In the last year, skincare has got hot and spicy. The buzz new ingredient is red pepper, an exfoliating agent that can really perk up a dull complexion overnight, boosting the glow and helping skin become smoother and more even.

Some products can make your skin feel warm and tingly, down to a molecule called capsaicin. Very sensitive skin may find it a bit much so it’s wise to choose a product like the Erborian Red Pepper Super Serum below, which doesn't contain capsaicin. However, Sarah’s super touchy skin is perfectly happy with the Venn Red Oil Serum, also below.

Scroll down to find how a red pepper extract can smooth and firm wobbly skin on the body.

Erborian Red Pepper Super Serum/£46 for 30ml: a light non-sticky gel texture here that’s great for younger, oily or combi skins as well as super sensitive ones. The 90% natural formula from this much loved Korean/French range contains a double whammy of red pepper with added aqueous extracts that contain skin balancing and hydrating minerals, plus smoothing PHA and prebiotic inulin for the skin microbiome.

Venn Advanced Multi-Perfecting Red Oil Serum/£95 for 30ml: this is an ‘upgrade’ on the original formula - we were pretty impressed by that so we’re looking forward to 1000-watt radiance with this version, which they say is more potent due to stronger fermentation. Inspired by an ancient Korean prescription (see the trend here?), this features 34 active root extracts and botanicals ‘to dramatically improve the complexion’s appearance’. For our (older) skins, it’s proved a bit of an overnight miracle in terms of brightness and glow.

Wildsmith Toning Body Serum/£65 for 150ml: capsaicin can also be a boon for body skin, as Beauty Bible testers found when a panel of 30 tried this product, which pairs the red pepper active with mustard sprout. Although it’s not directly marketed to reduce cellulite both in-house tests and our panel found it helped to firm and smooth wobbly and/or orange peel skin.

Prize Draws