Exfoliation 101

With the seasons changing, it’s the perfect time of year to brush up on our skin care knowledge, specifically the often-confusing exfoliation process. Gentle daily exfoliating is a vital step in a good skin care regimen. It’s the step that will give you the petal-soft, glowing skin you’ve always wanted. Just think of it as throwing out the old and welcoming the new. Once you uncover plump new skin cells, your skin will absorb moisturizer more readily. Here’s the breakdown on how the exfoliation process works and how you can do it yourself right in your own bathroom. –mckenzie harris

First, determine your skin type:

• If you have normal skin, you can use a gentle exfoliator daily.
• If you have oily skin, exfoliate four times per week.
• If you have dry skin, exfoliate once per week.
• If you have combination skin, exfoliate four or five times per week.
• If you have sensitive skin, exfoliate only once or twice (at most) per week.

The Breakdown:

Exfoliating skin products are designed to remove the top layer of dry or dead skin cells to make room for new skin. Severe exfoliating methods include chemical peels and microdermabrasion treatments. The goal is to exfoliate but not to irritate, so the key is being gentle with light pressure.

How to exfoliate properly:

• Regardless of when you exfoliate, you will have to perform it more in the summer than in the winter. In the summer skin is sweaty, which causes dead skin cells to stick around.
• Exfoliation can be done each morning, even in the shower. You don’t need to scrub endlessly. Keep the water temperature lukewarm — scalding water will contribute to dryness.
• Men naturally exfoliate their faces every time they shave. This rids their skin of dead or dry skin cells and keeps their skin younger-looking for longer.
• After you exfoliate always follow-up with a moisturizer.

Products to look for:

You should always look for products that cater specifically to your skin type. If you have mature skin, try an exfoliator that also firms skin, like St. Ives Timeless Skin Apricot Scrub Renew & Firm. Its core ingredient is a gentle alpha hydroxy. If your skin tends to be oily, try Clinique’s Exfoliating Scrub, a water-based scrub. It refines and softens tiny lines while leaving your skin feeling refreshed. For those with acne-prone skin, try Noxzema Clean Blemish Control Scrub. Not only does it work as a daily gentle exfoliator, but it also helps clear and prevent breakouts.