When it comes to morning versus night exfoliation, you're going to reap the best benefits from exfoliating in the morning time. This is due to the oils your skin produces overnight. You'll be able to more smoothly remove all impurities, dead skin, and oils, when you exfoliate in the morning, rather than at night.
Rouleau says the best time to use a scrub is in the morning. Overnight you've loosened up dead skin cells with your glycolic acid or retinol products, making the morning a perfect time to brush them off. After washing or scrubbing your face, move quickly.
The best time to exfoliate
“Exfoliating at night helps clear out makeup and dirt on the skin,” she says. Exfoliating at night also removes oil and debris from the day.
In general, you should exfoliate your face only twice per week. For best results, exfoliate after you've used a face wash and rinsed thoroughly with warm water. You can use a daily facial cleanser which is appropriate for both morning and nighttime face washing.
Apply a gentle moisturizer after using the face scrub. Make sure that your face is slightly damp when you apply the moisturizer. Damp skin helps the moisturizer to get deep into your skin and provide the maximum amount of benefits.
While it seems like scrubbing would keep the pores unclogged and therefore reduce blackheads and pimples, the blockages that cause blemishes occur much deeper in the follicle. Scrubs might help improve minor bumps and breakouts, they just aren't going to be effective against a stubborn case of acne.
When it comes to morning versus night exfoliation, you're going to reap the best benefits from exfoliating in the morning time. This is due to the oils your skin produces overnight. You'll be able to more smoothly remove all impurities, dead skin, and oils, when you exfoliate in the morning, rather than at night.
By cleansing first you help removing dirt, sweat and make up off skin's surface. You are then working with a clean base to then exfoliate away dead skin cells that can pile up on skin's surface. Exfoliating can soften your skin and allows a fresh layer of skin cells to emerge as dead skin cells are washed away.
YES: if you're using a cellulose- or jojoba-wax based scrub which is mild. You can use it daily since the scrub particles are gentle and will not over-exfoliate. NO: if you're using a walnut/apricot or dermabrasion-based scrub, then just once-a-week usage is recommended.
Once or twice a week is great, but everyday exfoliation is even better. Clinique Derm Pro Dr. Michelle Henry gives us her top five reasons to exfoliate daily. Once or twice a week is great, but everyday exfoliation is even better.
"Exfoliating every day can strip the skin of its natural oils, which can cause breakouts," says celebrity facialist Joanna Vargas. "It can also cause irritation because you're removing the top layer of skin before it can heal." Negative, long-term effects are also a concern.
Step 3: Exfoliator or clay mask
Exfoliation removes dead skin cells while clearing pores. Clay masks work to unclog pores, but can also absorb excess oil. These masks are best applied at night to remove leftover dirt and help the skin soak up other products.
Regardless of the formula, apply your toner or serum after cleansing, preferably at night, since exfoliating can make your complexion sun-sensitive. Stick with gel or foaming cleansers rather than oils and balms, which leave a residue that can prevent toners from absorbing, says Mattioli.
Your skin needs moisture, especially after you exfoliate. Using a super-hydrating facial moisturizer after you exfoliate helps replenish any moisture loss from exfoliating. Apply sunscreen.
While nighttime skincare is incredibly important, morning skincare is just as crucial. Between pollution, sweat, and sun exposure, our skin goes through a lot each day—and it's important to take the time to prep and protect it for what's ahead.
“You should wash your face in the morning for various reasons,” she says. “Bacteria can accumulate throughout the night and, also, you should prime your skin by cleansing it for your morning skincare routine, not to mention to remove your nighttime creams and serums used the night before.”
Exfoliating in the evening can help to increase the efficiency of the skin cell turnover, resulting in a clearer complexion and fresher, healthier skin. As mentioned above, if you experience redness easily, it may be better to exfoliate at night. Your skin will have a longer time to recover!
Vitamin C is used for its anti-ageing benefits as it boosts collagen, improves elasticity and repairs damaged cells. Using it before bed is safer and has far more beauty benefits and thus, we totally recommend you to use it in the night, before hitting the sack.
Scrubbing can irritate your skin, causing acne to flare. What to do instead: Be gentle when washing your face and other skin with acne. You want to use a mild, non-comedogenic cleanser.
Face wash can cause acne and breakouts, but the reasons differ. Sometimes, the true cause of a breakout can be hard to discern. Generally, sustained acne signifies that one of your face products isn't good for your skin. If you've been experiencing serious breakouts since using a new face wash, it's likely the culprit.
Using a potent vitamin C after exfoliation will boost its brightening and firming benefits.