There's no hard and fast rule to whether you should scrub or cleanse first. We recommend trying out both orders and then going with what suits your skin best. Either way as long as you are cleansing and exfoliating according to your skin type, you can achieve a deep clean for your most beautiful skin.
You can test this yourself with a well formulated exfoliant: at night, apply your AHA or BHA as usual after cleansing and toning, and do a "split-test." Wait 20 minutes before applying your serum and/or moisturizer to one side, but the other side of your face, apply those next steps immediately.
Regardless of the formula, apply your toner or serum after cleansing, preferably at night, since exfoliating can make your complexion sun-sensitive. Stick with gel or foaming cleansers rather than oils and balms, which leave a residue that can prevent toners from absorbing, says Mattioli.
If you use a makeup remover, cleansing balm, or other type of double cleanser, apply that first, then follow up with your regular face wash. After cleansing, apply your toner. You can use your fingertips or a reusable cotton round—whichever you prefer. Next, apply your leave-on AHA or BHA exfoliant.
Using a potent vitamin C after exfoliation will boost its brightening and firming benefits.
Apply Moisturizers
While one exfoliation won't completely strip your skin of all of its oil, it will remove most of it, leaving the surface dry. Therefore, exfoliating without applying a good moisturizer is guaranteed to leave the face drier than it was before exfoliation.
If using your acid exfoliant as part of your morning skincare routine, it's recommended to use a moisturizer with SPF afterwards. Charlotte's Magic Cream Light is a light-textured moisturizer with SPF20, so make sure you use this as your MAGIC moisturizer to hydrate, moisturize and protect your skin.
Cleaning the face before exfoliating allows you to start with a fresh slate. Exfoliation dives into the pores, more so than a mild cleanser. It's important to remove your makeup and clean your face on a daily basis. It's not always necessary to exfoliate with the same frequency.
Moisturize. We can't stress this enough. Your skin needs moisture, especially after you exfoliate. Using a super-hydrating facial moisturizer after you exfoliate helps replenish any moisture loss from exfoliating.
Which Is Better? 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. However, be aware that it does come with a little more skin sensitivity.
"If the base is more foamy or gel-like, wet the skin first. If the base is oil like that of an oil cleanser, it'll work better on dry skin because water repels oil." This, it's worth noting, holds true for both face and body exfoliation, so before you do either, be sure to check your ingredients list.
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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.
There are various signs that tell you that you are over-exfoliating. These include irritation, redness, inflamed skin, plus your complexion can become dry and flaky. You may develop a rash like texture, leading to uneven tones like patchy, red blotches.
Typically, exfoliating does not cause acne. In fact, in most cases, exfoliating can help minimize acne when performed properly as part of an acne treatment program. Beware though, if exfoliating is done improperly or too often, it can bring on problems. If you use a scrub, use as directed and be gentle.
Glycerin is a great choice, because it keeps moisture locked deep in the lower layers of skin (British Journal of Dermatology). Jojoba oil delivers deeply-penetrating moisture while can mimicking skin's natural oils.
Hyaluronic acid is great for applying after any exfoliating acids.
Niacinamide should be used after your BHA exfoliant. From there, you can apply the rest of your products in order of thinnest to thickest texture. For daytime, always finish with SPF 30+ as your last step.
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.
Exfoliate Weekly
While we advise against exfoliating immediately after your facial (ouch!), we do recommend adding this step to your weekly skin care routine. Continuing to exfoliate at home will keep your skin soft and smooth as well as prevent oil and dead skin from building up and dulling your complexion.
If your skin feels irritated or red patches appear after exfoliation means you need to stop. It's also a myth that slight redness or irritation means the product is working. If your skin feel unusual after exfoliation, it means you need relook at your scrubbing routine. Over-scrubbing leaves skin dry and flaky.
Despite the use of the word “acid,” hyaluronic acid is not an exfoliator. The kind your body naturally produces is a humectant, a healer, a protector, and a plump-er.
Salicylic acid and vitamin C are both effective products on their own but, when combined, they can be even more beneficial. Whether you're looking to brighten your skin, reduce the likelihood of blemishes or just help slow down the skin's natural aging process, these ingredients may be just what you're looking for.
No, it does not. It may stain your skin but it cannot darken your skin. It is important to know the difference between staining and darkening the skin. Staining is where the product reacts with your dead skin cells and leads to a change in the color of those dead cells.