For some reason, the one area of beauty and skincare that lots of people tend to overlook is that of exfoliating. It might not be the most fun or most glamorous part of a routine, but there is no doubt that it is one of the most important! Exfoliation is vital for keeping your skin free from dead cells, debris, and free radicals. It is it the fundamental step in giving yourself the perfect canvas to work with. If you are someone who is slightly behind the times in this area, then here is how to choose the right exfoliant for your skin and use it properly!
The first kind of exfoliants are the chemical kind containing either acids or enzymes. They work by breaking down and dissolving the dead tissue on your face in order to allow a fresh layer of tissue to be exposed, giving you that glowing look. Chemical exfoliants are recommended for people who suffer from acne prone and overly oily skin.
These words are terms for the type of exfoliating that is done through action with physical objects like sponges, scrubs, stones. This relies on friction rather than chemical reactions to achieve the same results of removing dead skin cells. Skin that is prone to redness won’t be ideal for mechanical exfoliants due to the friction. Skin that falls into the ‘normal’ category Is generally safe.
Regardless of which exfoliant type you use, you definitely need to prep your skin beforehand. This just involves a general cleanse that gives you as clean of a surface as possible, so you know that the exfoliant is only going to be tackling the most stubborn cells and debris.
No matter how glowing you look and how good you feel afterward, you shouldn’t exfoliate every single day. Both types can be quite abrasive on the skin, so give your face or any other body part time to recover before going back in again and stripping some layers off.
What time of the day you choose to exfoliate can actually make a big difference. Exfoliating in the morning can make your fresh skin more susceptible to damage from the sun’s UV rays, so it is more sensible to do it in the evening when you are at home and not going to be exposing your skin to daytime outdoor conditions.
The routine doesn’t just stop when you have finished exfoliating. You need to follow it up with the rest of the plan. Make sure that you hydrate your skin after putting it through the exfoliation process. There is no such thing as too much moisture in these circumstances. You don’t want to dry up overnight or wake up to a lot of irritation and redness.