Your skin is a marvel. Well, not just your skin; everyone’s! It’s capable of some amazing things – and does an impeccable job of protecting us from the various rigours of the outside world, besides.
It’s something we should treasure, embrace and look after as best we can; of course, not many of us can claim to be doing any of these things, let alone all three.
There are various ways in which we can help our skin do its job, hydration being perhaps chief amongst them.
However, there’s a more essential daily task we can do to greatly improve our skin’s ability to replenish itself. And there may or may not be ancillary benefits relating to how we look, too.
This magical mystery task is, of course, exfoliating – but why is it so beneficial?
1. Understanding the Benefits of Exfoliation
Our skin is an ever-regenerating organ, shedding older skin cells in favour of new – and keeping the skin barrier healthy in the process.
Dead skin cells are what cause oily buildup in our pores, as well as flaky parts here and there; these dead cells can actively impede your skin’s ability to turn itself over properly, to say nothing of the less-desirable aesthetic results.
Exfoliating is a quick, clean and simple way of removing dead skin cells ourselves. Doing so naturally promotes faster cell turnover, with the benefits of enhancing skin texture and appearance.
Indeed, regular exfoliation can lead to smoother, brighter skin; if you have something of a skincare routine already, exfoliation can make the skincare products you use more effective by allowing better absorption.
2. Types of Exfoliation: Chemical vs. Physical
When you think of exfoliation, you’re likely thinking of taking a slightly rough sponge or pad to the face and scrubbing vigorously. This is physical exfoliation, which removes dead skin quickly but not without risk; it’s possible to exfoliate too hard, for instance, and cause damage as a result.
Physical exfoliants can be used to aid your scrubbing, being gritty creams that abrade your skin more readily.
There’s another way, in the form of chemical exfoliation. Chemical exfoliants are essentially acids, which break down dead skin cells and enable them to better leave your skin. Chemical peels are a form of exfoliation, bringing dead skin cells away with them when you peel.
Despite the name, chemical exfoliants can actually be much safer than scrubbing away at your face with gay abandon.
3. Choosing the Right Exfoliating Products
Knowing which exfoliating products are right for you is perhaps the hardest battle of the bunch – and it’s not that hard.
If you’ve a resilient nature and a hands-on job, physical exfoliation with a gentle cleanser and a sponge can be better for removing the additional dirt you face day-to-day.
For someone with gentler and more blemish-prone skin, salicylic acid products might be a better bet for unclogging pores and reducing inflammation.
4. Incorporating Exfoliation into Your Skincare Routine
All that remains is to figure out the ideal exfoliation regime for your weekly routine. Even with gentler techniques, it isn’t recommended to exfoliate more than twice a week.
Given the destructive nature of the practice, it helps to think of your skin as needing aftercare, too; don’t skimp on the moisturizer!
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