Five Products That Will Help To Properly Exfoliate Your Skin.

Gentle exfoliation continues to prevail as one of the best ways to improve our skin’s health, texture and tone, and the best part is that it’s something we can all do from the comfort of our own home. Your skin is constantly repairing and replacing itself, which in turn can leave layers of dead skin on your body. Exfoliating helps remove these dead skin cells to reveal healthier skin and will encourage your skincare products to penetrate deeper into the skin where they can make a bigger difference. In case you needed me to convince you further, exfoliation can also help unclog pores, fade acne scars, motivate collagen production, and accelerate skin cell turn over – all massive pros especially for those with breakout-prone skin!

Although there are many exfoliating methods out there, it is important not to overdo it and use the correct product for your skin type – after all, the last thing we want is to irritate the skin that’s working hard around the clock to take care of us. 

Outlined below are five kinds of products that will properly exfoliate your skin, along with a few little notes as to which to use based on your skin type and concerns.

 

1. Dry Body Brush

• Dry brushing is a very simple exfoliation method that removes environmental toxins and product residue from the skin, increases circulation, stimulates lymphatic drainage, and smooths dry patches. It’s important to always be gentle when using a dry brush and move in small, motions brushing towards your heart. Do not use a dry body brush over open wounds, sunburnt skin, eczema or psoriasis.
• Use if you have: oily skin, normal skin, combination skin.

 

2. Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs)

• AHAs work by gently breaking apart bonds that hold dead cells on the skin’s surface, resulting in the skin naturally wanting to shed dead particles. Examples of AHAs include glycolic, lactic, tartaric, and citric acids.
• Use if you have: dry skin, normal skin, combination skin.

 

3. Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHAs)

• BHAs work by going deep into the hair follicle and drying out excess oils to unclog pores and smoothly remove dead skin cells. Examples of BHAs include beta-hydroxyl and salicylic acids.
• Use if you have: acne-prone skin, sensitive skin, normal skin, combination skin.

 

4. Exfoliating Scrub

• Scrubs tend to go directly onto the skin and are to be used with warm water to acquire the most benefits. Scrubs should be applied gently and moved in small, circular motions around the skin.
• Use if you have: oily skin, normal skin, combination skin.

 

5. Exfoliation Sponge

• This is the most gentle way to externally exfoliate your skin for those who want the benefits without the irritation.
• Use if you have: sensitive skin, acne-prone skin.

 

After finding your perfect exfoliation method, there are some other things to keep in mind to ensure we are doing the best we can to properly look after our skin:

It is important to always take extra care when exfoliating sensitive areas of the body (like the face, especially around the eyes, and pubic area) as these areas are the most likely to become irritated and red when they are over-exfoliated.

As a rule of thumb, exfoliating head to toe once a week is enough to be effective. Those with oily skin may require more frequent exfoliation, but I suggest starting with one day a week and working up from there based on your skin’s reaction.

Following up with a moisturiser immediately after exfoliating is essential in keeping it hydrated and healthy, and using SPF is essential as some techniques make the skin more prone to sun damage.

 

As always, if you are unsure what kind of exfoliation is safe for you or don’t know what your skin type is, talk to your trusted doctor or dermatologist and listen to their recommendations.