You can exfoliate wet skin, as many people do with a loofah or a scrub in the shower, but the friction level is different when the skin cells are moist, Karen said. The dry method will help you to more effectively exfoliate, plus it's less messy, Gohara noted.
Technique matters when it comes to exfoliation, and the techniques are different for body scrubs compared to dry brushing. You want to use a body scrub while your skin is wet. It's ideal to do it while you're in the shower and after you've been in the shower for a few minutes to loosen up your dead skin cells.
You'll get the best results if you clean your skin before exfoliating it. Splash on a little lukewarm water and apply your favorite cleanser with your fingertips, then rinse it away with more lukewarm water.
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.
You can shower, or bath, but make sure you've washed your body with soap or body wash before you use a body scrub, and make sure your skin is damp, soft and supple to ensure the best results. Use lukewarm water and allow your skin to soak for at least 10 minutes.
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.
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.
Over-scrubbing leaves skin dry and flaky. It takes off natural essential oil from the skin and leave it dry and flaky. If your face has dry patches after exfoliation, it means you need to slow down or space out your exfoliation sessions. If your skin is prone to breakouts or acne, over exfoliation can make it worse.
Apply Moisturizers
if you just finished exfoliating your face, or any other body part, the most important thing to remember is to stay moisturized. While one exfoliation won't completely strip your skin of all of its oil, it will remove most of it, leaving the surface dry.
Dry skin often leads to flakiness, and the first impulse is often to scrub the flakes away. When you have dry skin, this is the worst thing that you can do, especially if you're using an exfoliant every day. Over-exfoliating is only going to irritate (and therefore dry out) your skin more.
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.
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.
Gently massage the scrub onto the skin for as long as your specific product recommends, usually from 30 seconds to a full minute. Then, rinse off with warm water and gently pat your skin with a clean towel. Follow with a hydrating mask, serum or cream.
By removing dead skin cells, facial scrubs allow oil, dirt, bacteria, etc. that were trapped deep within pores to come to the surface. The blemish that results is actually the body's way of expelling toxins completely. Breakouts that occur anywhere from two to four weeks after a gentle scrub are normal.
Whether you use your exfoliator in the morning or evening make sure you apply a moisturizer after exfoliating to perfectly prep your skin for makeup or the day ahead, or feed your skin effective, plump-effect, moisturizing ingredients overnight!
Exfoliation won't totally deplete your skin of moisture, but repeatedly exfoliating the skin without following up with a good moisturizer can leave your skin parched and overly-sensitive (especially if you are someone who enjoys taking hot showers). We recommend products containing ultra-hydrating oils and humectants.
Generally speaking, board-certified dermatologist Lian A. Mack, MD, says exfoliating daily isn't recommended for many skin types as it will strip skin of its natural oils, leaving it feeling overly dry, which can then result in irritation and inflammation.
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.
If an area feels dry and/or rough, it might be time to exfoliate. Important: if this same patch of skin is also irritated, red or itchy, that is a sure sign not to exfoliate.
Should you exfoliate before or after shower? Same rules apply here as they do for washing your face. It's way better to exfoliate after you've finished using haircare or other shower products and when you can use cool water.
You're not cleansing before exfoliating.
Some face exfoliators also act like cleansers so you can multitask. But, if your exfoliator isn't meant to also be used as a face wash, it's important to take the extra step of cleansing your face before you exfoliate so you can start with a clean slate.