Why (And How To) Exfoliate Your Skin

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Exfoliation is an important skincare task. It involves removing dead skin cells from your skin’s surface. This can have many benefits, which this post delves deeper into.

There are several different methods of exfoliation. This guide explores a few of these different methods.

Why exfoliate your skin?

There are many good reasons to exfoliate your skin. Below are some of the prime reasons to exfoliate.

It helps prevent blackheads and spots

Blackheads are often formed by dead skin getting into pores and causing blockages. Bacteria then breed within these blackheads, causing them to turn into pimples. 

When you regularly exfoliate, you help to remove this dead skin, preventing it from getting into pores and therefore reducing the amount of blackheads and spots that form.

Also, if you struggle with acne, consider exploring acne treatments benzene to address both your skincare concerns effectively.

It helps even out your skin tone

Layers of dead skin can pile up all around your body to form scales and calluses. These deposits of dead skin can result in skin looking ashy and patchy. 

Exfoliation helps to get rid of this dead skin and create a smoother and more even complexion. After exfoliating your face, you’ll usually notice straight away that it looks softer and rosier. 

It prevents dry and rough skin

We all want smooth skin. Unfortunately, many of us are prone to dry skin or may have areas of very rough skin caused by burns or manual labor.

Exfoliating your skin daily can help to reduce dry and hard skin. Eventually, it could make your skin much smoother to touch.

It can slow wrinkles

Wrinkles form when the skin is not producing enough collagen. We naturally produce less collagen as we get older, and factors like stress or poor diet can also have an impact.

Exfoliation has been proven to help stimulate collagen production in skin. If you exfoliate daily, you could therefore potentially slow down and reduce wrinkles.

What are some different ways to exfoliate?

Just how do you exfoliate your skin? There are a few different methods that you can try. Below are some of the most popular exfoliation methods.

Face scrubs

Face scrubs are skincare products made of lots of fine particles. They typically have the texture of sand and are rubbed onto the skin to help remove dead skin – including dead skin from pores. 

In years gone by, face scrubs used to contain plastic microbeads, but these have been banned in most countries due to causing microplastic pollution. Nowadays, face scrubs tend to use organic substances instead such as oatmeal, brown sugar, coffee grounds, nut shells and jojoba beads. Some even use pumice crystals. 

Exfoliating brush

Brushes can also be used to remove dead skin. The bristles move over the surfaces of the skin and get rid of dead skin cells.

Exfoliating brushes are sometimes placed on the end of handles – these brushes are great for scrubbing your back and other hard to reach places. Alternatives you can use small round brushes that sit in the palm of your hand to clean your face and body.

Exfoliating gloves

There are also gloves you can buy to exfoliate your skin. These contain a rough pad or bristles on the palm, allowing you to scrub dead skin away with your hands.

Most exfoliating gloves are designed to be used in the shower or bath. However, there are others that can be used on dry skin. 

Face masks

Face masks are designed to bind to dead skin cells. When you remove the face mask, you then remove all the dead skin with it. 

There are many DIY face masks you can try at home using ingredients like yogurt, oatmeal, papaya, aloe vera, avocado and almonds. Alternatively, you can buy pre-made face mask solutions – including masks that stick to your face and have to be peeled off. You can also visit salons and have a facemask applied and removed by a professional.

Chemical peels

Chemical peels use ingredients like salicylic acid and lactic acid to remove the top layer of dead skin. They are ideal for providing smooth clean skin immediately.

You can buy chemical peels in the over-the-counter bottles which you can rub onto the skin and then wash off a minute later along with all the dead skin. Alternatively, you can look into chemical peel procedures carried out by professionals. These are more heavy duty forms of exfoliation that can help to get rid of fine wrinkles and skin blemishes, but which may sting a while afterwards. 

HydraFacial

A Hydrafacial is a procedure that uses hyaluronic acid and other ingredients to gently remove the top layer of skin. It is less harsh than a regular chemical peel – while it can remove just as much dead skin, your face won’t hurt the next day. You can read more into the hydrafacial benefits here. 

Hydrafacilas must be carried out at a clinic by a qualified professional. You can look into them online. 

Microdermabrasion

Microdermabrasion involves essentially ‘sanding’ the face with lots of small crystals, which are vacuumed up along with any loosened dead skin. It can be used to treat everything from acne to small wrinkles. 

Home microdermabrasion kits do exist. However, for the best results, it’s worth investing in a microdermabrasion procedure at a qualified clinic. 

Laser resurfacing

Laser resurfacing can also be used to remove the top layers of skin. It is commonly used to remove tattoos, reduce birthmarks, alleviate acne and eliminate other skin blemishes. 

This is not a cheap procedure and it goes beyond exfoliation to the point of ablation. 

Which method of exfoliation is right for you?

To choose the best form of exfoliation, consider your budget and exfoliation goals. For everyday treatment of blackheads, a face scrub or a brush may be all you need. For heavy duty treatment of acne or hyperpigmentation, treatments such as a chemical peel or laser resurfacing may be better suited. 

Ideally, everyone should be doing some exfoliation – try to make it a part of your morning routine or do it whenever you have a bath or shower.