Your Complete Guide To Skin Exfoliation

What Is Exfoliation?

A skincare treatment called exfoliation involves removing dead skin cells from the top layer of your skin. This layer of dry, dead skin can be removed to show new, healthy skin.

Exfoliation helps your skin look more radiant and allows your skincare products to absorb more deeply (making them work better). Make sure to make it your skincare routine in 2023!

Many people think that it is similar to skin peeling and even though the results are similar, the process is entirely different. By maintaining the process moving along at a good pace, you can avoid skin from looking dull, which is especially beneficial as we age and cell turnover slows down.

Which Skin Exfoliators Are Available in What Forms?

Physical and chemical exfoliators are the two different categories of exfoliators. Although they approach the task differently, they both succeed in finishing it.

Work of Physical Exfoliators

With visible scrubbing ingredients, physical exfoliators remove the cells physically. When applied to the skin, physical exfoliators made of finely powdered grains or nuts help remove dead skin cells.

With these, you can exfoliate with a cleansing brush, a mitt, a home microdermabrasion tool, or even just your fingertips. It improves circulation, gives your skin a slight glow, and makes your skin feel silky smooth.

Work of Chemical Exfoliators

On the other hand, acid is used in chemical exfoliators to dissolve dead skin cells. In the category of chemical exfoliators, alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta hydroxy acids are the two main acids to seek for (BHAs).

Glycolic acid, the most popular AHA, breaks the link between dead skin cells, making them simple to brush away. AHAs are water-soluble, whereas BHAs are fat-soluble; as a result, BHAs can pierce deeply into the skin while cutting through greasy follicles. Because of this, BHAs are a wonderful option for persons with oily skin and skin that is prone to acne. The most well-known BHA is salicylic acid, so keep an eye out for that.

How Should Your Skin Be Exfoliated?

Which exfoliator you use will depend on your preferences, but remember that a little goes a long way. Additionally, you shouldn't scrub your skin daily (more on this later). Remember exfoliating is the foundation of good skin, you can read up on best skin care tips to stay young and know what we mean!

Exfoliating Physically

Apply a nickel-sized amount of the scrub to your face if you're using a physical exfoliator after first wetting your skin.

Circular motions should be used to massage it into the skin before rinsing it with water. Check the directions for your product as well; some suggest letting it on for 30 or 60 seconds before rinsing.

Exfoliating with a Chemical Agent

Contrarily, unless it's a peel or a mask, chemical exfoliators are typically leave-on treatments that don't require rinsing.

You're good to go after applying one or two pumps to dry, clean skin. Once more, make sure you're using the product according to the instructions by reading them.

To benefit from the enhanced penetration, use your moisturizer and other skin-care products on top. Also, remember to use sunscreen.

Can You Exfoliate Your Skin Too Much?

Exfoliating is generally well tolerated once you discover the proper product and frequency, although the AAD advises against it for those who have rosacea or inflammatory acne. Before beginning an exfoliating routine, these persons should speak with a dermatologist because some exfoliators can exacerbate these disorders.

Daily exfoliation can cause the skin to become highly irritated and dry. Because it depends on your skin type and the exfoliant you're using, it's impossible to say exactly how much exfoliation is too much.

For instance, people with oily skin might be able to endure daily exfoliation. Prepare yourself for some experimentation, and pay close attention to how your skin reacts. After exfoliation, is it red? too sensitive? accompanied by a feeling of burning? Those are indications that you need to make some cuts.