Feeling good in your skin can make all the difference. Amidst everyday life, it can be hard to fit in those extra steps for a skincare routine so you want to keep it simple with those essential steps. Exfoliating your skin is one of the essential steps, whether you have extensive time for skincare or not! It removes the dead skin cells at the top layer of your skin, and reveals your refreshed and vibrant complexion underneath.
How to exfoliate your face
You can exfoliate your face with a physical or a chemical exfoliant. It’s important to figure out which type your skin loves, so experiment and pay attention to how your skin responds and feels. A physical exfoliator is one that has granular ingredients to the product that sloughs the debris and dead skin cells off your skin. Common exfoliating ingredients that you’ll see are oatmeal, finely ground sea salt, cinnamon, and jojoba beads. A chemical exfoliator chemically dissolves the debris and build up from your skin. Popular exfoliating ingredients that you will see in skincare products are glycolic acid (AHA), lactic acid (AHA), salicylic acid (BHA), bamboo extra, and fruit enzymes.
There are also many natural products on the market, like the Blue Lagoon mineral face mask for example: this is a great option for those who want the bioactive nature of exfoliating products in a more natural product. Those with sensitive skin will likely find that 1-2 per week is plenty for proper exfoliation, while those with oily, dry or combination skin may find that 3-4 per week is effective for them. After removing makeup and sunscreen and cleansing your face, use an exfoliator and be sure to follow the instructions for the specific product you’re using since they vary!
Benefits of exfoliating
There are numerous benefits of regularly exfoliating the skin and you will likely also notice some consequences if you don’t exfoliate. On one hand, some of the benefits that people notice immediately after exfoliating are: better absorption of other skincare and makeup products, unclogged pores, and an improved overall feeling on the skin. Many say their skin feels refreshed, unlike the feeling they get with just a cleanse.
Other benefits of exfoliating include: support in the prevention of blemishes, increase in cell turnover, collagen stimulation, and improved skin texture and tone. On the other hand, if you don’t exfoliate you may find that your skin experiences consistent build up and it takes a lot to reduce inflammation, that products are sitting on top of your skin or looking cakey because they don’t have a smooth and clear surface to absorb into rather than getting caught up in debris, and overall lack of glow and appearance of the skin. At the end of the day, it takes a little extra time to exfoliate but it is well worth taking the time to find the products and routine that works for you!
Do you exfoliate? Which products and routine have you found that you love and really work for you?
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