Exfoliating helps to remove dead skin cells by breaking the bonds that glue them together, allowing new cells to surface, and giving your daily glow an instant boost. Exfoliating also whisks away any dirt and debris deep within your pores that your cleanser may have missed.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, exfoliation can leave your skin looking brighter and improve the effectiveness of topical skin care products by enhancing absorption. Regular exfoliation can also help prevent clogged pores, resulting in fewer breakouts.
What Does Exfoliating Do? Simply put, exfoliating helps to keep your skin silky soft and smooth by buffing away and removing dead skin cells. Your skin naturally sheds dead skin cells every 30 days or so. When this happens, new skin cells form the top layers of your skin.
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.
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.
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.
“Exfoliants should be used beginning in the teen years to clean pores, protect against acne, and clear dead cells from the skin surface,” says Gerald Imber, MD.
Poor exfoliation is a leading cause of blackheads and whiteheads, some of the most common signs of acne. You can also develop “undergrowth” without regular exfoliation. This is comprised of not only dead skin cells but also trapped dirt and oil, which can lead to ingrown hairs.
Regular exfoliation is one of the most effective ways to keep older skin looking youthful and bright. As we age, our skin's natural exfoliation process slows down and causes a buildup of dead, dull skin. Exfoliating helps speed up cellular turnover, softening fine lines and wrinkles and diminishing hyperpigmentation.
But if you ask dermatologists, they'll tell you that not only is exfoliation usually an unnecessary step, many people overdo it. “Our skin cells naturally exfoliate on their own,” said Chicago-based dermatologist Caroline Robinson.
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When old skin cells build up on the surface, your skin can appear dull and lackluster because it is less able to reflect light. Exfoliation removes the dead skin cells and debris from the surface of your skin, quickly and easily achieving a smoother, brighter complexion.
Most of the dermatologists recommend a gentle chemical exfoliant if you're dealing with ingrown hairs or razor bumps.
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.
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.
Conclusion. In the end, exfoliation is essential for achieving visually appealing skin, but failing to hydrate the surface can cause painful irritations and dryness that leave your skin feeling worse than before you exfoliated.
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.
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.
That effect is simply all those dead skin cells piling up unevenly on the skin. This is why un-exfoliated skin looks dull and rough. Lastly, Augusta noticed that her skin stopped absorbing moisturizer.
Exfoliation accelerates the process, evens out your skin tone and makes your skin look healthier and younger. Smoother skin – Our skin is made up of many microscopic layers of cells, but only the deepest level, called the dermis, contains living cells which are smooth and radiant.
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 you talk to a dermatologist or any skin expert, they will tell you it is never too late to start a skincare routine. It does not matter how old you are because you will see benefits regardless of your age. The key is to ensure that you stick to your routine every day.