If you regularly skip exfoliating, you could be doing your skin a disservice. Your skin naturally sloughs off dead skin cells every day, but those skin cells don’t always fall off as they should. A build-up of skin cells affects your appearance and the effectiveness of your skincare products. Exfoliants help remove dead skin cells to bring out brighter, healthier skin.
What is exfoliating?
Exfoliants are products that remove the dead skin cells you naturally slough off throughout the course of the day. Physical exfoliants polish or buff the skin with physical ingredients to remove dead skin cells. SkinResourceMD’s Crystal Clarity Exfoliation Scrub is a physical exfoliant made with volcanic ash microcrystals. These tiny crystals are gentle on the skin and don’t damage the skin’s surface while removing skin cells.
Chemical exfoliants contain ingredients that chemically break the bonds between skin cells. While the word chemical may sound harsh, these exfoliants are just as gentle as a physical exfoliant, and there’s little risk of damaging the skin by over scrubbing. SkinResourceMD’s Alpha Hydroxy Skin Renewal Serum is a chemical exfoliant made with natural ingredients to safely remove dead skin cells.
5 Signs you need to exfoliate
If you’re not sure if you need to exfoliate (and we’ll be honest, most people do), here are a few signs that it’s time.
1. Your products aren’t absorbing into your skinExfoliating makes sure that you’ve got a face that’s fully prepped for moisturizing and skincare treatments. Dead skin cells can act as a barrier to your skincare products. Without a moisturizer, your skin can get dry, irritated, and red. Moisturizers also help maintain the skin’s strength and flexibility. If you use any wrinkle treatments or serums, they too can get blocked by dead skin cells.
2. Your skin looks dullDead skin cells aren’t vibrant and reflective like live cells. They dull your appearance, making you look older and more tired. Your skin should be luminous, like a well-polished table. If your skin seems to soak up light rather than reflect it, you need to exfoliate.
3. You have breakouts or your pores looked cloggedOil, makeup, and other skincare products can build up on your skin, clogging pores and causing breakouts. Sometimes facial cleansers aren’t enough to remove the mix of oil, product, and dead skin cells. Exfoliants break through buildup to reveal healthy skin underneath.
4. You have scaly patches or bumpy skin
Exfoliating can help even out your skin texture, removing dry flaky skin. It can also improve the texture of your skin, revealing the smooth skin that’s waiting underneath.
5. You’re getting a lot of sun
Over time, sun exposure can cause a thickening of the skin that shows up in your skin’s appearance and texture. Exfoliating can rejuvenate your skin and even out the texture. However, if you have a sunburn, wait to exfoliate until your skin is fully healed.
How do I use an exfoliant?
Use an exfoliant after washing your skin with a gentle cleanser like Total Facial Cleansing Gel that maintains your natural moisture but removes excess dirt. Your skin is then ready for either a physical or chemical exfoliant to get rid of dead skin cells. Follow the directions on the exfoliant. Some require gentle rubbing for one or two minutes, others may need to dry completely before you use another product on top of the exfoliant.
After exfoliating, your skin is ready for deep treatments, serums, or moisturizers. It’s the perfect time for a wrinkle serum or treatment like Baobab Skin Correction Facial Cream. With your face clean and fresh, this cream can sink deeply into the skin, correcting uneven pigmentation and hydrating it to reduce and prevent wrinkles.
You can also apply hydrating products, such as Hyaluronic Moisture Boost Serum. This serum contains hyaluronic acid, which attracts water and holds onto it as it absorbs into the skin for deep hydration.
After serums and specialized treatments, you’re ready for a moisturizer. If you prefer a lightweight moisturizer, Oil Free Antioxidant Facial Moisturizer provides protective antioxidants and quickly absorbs into the skin. If you’re looking for heavier hydration, Ultra Rich Biolipid Cream is a rich, smooth formula full of natural ingredients like chia seed oil and green tea to gently moisturize and soothe thirsty skin.
You’ve cleaned, treated, and hydrated. Now it’s time to protect your face with sunscreen. Save sun protection for last so that the sunscreen doesn’t prevent any products from soaking into your skin. Stick with a broad-spectrum sunscreen like Essential Solar Protector prevents UVA and UVB rays from penetrating the skin with titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. This particular formula is gentle on the skin and reef-safe, making it gentle on the environment too.
Bring out the best in your skin
If you’re looking for a way to get more out of every product on your counter, adding a high-quality exfoliant can do the trick. Exfoliating can also be the step that finally reveals your skin’s natural glow.
