Exfoliation is a commonly used word, but do you commonly use it in your beauty regimen? Many don't know the reasons for exfoliating, let alone the proper techniques. Let's examine what it really means to exfoliate so you can start working on the newer, fresher you!
About Exfoliation
Dating back to the ancient Egyptians, who are credited with the development of exfoliation, this cleansing practice has been used for centuries to provide glowing skin. Exfoliating is the process of removing the dead, upper layers of skin to reveal the new, clean cells (referred to as the dermis) that lie beneath the surface. Exfoliating can help treat dry and oily skin alike, as well as acne problems. When the imperfect top layers of skin are removed, the underlying dermis is able to breathe, resulting in a more youthful, flawless appearance.
Exfoliating Methods
To achieve beautiful, radiant skin, there are three forms of exfoliation: mechanical, chemical, and hair removal.
Mechanical exfoliation is performed by scrubbing the skin with a rough surface, such as sugar, salt crystals, a luffa or a microfiber cloth. Many skin care products are available for mechanical exfoliation, from body polishes such as Clarisonic Refining Skin Polish or Kai Perfume Body Buffer, to exfoliating facial masks such as those offered by Patyka. For a more rigorous scrub, consider microdermabrasion, which suctions away dead layers of skin.
Chemical exfoliation, often referred to as a chemical peel, is generally performed in a professional setting, although over-the-counter options are available. In this process, a chemical solution is applied to the skin, causing the dead skin to peel off.
Hair removal is the third form of exfoliation. Waxing, shaving and chemical removal (using products such as Nair) get rid of old skin cells as well as unwanted hair.
Exfoliation Tips
While many people associate exfoliation with the face, it's important to focus on the entire body. Start with the bottom of your feet and work your way up, finishing with the face. Although you probably exfoliate your body on a daily basis, it's best to avoid too much exfoliation of your face because the skin is much more sensitive. It is advisable that you test different frequencies and methods of facial exfoliation to determine what is right for you.
Follow these exfoliation tips for optimal results:
- Do get into a normal routine, be it a few times a week or daily. Don't overdo it, because too much exfoliation can be rough on the skin and cause redness.
- Do use a cleansing product that also provides exfoliation, such as the Kai Perfume Body Buffer.
- Don't wash your face before you exfoliate; it's better to cleanse after removing dead skin cells.
- Do use scrubs, such as Clarisonic Skin Polish, to help remove dead skin cells all over your body.
- Don't use scrubs containing large granules on your face, as they can be overly abrasive.
- Do consider hair removal as a form of exfoliation. Don't use a wax and a scrub at the same time, which will result in over
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