Skin Care Regimen: How To Exfoliate

Skin Care Step 2: Exfoliate & Facial Scrub

Exfoliating is a skin care step that most of us tend to overlook. This important step can make an amazing difference in the appearance of your skin.

Exfoliating Benefits

Normal skin takes about two to three weeks to renew itself. Aging skin take up to four to six weeks. When dead skin cells are around longer than they should, it prevents moisture, oxygen, and nutrients from reaching living skin causing a dull, lifeless, and uneven skin complexion and texture.

When you exfoliate, you’re helping the skin’s natural process by giving the dead skin cells an extra push. Exfoliating will make it easier for the skin to absorb moisture, helps to remove toxins, rough and dry skin patches to even out the skin texture. This gives your skin a smoother less wrinkled appearance and revealing a healthier glow.

Types of exfoliant: Facial Scrub & Chemical Exfoliant

There are two types of exfoliants: physical scrubs and chemical exfoliants such as alpha-hydroxys acid (AHA). Physical scrubs are not expensive and they work well especially those that contain scrubs that are perfectly round with no rough edges.

Only consider using chemical exfoliants if you have mature aging skin or sun damaged skin. Because AHA exfoliants can thin your skin use it cautiously. After exfoliating with a chemical exfoliant, make sure to apply sun protection before leaving the house because your skin will be sun sensitive and susceptible to sun spots.

How Often to Exfoliate

Exfoliating regularly will give your skin a more radiant and smoother feel.   I am sure we all want radiant skin, but don’t over exfoliate. Over exfoliating can cause dry skin - an invitation to wrinkled skin.

Personally, I try to exfoliate at most twice a week or three times every two weeks. When I exfoliate 3 times a week, my skin feel very dry. Skin care should make your skin feel good and comfortable. If exfoliating cause your skin to feel dry, you should exfoliate less often.

How to Exfoliate your skin

• After you cleanse your face, place a bit of facial scrub into the palm of your hand
• Gently massage the scrub around your face with very light pressure.
• Avoid scrubbing under the eyes because the skin surrounding the eyes is thin and can be easily damaged by abrasive cleanser.
• Don’t over scrub because you do need some natural oil to protect your skin.
• Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.

Exfoliating Tip

AHA exfoliant can help correct, but cannot help prevent the appearance of aging on your skin. Because AHA can thin your skin, you don't need to start it at a young of age.

>> Continue Step 3: Moisturizer