Exfoliation is kind of like meditation in that it’s simply not for everyone. For some, it elicits tranquil, spa-like feelings. It’s a clean slate! A fresh start! You know, the way you’d feel after confession or something. They bask in their new, Veet-commerical-esque skin and get a high off of caressing their silky-smooth limbs all day. On the flip side, there’s those who find exfoliation to be a tedious ritual that often leaves their skin more irritated than rejuvenated.

For the longest time, I fell into the latter category. Here’s why: I was born with Netherton syndrome; a far-from-fun genetic skin condition that causes my skin to turn over at an abnormally fast rate. Consequently, exfoliation is a nonnegotiable step in my routine that must be completed every single day. And if I forgo, I wake up with my whole body feeling akin to the way your face feels after sleeping in a full face of makeup— not great. So naturally, the whole exfoliation process has come to feel like a chore to me. Additionally, most scrubs, brushes, and even washcloths doused in body wash would leave my skin raw and irritated in an unattractive, naked-mole-rat kind of way.

Now this might make me seem like an ass, but I tend to tune my mother out when she tries to recommend a product. Call it youthful indiscretion, but when she first mentioned the MicrodermaMitt to me when I was home in January, I shrugged and didn’t think much of it. She read about it in her subscription of Ichthyosis Focus, a newsletter that provides research and updates for people with skin conditions (hot stuff, I know). After pestering me about it for a few more days and claiming that people were ‘raving’ about it, I finally gave in and looked it up. Full disclosure: I’m pretty easily convinced. So, after scanning several testimonials swearing the mitt to be a total exfoliation game-changer, I promptly ordered one and not-so-patiently waited for its arrival.

After some initial trepidation when I opened the box and found the mitt to resembled my adorable grandfather’s hanky, I’m elated to tell you all that the MicrodermaMitt is, by far, the finest exfoliator I’ve ever tried.

While it may look like a nifty pouch to store your rare stone collection, I assure you, this all-natural exfoliating mitt is so much more. Made of 100 percent floss silk (fancy) and a patented weaving technique, it’s easily the most non-abrasive yet incredibly effective exfoliator I’ve found to date. To use, simply wet your skin and the mitt, and gently rub up and down or in circles all over your body. During my first use, dead skin started falling off my limbs at an aggressive rate, which was equal parts alarming and exciting. But, instead of looking like a rare steak post-shower, I was smooth and angel-soft (yes, like the toilet paper)—two adjectives I never thought I’d be using to describe my skin. The mitt promises to aid in clearing up myriad of skin conditions including acne, eczema, and keratosis pilaris. I’d be willing to bet money that these claims are true since I can only attest for my own skin. I cannot recommend it enough. Whether you've got a skin condition or are just looking for a new exfoliator to suit your mood, this one is the ultimate. Thanks, Mom.

—Kaleigh Fasanella

Kaleigh Fasanella is a beauty writer from southern Jersey who has an unhealthy attachment to her eyelash curler. Photographed by Tom Newton. Still wondering about your face? Here's a guide to exfoliating it, no matter what your skin type is.