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.
Chemical exfoliators use acids like alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) or beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs) that react with the skin to remove dead skin cells from the surface and clean pores. Dermatologists suggest that older women should opt for chemical exfoliators as they are less abrasive on our skin than physical exfoliators.
Mature skin: Given that aging skin has a slower skin turnover rate, exfoliating two to three times a week can help in reducing the appearance of fine lines and dullness. However, it's also crucial to avoid over-exfoliation which could lead to skin thinning and speed up skin aging even more.
These are the ones that dermatologists recommend to their patients the most: Best AHA Cleanser: Neostrata Glycolic Foaming Wash. Best BHA Cleanser: CeraVe Salicylic Acid Cleanser. Best Scrub: Neova SmartSkincare Serious Microderm Scrub.
Avoid abrasive physical exfoliators with harsh grains, sugar, or salt, as well as facial brushes as much as possible. “If you have breakouts, use a chemical exfoliator to fight oil and acne from a deeper level in the skin,” says Loving. “AHA and BHA acids (like salicylic, lactic, and glycolic) will be most effective.
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.
Mature skin
Gonzalez. So mature skin may be thin, dehydrated, contain open pores, and have visible wrinkles. Exfoliating one-two times a week keeps the skin tight, improves hyperpigmentation, smooths wrinkles, and corrects dark spots without irritating the skin, she says.
Ultimately, using a cleanser before an exfoliator will likely be better for most people. This allows you to clean away more dirt and debris than the other method on average.
As we've already mentioned, mature skin can be extra sensitive, so make sure you use a gentle, organic face scrub and massage it gently over the skin with circular movements. You only need to use a scrub every ten days or so.
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.
Skinbetter's AlphaRet Overnight Cream is by far the most recommended wrinkle cream, with the stamp of approval from Hartman, Greenfield, Shirazi, and Marino. In short, experts love it because it works well while being gentle on skin.
As a dermatologist in Columbia, Maryland, Dr. Melanie Adams recommends that patients of all ages add regular exfoliation to their skin care regimen. She shares some benefits and tips regarding how and why exfoliating is such an important step for keeping your skin looking and feeling its healthiest at every age.
3. DON'T exfoliate if it causes irritation. If your skin feels sensitive, stings, becomes red or flakey after exfoliating, stop immediately! Give your skin a break for a week or so, then attempt exfoliating again, but make sure you do your research to ensure you're using the right products and method for your skin type ...
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 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.
An individual should use the fingers to gently apply cleanser to the skin, rub in a circular motion, and then rinse with water. They should follow exfoliation with a suitable moisturizer for their skin type.