Skin Care Post 3: Exfoliate

Did you miss the intro post to the Skin Care Basics Series? Find it here.

Did you miss the post covering cleansing the skin? Make sure you hit that post up before reading this one! Find it here.

*I am not an expert, esthetician, or dermatologist.* However, I do my best to do research so I can provide helpful and accurate information!

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Let's talk EXFOLIATION!

Why exfoliate? Exfoliation is the removal of the dead skin cells that collect on the surface of your skin (dull, lifeless skin anyone?), as well as addressing other issues like hyper-pigmentation, fine lines, scars, sun spots, aging, texture, etc. Getting rid of all of the build up on your skin makes any treatments, moisturizers, etc. that you put on your skin after MUCH more effective!

This step is generally going to come after cleansing your skin (there are exfoliation options that may not be a part of your daily routine--we will get to that in a minute!).

There are two different types of exfoliation: physical and chemical.

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PHYSICAL EXFOLIATION

Physical exfoliators are going to be traditional scrubs (sugar, salt, nut shell) as well as spin brushes, PMDs, etc. For the most part, physical exfoliators are going to be addressing surface-level issues like dead skin cells, texture, etc.

Whether or not to use physical exfoliators is a divided camp (who knew so much controversy could come from skin care?!). Some people believe that physical exfoliators are too harsh for your skin and can create more issues. This is definitely true if you have very sensitive skin and/or acne that is not going away with the use of physical exfoliators.

Sensitive Skin

Why would scrubs and spin brushes be too harsh for sensitive skin? The rubbing on your skin can irritate your pores and create inflammation and infections. Over-exfoliating can damage your skin, so it is important that you only exfoliate 1-2 times a week.

Acne

Why would acne be sticking around after using physical exfoliators? The scrubs, spin brushes, whatever you are using, may be picking up bacteria from your acne and spreading it to other places on your face--YUCK! That is why it is SUPER important to clean your tools! But even if you clean your tools religiously, physical exfoliators may not work for your skin.

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My Experience with Physical Exfoliators

I have fairly sensitive skin and rosacea on my cheeks. I use a spin brush nearly every night with my cleanser--I do not dig the brush into my skin; I use it very lightly so I don't over-exfoliate and irritate my skin.

I use a gentle physical exfoliating scrub 1-2 times a week (I use SeneGence Polishing Exfoliator --the grey formula from the picture above). This exfoliator is perfect for more sensitive skin types because the consistency is much less abrasive than other scrubs. However, if you have extremely sensitive skin, I would be very careful with introducing any physical exfoliators into your skin care routine--you don't NEED them--there are other exfoliating options. BUT DON'T SKIP EXFOLIATING ALL TOGETHER!!

I will use a more aggressive physical exfoliating scrub 1-2 times a month (SeneGence Facial Resurfacer --the black formula from the picture above). I also love using this as a body exfoliator before applying sunless tanner or if my skin is feeling a little rough. This exfoliator is more aggressive than the polishing exfoliator--it has volcanic ash and walnut shell as the main exfoliating ingredients (the polishing exfoliator has volcanic ash, but no walnut shell). Walnut shell particles are frequently used because of their uneven shape, rather than synthetic spherical particles that are more smooth.

P.S. Both products smell like the most heavenly spa day EVER. I honestly can't get over it.

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CHEMICAL EXFOLIATION

Chemical exfoliators not only address surface-level issues, but they can also penetrate into the deeper levels of the skin and address the causes of a lot of skin issues. The top three chemical exfoliators are salicylic acid (in a lot of acne-fighting products), glycolic acid, and lactic acid (the breakdowns of these acids will need to wait for another day... so much information!).

Chemical exfoliation is most commonly done through chemical peels that you can get from an esthetician or spa. Chemical peels have varying degrees of intensity, so even though it sounds absolutely terrifying to have chemicals brushed on your skin and shed like a snake, an esthetician with training is in control and can help you pick the best peel for you and your skin goals! Do your research and find a reputable and trust-worthy esthetician--not all estheticians are created equal.

You can also get chemical exfoliating products for at-home use. I would advise going to an esthetician for a personal consultation to determine which products to use--using the wrong products for your skin type and skin issues can damage your skin.

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To pick up more skin care knowledge, I suggest following @skin.boss on instagram. Her knowledge BLOWS my mind.

Overwhelmed by the huge laundry list of chemical terms on ingredient labels? Visit the Paula's Choice Ingredient List!

Happy scrubbing!

XOXO

TIFFANY