.

Ingredients: Water, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycolic Acid, Cetyl Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide, Glycerin, Glycol Stearate, Jojoba Ester, C12-C15 Alkyl Benozate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Citrus Aurantium (Orange) Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Nobilis (Mandarin Orange) Oil, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Tripeptide-1, Tripeptide-10 Citrulline, Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi (Bearberry) Leaf Extract, Camellia Oleifera (Japanese Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Oil, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Disodium EDTA, Lecithin, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Methylisothiazolinone