Exfoliation involves removing the top layers of dead skin cells from your body and revealing the fresh, glowing skin beneath. It’s something that skincare experts suggest doing at least once or twice a week. All that being said, there is a technique that allows you to get the most out of your exfoliation, while also protecting your skin from damage. Here are the best ways to make sure you exfoliate the right way. Your skin is going to thank you for it!
You should definitely be exfoliating your body and your face, but not with the same product. The skin on your face is much thinner and more delicate than that covering the rest of your body. That means you need a gentler exfoliatior for that area. Look for a facial exfoliator at drugstores. Use it only on your face and choose a body version for the rest of you. Easy, right?
Chemical exfoliators aren’t the traditional scrubs you’re probably used to. They have the same effects, but they use certain chemicals, such as alpha hydroxy acid or lactic acid to slough off dead skin cells. Mechanical exfoliators are those that you massage into your skin and that have rough little beads that do the work for you. The right one for you depends on your skin so talk to your dermatologist before you make a choice.
While exfoliation is incredibly important for healthy skin, it does lower your skin’s natural ability to block toxins and germs for a short time afterward. By slathering on a good quality moisturizer when you’re done, you create a barrier that lets your skin recover from the treatment. Again, use a facial moisturizer up top and a general one for the rest of your body.
In some cases, exfoliation might not be right for you. This is especially true if you have certain skin conditions. This can be sensitivity, contact allergies, eczema or rosacea. If you have a specific issue going on, it’s best to talk over the use of exfoliators with your doctor to be sure they are right for you.
Acne is a special situation and you can really damage your skin by exfoliating acne. If you only have the odd pimple here or there, you can simply work around it. However, if you have a big breakout, exfoliating can break open the pimples, spreading bacteria around your face and making the issue worse. If you have a breakout, take a few days off to let the issue resolve.
You don’t have to rub your skin red and raw when you exfoliate to get the benefits. Gently massaging the product into your skin is perfect for sloughing away dead skin cells, leftover products and dirt and debris. When you’re done, you’ll have gorgeous skin that doesn’t hurt. Perfect!
You know you can go in for a chemical peel or a facial, but did you know that you can also get a professional exfoliation? This practice is pretty popular in Korea, and we all know how gorgeous their skin is. A pro can give you an all over scrub designed for your skin type. This also feels really relaxing so you’re going to love it, no matter why you book the appointment.
How often do you exfoliate? What other tips can you share?