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.
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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.
The best time to exfoliate
If you tend to wear makeup throughout the day, it may be better to exfoliate at night, Dr. Gonzalez says. “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.
Too much of a good thing really can happen, especially when it comes to exfoliation. While getting rid of skin impurities on a regular basis is good, doing it too much can aggravate the skin. Over-exfoliation can lead to redness, irritation, and may leave the skin inworse condition than what you started with.
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.
Adult skin that's not regularly exfoliated may experience acne and more rapid visible aging. It is often not very vibrant in tone, and easily becomes clogged with dirt, excess oil, and dead skin cells. Blackheads are also more likely to occur.
Start by washing your face with your regular cleanser. Then, take a quarter-size amount of your face scrub and apply it to your face in circular motions, avoiding the eye area. Gently massage the scrub onto the skin for as long as your specific product recommends, usually from 30 seconds to a full minute.
While physical exfoliants may buff away dead skin cells, leaving your skin feeling smooth, the friction involved may irritate your already-inflamed skin, leading to increased redness and breakouts.
After you've removed a layer of dead skin cells through exfoliation, you then want to thoroughly moisturize your skin to even out the texture and prevent dryness. Stick to the 48-hour rule. Exfoliation removes dirt and dead skin cells to reveal the newer skin.
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.
Physically Exfoliate in the Shower
“The warmth of a shower softens the skin and releases the body's natural oils, all while opening your pores,” says McMackin. “This aids in the exfoliation process and the removal of dead skin cells.”
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.
Once or twice a week: Exfoliate
Exfoliating once or twice weekly helps to tackle dirt and oil buildup, reduce dullness, and sweep away dead skin cells (which promotes healthy cell turnover). Scrubs like this one gently buff away dead skin, while chemical exfoliators and peels give pores a deep clean all on their own.
Whether your acne is mild or more severe, regular exfoliation will smooth and soften the skin and brighten your complexion. It also helps reduce breakouts by keeping the pores from becoming clogged with the pus of dead cells and sebum (skin oil).
AHAs have been proven to be effective in reducing the appearance of sun damage, says King. She recommends a combination of two acids — glycolic and lactic — adding that, together, they “resurface uneven texture and reduce surface pigmentation while supporting natural cell turnover.” Omorovicza's Acid Fix contains both.
For blackheads, though, regular exfoliation can help remove excessive amounts of dead skin cells that can lead to clogged pores. The process may also gently remove existing blackheads. Rather than looking for harsh scrubs, you'll want to focus on alpha and beta hydroxy acids (AHAs and BHAs).
Well, sadly they won't be completely gone, but exfoliation will help to diminish the appearance of dark spots. Exfoliation also allows any other products to penetrate deeper into the skin—which means you'll experience far better (and faster) results from any other products you use to treat your dark spots.
After applying an active exfoliant to the skin, it loosens up the congestion deep within pores and pushes it toward the surface of the skin -- causing what looks like a breakout but is actually just your skin going through a cycle.
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. Never exfoliate if you have open cuts or wounds or if your skin is sunburned.
You will already start to see an improvement in your skin after just 10 minutes of use; it should look brighter, smoother, and more even. However, if you want long-term, highly noticeable results from exfoliating, such as reduced blackheads, whiteheads, and acne, it can take between 6-8 weeks.
So, does vitamin C exfoliate skin? Unlike exfoliants that can chemically (AHAs) or physically (face scrubs) remove dead skin cells, the answer to “does vitamin C exfoliate skin?” is no. But it does promote healthy cellular turnover and the production of new skin cells, which is beneficial for proper exfoliation.
To exfoliate your face mechanically with a scrub, apply gently to the skin with a finger. Rub in small, circular motions. Rinse with lukewarm water. For a chemical exfoliant that's a liquid, apply with a cotton pad or washcloth.