As Christmas approaches, frantic shoppers are on the hunt for last-minute gifts, festive food, outfits, and makeup. But as a beauty guru, we want to highlight a skincare gem that’s essential for maintaining radiant skin during this busy season.

The product gaining rave reviews is the Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser, hailed by 4,700 customers as a “blackhead buster” and praised for its ability to “clears up skin in no time”. This versatile exfoliant, recommended for use two to three times weekly, effectively removes dull, dry skin with its powerful combination of salicylic, lactic, and glycolic acids.

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It also contains jojoba beads, which act as a physical exfoliant to strip away makeup accumulation from all those parties and open pores for enhanced hydration. BHA, or beta-hydroxy acid, delves deep into pores to break down oil blockages, while AHA, alpha-hydroxy acid, is celebrated for improving skin texture and diminishing fine lines and wrinkles.

Originally priced at £46, the Murad cleanser is now available for £41.40 on Amazon and comes highly recommended, boasting an ‘Amazon’s Choice’ label and backed by 4,700 online reviews. One satisfied customer commented: “Skin feels so polished and fresh when I use this and keeps it clear of any congestion. I think this lasts ages as you aren’t supposed to use every day and you only need the tiniest amount.”

Another five-star review reads: “This is a very fine micro-bead cleanser. You put it on damp skin and rub gently in circular motion. I like the fine beads in it. Does not smell very much. Skin feels really, really clean.”

Another customer raved that it’s the “best face wash hands down”, explaining: “I started using this in 2018 and never looked back. It clears up my skin instantly and makes it extremely smooth with minimal extra scrubbing. I don’t find it dries my skin or irritates it, for reference I have combo skin that is more on the oily side and is sensitive.”

However, another shopper indicated some disappointment, saying: “There was hardly any lather during a wash. While I understand exfoliants aren’t intended to be very soapy products to begin with, it was about completely non-existent. I feel like I needed to apply an extremely generous amount to get slight lather. I also did not feel like it gave my facial skin a good clean.”

The praised Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser wins big against blackheads as one enthusiast noted: “I’ve forever had blackheads on my nose no matter how many products I’ve tried. But this thing got rid of them right from the get go! Definitely a five out of five product.”

Currently, Amazon has sliced 10% off the price, bringing the Murad cleanser down to £41.40, though it can still be nabbed at its full sticker price of £46 from LookFantastic or Debenhams. For those seeking something slightly different, Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant costs £35 and promises to minimise pores, but unlike the Murad, it’s a toner rather than a cleanser.

Bringing a citrus burst to skincare, Medik8’s Surface Radiance Cleanser, priced at £24, claims to boost glow while fighting the ageing effects of free radicals, thanks to an infusion of mangosteen extract, reports the Express.