Beautiful skin is always in! So what’s the key to brighter and smoother-looking skin? Exfoliation! For those who have never tried it, adding this simple step to your skincare routine can be a real game changer. As time passes, your skin cells don’t renew themselves as quickly. Therefore, exfoliating can help speed up the process and give you a fresher, more radiant face.
Exfoliation is any technique that removes your dry and dead skin cells. The method can either be done in a mechanical, physical, or chemical manner. Using a simple washcloth to cleanse your face is a mechanical way to exfoliate. Physical exfoliators such as scrubs, polishes, cleansing brushes, microdermabrasion, and others help sweep away dead skin cells and dirt by a friction process. Treatments such as face peels (either DIY or professional) and cleansers, toners, masks, or leave-on products such as lotions and serums that contain acids or enzymes create a chemical reaction that helps break down and dislodge your dead skin cells. There are also products that are a dual combination of rinse-off exfoliators, containing both physical and chemical exfoliating ingredients in balanced combinations.
If you take a piece of clear tape, place it on your arm and remove it, you will find that the tape becomes quite cloudy. This is because your tape just pulled off the dry and dead skin cells that are sitting on top of your skin. Did you ever realize that much of your household dust is actually comprised of dry and dead skin cells that have shed?
Be aware that freshly exfoliated skin is more sensitive to sun damage, so incorporating a sunscreen into your morning routine will help protect your face from the sun’s harmful rays. Those with sensitive skin or rosacea can also aggravate their skin by exfoliation and must be careful to ensure that the products they use will not be damaging. Too much of a good thing such as over-exfoliation can irritate the skin as well. It’s best to start slow and incorporate one type of exfoliator at a time in order to avoid skin damage.
Risselle Naimark is a Professional Freelance Makeup Artist and Skincare Consultant. She carries an extensive line of personalized skincare, cosmetics, and anti-aging products. Risselle is also available for weddings, Bar Mitzvahs, makeup lessons, and all of your beauty needs. She can be reached at 718 263-5517.
