Exfoliate for healthy, glowing skin
Exfoliate your skin to reap more benefits from your skincare products. Exfoliation is the process of removing dead skin cells from the surface of the skin to expose new cells.
Benefits of exfoliation
- Better, brighter looking skin
- Helps unclog pores
- It also helps smooth skin
- Exfoliation allows for better absorption of skincare products
- Prepares the skin to be the perfect canvas to apply make-up on it
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Types of exfoliation
- Physical- whereby a product with grainy particles is applied on the skin and rubbed into the skin and then washed off. An example of this type of exfoliation would be an exfoliating facial scrub.
- Mechanical- this is when tools are used to get rid of dead skin such as a facial brush
- Chemical- where an acid is applied to the skin to get rid of the dead skin cells. Don’t be alarmed, these types of acids are perfectly safe to use.
More about chemical exfoliation
Chemical exfoliators break the bonds that glue the dead cells together. This in turn allows new cells to surface. And when this happens, healthy cells are revealed.
Acids used to chemically exfoliate the skin penetrate the skin deeper making them more effective than physical and mechanical exfoliation methods. Acids are divided into three categories, alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) and polyhydroxy acids (PHAs).
The type of exfoliation you decide to choose depends entirely on you and your skin type. It also depends on the strength of the exfoliator being used. An exfoliator with a 10 percent concentration of an acid should not be used everyday because it can damage the skin’s barrier. In contrast, a 2 percent salicylic acid toner for instance, can be used in the morning and evening if you have oily, acne prone skin.
Skincare experts recommend chemical exfoliation as opposed to other types of exfoliation. This is because physical and mechanical scrubs can cause micro tears on the skin.
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How often should a person exfoliate?
While exfoliation should be part of your skincare routine, you have be careful about how frequently you exfoliate. Those with dry, sensitive and dehydrated skin should limit exfoliation to once a week. People with oily skin can exfoliate more often, even daily. However, this depends on the strength of the exfoliator being used.
Everybody’s skin type is different. Do what works for you. Some people who exfoliate frequently end up damaging their skin. When this happens they stay away from exfoliating their skin in the long term and end up fearing exfoliation. Too much of a good thing can end up being bad.
When is the best time to exfoliate?
While the general consensus is that exfoliation can take place in the morning or evening, it is advisable to exfoliate in the nighttime if you wear make-up. Exfoliation will make sure all your make-up is removed before beginning your nighttime skincare routine.
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Exfoliate safely
- It is not advisable to use different exfoliation products in the same skincare routine. This means do not apply a leave on exfoliating toner and then use an exfoliating serum afterwards. This may be too much for the skin and can cause skin irritation.
- Chemical exfoliants should not be used in the same skincare routine as retinoids. It is advisable to decide which days you will be using a chemical exfoliator and which days you will be using a retinoid.
- If you are using a high strength chemical exfoliator, then consider exfoliating once a week.
- When using mechanical or physical exfoliation, be gentle on the skin.
- Always follow the usage directions of your exfoliator.
- Exfoliators come in the form of wash off products and leave on products which can be anything from toners, to serums and moisturizers.
- They can also come in the form of masks which need to be applied for a certain duration of time.
- Chemical exfoliants should not be applied to skin that open wounds such as cuts because it will cause your skin to sting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does exfoliating actually do?
It clears away the dead skin cells sitting on the surface, which unclogs pores, smooths texture and lets the rest of your skincare absorb properly. The result is brighter, fresher-looking skin.
How often should I exfoliate?
For most people, once to three times a week is plenty. It depends on your skin type and the method — over-exfoliating is the most common mistake, and it damages your skin barrier.
What is the difference between physical and chemical exfoliation?
Physical exfoliation scrubs dead cells away with grainy particles or a tool. Chemical exfoliation uses acids to dissolve the bonds holding dead cells together, which reaches deeper and tends to be gentler when used correctly.
Can exfoliating damage your skin?
Only if you overdo it. Too much scrubbing, or acids used too often, strip the barrier and leave skin red, tight or sensitive. Start slow and let your skin guide you.
When is the best time to exfoliate?
Night is usually best, so your skin can recover while you sleep and you are not heading into the sun on freshly exfoliated skin. Always follow with moisturiser, and sunscreen the next morning.
