Exfoliating your skin

What is Exfoliation?

Exfoliating is skin treatment where the upper layers of dead skin cells are sloughed off by a loofah sponge, sea salt, brush, or by other means. You can exfoliate any area of skin. When exfoliating your face, use products that are designed for your face.

Why Exfoliate?

Exfoliation helps to speed up the process of skin flaking and shedding, by taking off the uppermost, dead layer of cells to expose the finer, more translucent tissue underneath.

The average human generates a new layer of skin every two to four weeks. At the end of the cycle, the old, dead cells on the surface are shed. You can improve your complexion tremendously by exfoliating and sloughing off the old, dead skin cells. If the old, dead skin cells are not removed, they can clog the sebaceous pores, leading to superficial spots or blackheads.

Types of Exfoliators

There are two main types of exfoliators: mechanical and chemical.

Mechanical exfoliators contain minuscule pieces of grit that, when rubbed on your skin, dislodge the dead skin cells. The most common grit comes from walnut shells and apricot pits.

Chemical exfoliators do the same task as their mechanical siblings but by using mild acids in place of shrapnel. Exfoliating products usually contain alpha-hydroxy acids, beta-hydroxy acids, or salicylic acids.

How to Exfoliate

1. Wet the area of skin you want to exfoliate.
2. Use a synthetic scrubbing sponge, exfoliating gloves or a body loofah.
3. Apply an exfoliating cleanser to your skin or sprinkle it onto your sponge.
4. Making circular motions, scrub the exfoliating cleanser over your skin using your sponge or loofah.
5. Be gentle over sensitive parts of the body, like delicate neck and thigh tissue.
6. Rinse skin thoroughly.
7. Follow up with a good moisturizer.

Exfoliation Tips

• When exfoliating the face, use products specifically designed for the face.
  • Products designed for your body may be too abrasive and irritating for your face.
• Your skin may tingle after using alpha or beta hydroxy acids.
  • The tingling should stop within 15 minutes.
• If you exfoliate regularly, keep moisturizer on your face at all times.
  • Exfoliating causes the skin to dry out, and dry skin is an invitation for skin to wrinkle.