Good things don’t always come easily, they need to be earned. This includes clear and radiant skin. We know what you must be thinking, your friend with perfectly good skin doesn’t move an inch or waste hours on a skincare regime and still manages to have healthy-looking skin. Here’s a bitter pill to swallow, your friend is lucky. She got good genetics that gave her healthy skin without following any kind of skincare routine, but you did not.
So, what you must do is follow a skincare routine dedicatedly to get that good skin you have always yearned for. A basic skincare routine that is to be followed includes cleansing, moisturising and applying sunscreen. But every once in a while, it should also include exfoliation. Sadly, we don’t give enough attention to exfoliation as we should.
So, what is skin exfoliation? And why should you never undermine it? We will be telling you all about it in this blog post.
What is skin exfoliation?
Skin exfoliation is the process of removing dead skin cells from the uppermost layer of the skin. Removal of the layer helps in brightening the skin and allowing your products to delve deeper into the skin. But this is not the only benefit of skin exfoliation. Skin exfoliation can also help in reducing acne by clearing up the accumulation of dead skin cells that causes clogging up of the skin.
Skin exfoliation should be a part of our skincare especially as we age. Ageing can make the skin look dull owing to the slow shedding of the skin cells; however, skin exfoliation can come as a knight in shining armour as it can slow down ageing and make the skin look healthy.
How frequently should you exfoliate your skin?
Once again, skin exfoliation should never be a part of your daily skincare routine but skin care you do once or twice a week. If you exfoliate your skin every day, it becomes a little harsh for your skin, resulting in a loss of natural oils. Consequently, your body would start producing more oils to overcompensate for the loss and lead to acne and breakouts.
When it comes to exfoliation, less is more. Just so you know, the skin exfoliates on its own, all you can do is support that exfoliation. The natural process of exfoliation happens every 30 days, when the skin cells move from the deepest layers to the topmost layers, ultimately shedding off in the end.
The skin products that apparently exfoliate, only promote this healthy skin behaviour by speeding up the natural process of exfoliation.
So, the key takeaway here is that you should exfoliate your skin twice a week, not more than that.
How to exfoliate skin?
We have gone on and on about skin exfoliation, but not how we exfoliate the skin. Well, there are two ways of exfoliation, including:
Manual or physical exfoliation
This type of exfoliation includes both rubbing with hands and a scrubbing brush. But it can be harmful for the skin as it can be a little aggressive, and a BIG NO, if you already have breakouts.
Chemical exfoliation
Chemical exfoliation, as the name suggests, is performed using a chemical. Some of the popular chemical exfoliators include Glycolic acid, lactic acid, and salicylic acid. Chemical exfoliation is ideal for oily, sun-damaged and acne-prone skin.
Some tips to exfoliate the skin
- The golden rule is to be gentle. The last thing your skin wants is for you to rub it hard. Be gentle and massage in circular motions.
- While you are exfoliating, use warm water over hot water. Hot water can be harsh on your skin.
- Don’t exfoliate too frequently. Aim to exfoliate 2-3 times a week, depending on your skin type.
- Ensure that you moisturise your skin after exfoliating.
Closing thoughts
Skin exfoliation is a vital step in any skincare routine, offering numerous benefits for achieving healthy and radiant skin. By gently removing dead skin cells and unclogging pores, exfoliation promotes a smoother texture, evens out skin tone, and enhances the absorption of skincare products.
However, it is crucial to approach exfoliation with care and choose the right method and frequency for your skin type. Whether you opt for physical exfoliants, chemical exfoliants, or a combination of both, always prioritise gentle techniques and listen to your skin’s needs.
