What is exfoliation?
Exfoliation is a process used to remove dead skin cells from the top layer of the skin, revealing the fresh, healthy skin underneath. Skin should be exfoliated regularly to avoid having a buildup of dead skin cells , which can lead to dry skin patches, peeling, and even aggravate congestion and acne. By removing this buildup of dead skin cells, your skin will stay healthy and glowing. There are two different methods of exfoliation, chemical and physical.
Methods
Chemical: Loosens up the “glue” that binds dead skin cells together, thus making their removal easier. Chemical exfoliators include: glycolic acid, salicylic acid, malic acid, lactic acid, citric acid, alpha hydroxy acids (alpha hydroxy acids (AHA’s), beta hydroxy acids (BHA’s), fruit enzymes, and chemical peels.
Physical: Removes the dead skin cells by using a skin abrassive and physically scrubbing the skin to remove the dead skin cells. Some examples of physical exfoliators are: scrubs, cloths, loofahs, seeds (ex. apricot ), sugar, salts. etc.
Choosing a method: Choosing an appropriate exfoliation method depends on your skin type, sensitivity, and how it reacts to certain ingredients in products. It’s also important to have in mind which body part that is being exfoliated. For example, a pumice stone might be a good idea for your feet, but not necessarily for your face.
Precautions
Hair Removal: Most hair removal methods like waxing and chemical hair removers, also exfoliate the skin. Hair removal methods remove dead skin cells along with the hair, so remember to take it easy with exfoliants before shaving, waxing or using any kind of chemical hair remover.
Over-exfoliating: It’s also possible to over-exfoliate. You can tell when this has happened because after over-exfoliating your skin might be itchy, flaky and dry. When this happens, make sure that you moisturize the skin well, to help it repair itself.
