7 Reasons Why You Should Exfoliate Your Skin
EXFOLIATION IS FOR EVERYONE
I have to admit that exfoliating my skin is one of my favorite steps in my skin care routine. The biggest reason why is because it leaves my skin feeling silky smooth. My skin is on the dryer side so exfoliation helps minimize that dry feeling. Yes, I know, even though I am a skin expert I still experience dry skin! But that’s a-whole-nother post…
No, not all exfoliants are created equal. You have your clay masks, abrasive scrubs, gentle scrubs, acidic pads, enzymes, peels, micro dermabrasion, the list is endless! You certainly want to consult your local skin professional to advise which exfoliation method would be right for your skin.
Everyone says exfoliation is a key step in a well-rounded skincare routine since it sloughs off dead and dry skin. But what if you don’t have dry skin? What else is my exfoliating habit doing that makes me love it so much? According to skincare experts, the answer is a lot. Aside from clearing away dry and dead skin, a regular exfoliation habit increases the skin's radiance, clarity, and youthfulness, and that's just the start.
Benefits of Exfoliating:
1. Pore cleansing
Think of your pores as puddles of mud. Just rubbing a cleanser over something that is indented will not clean out the mud. You need something like a shovel to remove the gunk deep in the hole. Manuel scrubs act like the shovel! Deafening and loosening up dirt, oil, and dead skin that can get stuck in our epidermis creating congestion. Sweeping away that dead skin, along with all the other surface debris that might remain on your skin after cleansing, stops it from making its way into your pores and causing stubborn stoppages in the form of whiteheads and blackheads. These are two skin issues that are insanely difficult to get rid of (people with blackheads know what's up), which is why exfoliating is so important. It stops them before they even have a chance to appear. Dead skin seals the pores, so when sebaceous glands produce oil, it's 'stuck' under the dry skin. This causes breakouts because there is nowhere for the oil to go.
2. Prevents Acne
Just like how scrubs can read your skin of a buildup of dirt and oil, acidic exfoliants can really prevent those oils from turning into acne. What we consider acne is bacteria trapped in our pores which gets infected and inflamed. They can be small underneath the surface of the skin, medium sized whiteheads, or big honkers without a head that you just can’t get rid of for the life of you. We end up messing around with these breakouts and they continue to spread. Acidic exfoliants like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide will penetrate deeper into the skin and kill the bacteria that causes the breakouts. You must be careful not to over use these chemicals because you can start to peel. It’s best to consult a professional when choosing a chemical exfoliant.
You can also do an enzyme treatment for exfoliation. This helps stimulate cell renewal as natural fruit enzymes detach dead skin cells to improve skin texture.
3. Helps Other Skincare Products Penetrate Deeper
Have you ever applied a serum or moisturizer and felt like it was just sitting on top of your skin? That’s probably because they were! Exfoliation helps remove the dead skin sitting on top while allowing your other beautiful and possibly expensive skin care products to penetrate deeper and actually function as they were meant to. Remove that dead skin and let the magic happen!
Dead skin basically becomes a barrier between your skin and serums. By removing it you allow everything to work much better! Your skin will be silky smooth.
4. Evens Out Skin Tone
People with dark spots, rough texture, hyperpigmentation, and acne scars know how frustrating they can be to treat. Exfoliants break down dry and dead skin while smoothing texture, which means the skin appears to look more uniform over time.5. Boosts Circulation and Lymphatic Drainage
Exfoliation has many benefits, including stimulation of lymphatic drainage for internal cleansing and stimulation of oxygen-rich blood to feed and nourish the skin's surface. The former is a form of skin detoxification, working to remove toxins and other unhealthy debris. The latter boosts cellular health to reveal glowy, radiant skin.6. It Increases Cell Turnover
Aside from increased circulation, exfoliation also boosts the skin's radiance in another way. It helps cell turnover so the skin looks more glowing. This means that the skin keeps fresh, healthy cells at the surface, removing dead, dry, or dying ones. In terms of appearance, this results in that ultra-dewy and baby-faced complexion we all strive for.
7. Stimulates Collagen Synthesis
Finally, regular exfoliation helps to stimulate collagen synthesis to improve the skin's texture, integrity, and keep the skin looking plump, tight, and young. In this way, exfoliating actually offers anti-aging benefits, which might be why so many people swear that it helps lessen the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
As for how often you should be exfoliating, listen to your skin. Some people prefer chemical exfoliants over physical ones and vice versa, but it's up to your specific needs. Lucky for you, you have a professional on your team to help coach you through the confusing process of choosing the right skin care products.
Here is a guideline of what type of product you can use for which skin type :
Blackheads/ Pore Cleansing
ICE REFINING MASQUE
Refine pores and reduce oil production with this soothing clay based masque. Calm skin and manage acne with a combination of Salicylic Acid, Mastiha, Plant Stem Cells and more.
KEY INGREDIENTS:
Acne
ICE CLARIFYING SCRUB
A gentle exfoliating scrub that polishes away dirt and oil on the face and body. Manages acne with a combination of natural exfoliating elements, Benzoyl Peroxide, Lilac and Echinacea Plant Stem Cells and soothing ingredients.
KEY INGREDIENTS:
Brightening MASQ-tech™
Benzoyl Peroxide
Halidrys Siliquosa Extract
Bearberry Extract
Mulberry Extract
Echinacea Plant Stem Cell
Lilac Plant Stem Cell
Eco-Bead Exfoliation Technology
Pore cleansing/Pigmentation
Polish your way to pore perfection. This gentle, exfoliating and brightening masque and scrub promotes a youthful glow while minimizing pore appearance. Heals skin with Mastiha, Silver, Gold, Orange Plant Stem Cells and a rich blend of botanicals.
KEY INGREDIENTS:
Brightening Mastiha
Orange Plant Stem Cell
Collodial Gold and Silver
Mandelic and Salicylic Acid
Tomato Extract
Bearberry Extract
Narcissus Extract
Wrinkles/ Pigmentation/ Acne
PRO ANTI-AGING PADS
This cutting-edge at-home treatment product delivers the peel, peptide and probiotic experience with a powerhouse formulation. Lessens the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while beautifully brightening skin.
KEY INGREDIENTS:
Exfoliating: Seven different anti-aging and brightening acids are combined including glycolic, lactic, salicylic and kojic. Lira’s Healing Peptide Delivery System increases barrier protection as it delivers exfoliation with less inflammation.
Brightening: Hexylresorcinol along with various botanicals like mulberry, licorice, bearberry and Halidrys Siliquosa provide luminous skin brightening.
Rejuvenating: The health of the skin is enhanced with microbiome balancing probiotics and natural antioxidants for a beautiful finish.
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