The importance of exfoliation
Some days, we’re lucky if we manage to take off our makeup and wash our faces before we collapse into bed. Bonus points for moisturizing.
But exfoliate?
That just seems like a luxury. It’s a step we often skip, since we might assume it’s really just icing on the cake and not all that important.
But we are here to let you know - exfoliating is such an important part of your skincare routine for these 5 reasons.
Exfoliation helps increase skin cell turnover.
Healthy skin completely renews itself every 25 to 30 days, but as you age, this period of cellular regeneration gradually increases. When your skin-cell turnover rate slows, your complexion appears dull, wan and aged.
Exfoliation speeds up the turnover rate to reveal newer, fresher, and healthier skin that's radiant instead of dull.
2. Exfoliation improves skin's texture and appearance.
Have you ever suffered from a sunburn that later left you with a blotchy tan and perhaps peeling skin? This is a vivid example of uneven texture and tone.
Without exfoliation, the same effect is occurring with your complexion, just on a smaller scale. Exfoliation helps smooth different areas of the skin for a more even look and feel.
3. Exfoliation can improve hyperpigmentation.
Whether you're addressing age spots, sun blemishes or a generally uneven skin tone, exfoliation is your go-to treatment. Exfoliation naturally increases your skin cell turnover rate, which helps to shed areas of darkened skin more quickly, resulting in visibly brightened skin.
4. Exfoliation helps hydrators and serums to absorb deeply.
If you want to get the MOST effective results from your moisturizer or serum, then exfoliation is an absolute must. Without exfoliation, the active ingredients in these products have to penetrate through an increased thickness of dead skin cells before they reach the cells they can affect. Instead, once you remove this layer of dead skin cells, your serum can absorb easily, with all its benefits!
5. Exfoliation helps to fight signs of premature ageing.
An exfoliant can help to reduce signs of premature ageing by:
Increasing the turnover rate of skin cells
Fading and blending areas of uneven skin tone
Smoothing skin's texture
However, only chemical exfoliants are also able to stimulate your skin's manufacture of important skin proteins such as collagen. These proteins help to support skin, and a lack of them allows fine lines and wrinkles to form.
Which takes us to our next topic: Chemical exfoliant vs. Physical exfoliant.
What is a physical exfoliant?
Physical exfoliation is the use of tiny particles, a brush or cloth, or a scalpel. But not all physical exfoliants are created equally. You wouldn't want any of the exfoliating agents to be too large, for example, large sugar granules, or fragments of nuts. These can leave microtears in your skin, which can lead to bacteria and other nasties invading the epidermis layer. Scrubs do work, but they need to be handled gently. PSA: If you use aveeno scrub - toss that in the trash!
What is a chemical exfoliant?
Chemical exfoliants remove dead skin cells with the use of - you guessed it! - chemicals to aid in cell turnover.
Active ingredients in chemical exfoliants include AHAs, BHAs and TCAs. Or something a little gentler on your skin, but just as potent: Fruit enzymes: like those found in pineapple. People with sensitive skin might have a hard time with AHAs, BHAs, and TCAs, but luckily, fruit enzymes work more in their favor by providing a gentler exfoliation. The enzymes break down the keratin proteins that are within those upper, old skin cells, revealing fresh, new, and brighter cells from beneath the surface.
Our recommendations?
Exfoliate at least 2 times a week with clean exfoliators. Our favorites are farmhouse fresh buffing masks, one fine day as well as image skincare vital c enzyme mask.
