If you've ever wondered what comes first, cleansing or exfoliating, know that the confusion is understandable: though the two go hand in hand—you should always cleanse before exfoliating.
Benefits of using exfoliant first
When you exfoliate before cleansing, you are lifting the dead skin cells, excess oil and impurities away from your skin. Then the cleanser comes through to help wash it all away, along with other things like makeup and acne-causing bacteria.
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.
Some beauticians recommend to Clean the face before exfoliating as it allows you to start with a fresh slate. Some others say that exfoliating at the beginning might get you better results: on the skin, with all the pollution and debris, if you just use a cleanser first, the majority of that debris will not be removed.
You should exfoliate your face when it is freshly cleansed and free of product so that the gentle acids and hydrating ingredients can work their MAGIC on your skin as effectively as possible. So before exfoliating, use a double cleanser like Goddess Cleansing Ritual.
When it comes to skin care, everyone wants to follow it religiously, but only a few women maintain it. The reason why others fail to do so is that they still make mistakes. If you want to have glowing and healthy skin, follow the right skin care steps such as cleansing, exfoliating, toning and finally moisturizing.
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.
Most skin care lines will have you cleansing first, exfoliating second, and then moisturizing and sunblocking to top things off. But celebrity dermatologist Dr. Harold Lancer, creator of the unique, step-reversing Skin Revival system, says that exfoliating at the beginning might get you better results.
A cleanser cleans your skin, removing impurities and dust. On the other hand, an exfoliator removes the dead cells trapped on your skin's surface to reveal younger and healthier inner skin layer.
After exfoliating, make sure you thoroughly rinse away the product and any dead skin cells and then pat your skin dry with a clean towel. ”Apply a moisturizer or shea butter following your [exfoliating] and shower/soak to help your skin retain moisture and look radiant,” advises Burns.
Exfoliator goes before both toner and essence! When doing your skin care routine, exfoliator comes right after your double cleanse. This removes any remaining debris from your pores as well as aids in cell turnover. Following up with toner helps bring your skin's pH levels back into balance.
“Regular exfoliation is key to a glowing complexion,” explains NYC board-certified dermatologist Dr. Hadley King. “Physical and chemical exfoliation help to brighten the complexion by sloughing off the old dead skin cells and revealing the fresh new cells underneath.
When you are finished cleansing your skin, rinse your face off with lukewarm water. Depending on personal preference, you can use a washcloth or just your hands to remove the cleanser after washing. Avoid using hot water when rinsing your face. Using water that is too hot can irritate your skin and dry out your skin.
Cleaning the face before exfoliating allows you to start with a fresh slate. Exfoliation dives into the pores, more so than a mild cleanser. It's important to remove your makeup and clean your face on a daily basis. It's not always necessary to exfoliate with the same frequency.
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Lack of exfoliation leads to build up of dead skin cells, and could result into dry, dull, patchy, flaky skin, clogged pores, with uneven skin tone.
Most experts advise that you exfoliate two to three times per week — as long as your skin can handle it. Chemical exfoliants tend to be fine to use more regularly. Physical methods, on the other hand, may be too abrasive to use multiple times a week.
DON'T rinse off a chemical exfoliant
After exfoliating, don't wash it off right away - the active ingredients take time to absorb into your skin and work their magic! Leave your exfoliant on for about 15-30 minutes to ensure the ingredients dissolve and remove all dead skin cells.
Exfoliate Weekly
While we advise against exfoliating immediately after your facial (ouch!), we do recommend adding this step to your weekly skin care routine. Continuing to exfoliate at home will keep your skin soft and smooth as well as prevent oil and dead skin from building up and dulling your complexion.
We should wash the face after 2 hours of facial with cold water. Only if the skin is oily, we can use cold water for washing the face. Remember don't use any creams or soap after facial. We can use the homemade face wash the next day or after 2 days.
Should you wash your face before a facial? There's no need – you can show up to your facial with your makeup still on, since your esthetician will just remove it all during the cleansing portion of the facial.
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.