Scrubs for the face and body fall under the category of manual or physical exfoliation; that is, using a gritty substance to literally buff away dead, scaly skin. Washcloths, loofahs, dry brushes, dermaplaning tools, the razor you use to shave your legs—those, too, would fall under the umbrella of manual exfoliants.
New York-based dermatologist Macrene Alexiades said in an email that she recommends exfoliation as an option for people with oily skin, large pores and, in some cases, wrinkles.
If you're using a physical exfoliant, King recommends doing your routine in the shower with warm water. “Wet skin is soft and makes the exfoliant more effective and less likely to damage the skin barrier,” she says. Once in the shower, use a grainy body wash or a scrub with gentle pressure.
For most skin types, Corey L. Hartman, MD, FAAD, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Skin Wellness Dermatology in Birmingham, AL recommends daily chemical exfoliation, and then incorporating mechanical exfoliation into your regimen about once a week.
As for the body, you can generally use similar guidelines. If you tend to have dry skin, stick to once a week; everyone else can manage two or three times a week.
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Four dermatologists and an esthetician recommend Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant, a rice-based powder that you mix with water to form a paste and blends both physical and chemical exfoliation, as the best scrub for most of us.
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.
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.
Be gentle to your skin.
If you use a scrub or chemical exfoliator, apply the product gently using small, circular motions. Do this for about 30 seconds, and then rinse off with lukewarm — not hot — water. If you use a brush or sponge, use short light strokes.
Physical exfoliators tend to work best on the rougher areas of the body, like heels, knees, and elbows. You can apply directly with your hands, but a sponge or natural bristle brush might be more effective for hard-to-reach areas. Use gente, circular motions and make sure to rinse well.
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.
Use your scrubbing tool to gently move along your bikini line in a small circular motion to remove dead skin cells that may be clogging up the pores. Be sure to cover the entire surface of the area. Allow the exfoliate to sit on your skin for up to 3 minutes. Rinse the area well.
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.
What age should I start exfoliating? You can start exfoliating your skin as early as your teen years, from 14 onwards. During this time you may find your skin to become imbalanced and a lot more oily than it was before. This excess oil can lead to some problems, like breakouts, blackheads and spots.
Dr Ritu advises that you don't really need to exfoliate, particularly if you're on the younger side. Let's face it, you're rocking that youthful glow anyway! Your regular cleansing routine should be enough to keep your skin clean and healthy and can promote exfoliation of dead skin cells.
The main difference between scrub and exfoliator is that scrub is a cream-based skincare product that contains tiny exfoliating particles while an exfoliator is a mechanical or chemical agent you apply to the skin to remove dead cells from the surface of the skin.
The idea is to massage these granules into your skin to remove debris and dead skin cells. However, the rough nature of sugar scrubs makes them far too harsh for facial skin. They can create small tears in the skin and lead to damage, especially if you're using regular sugar.
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.
Exfoliating is actually a must for an anti-aging skincare routine. By exfoliating away dead, dull skin cells, you're revealing brighter, newer skin underneath and also increasing cellular turnover, softening and preventing fine lines and wrinkles.
Exfoliation is important for dry or flaky skin. Avoid mechanical exfoliation on dry skin, because the process is drying and it can lead to microtears. AHAs are effective for dry skin. Glycolic acid will help remove dead cells sitting on the surface of the skin and encourage healthy skin turnover.
Your skin needs moisture, especially after you exfoliate. Using a super-hydrating facial moisturizer after you exfoliate helps replenish any moisture loss from exfoliating.
“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.