How To Exfoliate Face & Their Benefits

What Is Exfoliation?

Any process that removes the outer layers of skin cells before they can naturally shed is called exfoliation. Exfoliation is the act of removing dead skin cells from the outer layer of your skin. It also kills dirt and bacteria. This keeps our skin smooth, soft and glowing. Although these will fall off on their own, scrubs or exfoliants can help remove them faster, making your skin look lighter, brighter and more youthful. Old cells can be removed through chemical or physical exfoliation. It works by opening the pores and revealing healthy skin. The best advantage of physical exfoliation is that it is very accessible. It can be done at home with just a muslin cloth or a DIY scrub. It also gives instant results. In case of the wrong technique, sometimes it can irritate the skin and even cause transepidermal water loss. Applying humectant oils or serums will reduce irritation and help retain moisture.

The biggest advantage of physical exfoliation is its accessibility. It can be done at home with a muslin cloth or by making a DIY scrub. It is instant, and it works instantly. In cases where this process is done poorly, irritation occurs, leading to transepidermal water loss. If you apply humectant oils or serums, irritation can be reduced, and water content can be retained. If you are going to exfoliate, do it carefully so as not to cause irritation or make redness and acne worse.

Benefits Of Exfoliation:

There is no doubt that exfoliation is good for the skin. But the number of people who know how good it can be and why they should do it daily is not very high. Here are the five biggest benefits of exfoliation and why you should start doing it today:

1. It removes dead skin cells

The biggest reason you should exfoliate is to remove dead skin cells from the surface of your skin. Accumulation of cells on the skin surface makes your skin dry and dull, which leads to clogged pores and acne breakouts. Exfoliating daily will keep your skin clear and glowing.

Dead skin layers can also be removed, but exfoliation can be done to improve your skin texture as it helps to even out skin tone and texture. However, use it on your body to remove rough and patchy skin areas and keep your face smooth for a more radiant glow to look younger.

Exfoliation is a wonderful way to restore your skin's health and attractiveness. Not all exfoliators are suitable for your skin. Some products may prove too harsh, especially on sensitive skin. Make sure you test the exfoliator on a small part of your skin before using it everywhere on your face.

2. It unclogs pores

As we have already mentioned, dead skin cells are one of the main causes of clogged pores. You can imagine how difficult it is to keep large pores clean and free from dirt and oil. Exfoliating every day will help unclog your pores and keep them clean.

A daily cleanser with tiny beads or micro exfoliants is a great way to exfoliate your skin. These tiny exfoliants will remove dead skin cells and keep the pores clean. You can also use a weekly scrub or mask with larger beads or exfoliants for a deeper clean. However, be careful not to over-exfoliate, as this can irritate and damage your skin.

3. Prevent acne

If you get acne breakouts, exfoliation prevents this from happening. Dead skin cells trap oil, dirt and clogs in the pores. So removing these dead skin cells by exfoliating can prevent acne breakouts.

You can exfoliate in a number of ways. Some people use an exfoliating cleanser, which usually contains tiny beads or other small particles that help remove dead skin cells. Others use a facial scrub, which is very similar to the former but usually contains larger particles than the former. Others may again use an exfoliating tool—for example a Clarisonic brush.

Exfoliation is very important in preventing acne, but it also depends on which product you will use for your skin type. For sensitive skin, a gentle exfoliator is essential. For oily skin, you need to use an oily skin exfoliator.

4. Reduces wrinkles and fine lines

Exfoliation also helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. When you exfoliate, you remove dead skin cells that make your skin look dull and dry. This will reveal the healthier, younger-looking skin inside.

Exfoliation can also help improve your skin texture by unclogging your pores and removing accumulated oil and dirt. This will help prevent acne and give you a healthy, glowing complexion.

5. It gives you softer, smoother skin.

Finally, exfoliation will lead to softer, smoother skin as it removes the dead skin cells responsible for itching and dryness. If you exfoliate daily you will definitely notice your skin feeling softer and smoother after using it for a few days.

For those with sensitive skin, a mild exfoliation product may be best. Many of the mild exfoliation products available contain natural ingredients like oatmeal or almond flour.

As you can see, exfoliation offers many benefits. If you don’t exfoliate daily yet, we urge you to start today! You will be shocked to see how different your skin will look and feel.

How To Exfoliate Your Skin By Skin Type 

Dry Skin

Skin exfoliation is especially important for dry or flaky skin. Do not mechanically exfoliate on dry skin as this process leads to dryness and creates micro cracks. AHAs are great for dry skin.

Glycolic acid will remove dead cells on the skin's surface and promote healthy skin turnover. Use a moisturizer and sunscreen after glycolic acid as it can cause damage to the skin from the sun's rays.

Sensitive skin

Avoid scrubbing and using mechanical exfoliation. These will further irritate the skin and potentially make it even redder.

Apply a mild chemical exfoliator using a gentle washcloth. In some cases, a salicylic acid peel may be applied in a dermatologist's office to treat acne.

Oily skin

Oily or thick skin usually requires manual exfoliation and brushing. Also, oily skin often has an extra layer of buildup that can be removed through manual exfoliation. Use an exfoliator or scrub gently in circular motions for maximum effect.

Normal skin

If you don't have any skin complications, choose any type of exfoliation method. Both manual and chemical exfoliation are safe for your skin and don't cause any complications. You can experiment a few times to find out which method will suit your skin the best.

Combination skin

Combination skin may call for a combination of mechanical and chemical exfoliation. Avoid using both together on the same day, as that may irritate the skin. If your skin feels dry following exfoliation, use moisturizer immediately afterwards.

How to Exfoliate Skin in 5 Steps

Getting smooth, healthy-looking skin is as easy as exfoliating in the right order. Whether on the face or body, this five-step method will show you how to exfoliate correctly and safely.

Prepare Your Skin

Wash your face or body with a mild cleanser. Dirt, oil, and makeup can prevent exfoliation products from penetrating your skin's layers.

Apply Your Exfoliant

Determine the appropriate exfoliant for your skin type; this can be a physical scrub or a chemical exfoliant. Gently apply the exfoliant to your skin in a circular motion using your fingers, a brush, or a sponge.

Rub Gently or Leave On

If using a scrub, gently massage it for 30 seconds on areas of your skin that feel rough or flaky. Avoid applying hard pressure as this can cause irritation.

For chemical exfoliants, use according to package directions – you may need to wait a minute or two for the exfoliant to dissolve dead skin cells.

Rinse with lukewarm water

Rinse skin thoroughly with lukewarm water to wash all the exfoliant off your skin. Try not to use hot water, as it can strip moisture from your skin, causing redness.

Moisturize immediately

Finally, apply a moisturizer that will replenish your skin's hydration barrier. This final step is a must after exfoliation to keep skin soft and supple.

Note:

• Never exfoliate if you have open wounds or if your skin is sunburned.

• Be careful not to exfoliate too much, as this can make the skin red and irritated.

Do's

1. Exfoliation is best at night

When you scrape the skin surface, you remove dead cells, and hence the skin remains sensitive and vulnerable as the pores are open. If you exfoliate the skin in daylight, the skin will be exposed to UV rays. Hence there are chances of free radical damage.

So it is safer to exfoliate the skin at night to avoid environmental exposure. Nighttime is when the skin really heals and rejuvenates. Also, applying a hydrating face mask at night flushes out toxins from the skin, providing hydrating and brightening ingredients to the skin while also giving the skin a healthy glow.

2. Don't forget to use SPF

Sunscreen is a skin care that protects all of us from the sun's harmful rays. You should not skip it, especially on days when you have exfoliated, as it happens that the skin becomes quite sensitive after exfoliation and is at risk of environmental aggressors like ultraviolet damage, pollution and much more.

Sunscreen or SPF protects against any kind of damage from dust and dirt, UV, indoors and outdoors. And don’t forget to reapply it at least every 3 hours.

3. As before, follow your morning and evening routines

Removing dead skin cells actually removes a part of your skin barrier. Therefore, you should continue your regular practices of skin exfoliating for healthy and supple skin. Cleansing and scrubbing your skin plays a vital role. Moisturizing also plays a vital role, as it helps maintain the skin’s moisture barrier and can delay the signs of aging from facial skin. Everyone needs a safe and gentle face moisturizer or face cream.

4. Just soft, soothing massage

In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it is very easy to expect instant results from everything or get carried away. But fast results are just a myth in skincare. Although facial scrubs are essential, know that excessive rubbing can cause more harm than good to the skin. Massaging facial skin with a poor quality face scrubber can cause blemishes or irritation on your skin. Also, gentle massaging improves blood circulation and provides a beautiful radiant glow.

5. Make it a habit to tone your skin

Tone your face: Hydrating face toners are also great as they cleanse your skin thoroughly and provide the necessary nutrients to even out your skin tone.

Don'ts

1. Don’t exfoliate every day

Although it’s tempting to include exfoliation in your daily skin care program to achieve smooth and supple skin, you should think again. exfoliating every day can damage your skin! Most acne facial scrubs, especially chemical exfoliators, should only be used twice a week for best results.

Even if you have oily skin and feel it needs cleansing, exfoliating is not something you should do every day. Exfoliating your face can cause irritation, so you should do it with caution. For this reason, dermatologists recommend using a physical exfoliator only once every week.

2. Don’t exfoliate after a facial treatment

If you’ve had a facial or any kind of chemical treatment, such as a peel or full skin exfoliation, you’re rubbing salt into injury. This includes waxing or any hair removal procedures. It’s almost cruel to exfoliate immediately after any such treatment, with completely clean and soft skin.

3. Don’t exfoliate if it causes irritation

If your skin has a bad reaction, if it’s very sensitive, if your skin starts to feel dry or flaky, or if you’re allergic to the ingredients – stopping the exfoliation process should be the first step. You can stop the exfoliation process for a while, and try it again later. If you develop irritation again, maybe one or some of its ingredients are really irritating the skin. Make sure to use mild and natural skin care products based on your skin type.

4. Not the harsh way

The skin on your face is softer and more tender than the skin on the rest of your body. This means giving it a lot of consideration, since you’ll be doing some mechanical exfoliating.

5. Don’t wash off chemical exfoliants

A big mistake many people make is that they wash off their chemical exfoliant right after applying it. The active ingredients in the scrubber need some time to fully absorb into your skin and do their work. Ideally, you should leave the exfoliator on your skin for at least 15-30 minutes so that its ingredients can be absorbed and effectively remove dead skin cells.