I recently reached VIB at Sephora, almost completely by accident. Enticed by the feels of exclusivity, I've become obsessed with reaching the brand's VIB Rogue status: Free makeovers, free 2-day shipping and exclusive event invites. Granted, you have to drop a pretty penny to get those perks, but I'm determined. Somehow I've found a way to convince myself that spending that much money in one place is an investment. What was once a maybe every other month drop-by to try a new lip tint or re-up on my concealer has become a biweekly visit to see my favorite skincare advisor. That's right, skincare.  

Although my makeup routine, accompanied by a couple dozen YouTube tutorials, has been completely transformed and my eyebrow game is on an entirely new level, I was more surprised to learn about all the skincare items I had been sleeping on. I didn't really know much about serums, undereye creams, hydrating primers or masks. I thought shea butter, black soap, and a spritz of rose water was all I needed for flourishing skin. That is until I got serious about making this gentle exfoliant a part of my routine. 

I had never tried a chemical exfoliant until NeoGen Dermalogy Green Tea Gauze Bio-Peel. It exfoliates the skin in an almost unnoticeable way, and the soft, quilted side is calm and cooling to the face. It's an all-natural product good for any skin type. It has green tea, a good antioxidant, tea tree extract, mugwort and aloe. It evens skin tone, prevent the appearance of premature aging and promotes visibly clearer, smoother skin. It encourages the skin's natural healing process without parabens, sulfates or phthalates.

A good exfoliant, whether chemical or physical, is the key to achieving bright, invigorated skin. So, what's the difference between the two? Well, physical exfoliants scrub old, dead cells from the surface of your skin. The base of a physical exfoliant can be sugar or coffee, oatmeal even. They leave skin feeling polished and glowing. Chemical exfoliants yield the same results but contain a combination of acids and enzymes that gently break down dead skin and remove excess oil and buildup on the skin's surface. 

Whether it's that you have super sensitive skin, a lot of abrasive exfoliants are leaving your skin red and agitated, or you're just looking to try something new, using a chemical exfoliant is the best alternative to get the same — if not better — results. What are some of your favorite exfoliators? Tweet us and tell us @21Ninety!