You love babies’ skin. Right? Babies have smooth and clear skin. If you are looking for clear and soft skin then exfoliation is the key. Exfoliation is an important part of keeping your skin healthy. Cleansing the face removes dirt and oil in the skin whereas exfoliating the face removes dead skin cells. It keeps your skin fresh and smooth. Scrubbing super hard is unnecessary to leave your skin red and irritated. Skin renews itself, revealing fresher, brighter skin in a process we call skin cell turnover. As we age, this process slows down dramatically, but yes we can slow down this process. Here is your answer for how often should I exfoliate my face. Let’s explore it together.
When Should I Exfoliate?
It depends upon your preference. If your skin looks dull in the morning, exfoliate before starting your day. Exfoliating at night removes any makeup or dirt. Do not exfoliate if you have cuts or sores on your skin. If your skin is oily, you can exfoliate daily or day after day. Other types of skin require exfoliation once or two times a week.
Right Kind of Exfoliation?
You have to use the right kind of exfoliation to get better results. It depends on your skin type. It is best to consult a dermatologist about how to exfoliate your face. A dermatologist can suggest the best products and methods for your skin type. There are several products and medical procedures you can try depending on your needs.
Exfoliating Ingredients to Look For?
When you go to pick out an exfoliator, it’s important to look for expert-approved ingredients. For chemical exfoliators, keep an eye out for glycolic, lactic, and salicylic acids, as well as lesser-known acids like malic, lactobionic, and mandelic, which increase cell turnover. Plant enzymes like papaya, pineapple, and pomegranate are also potential natural exfoliators for sensitive skin types.
If it’s physical exfoliation you’re looking for, try natural ingredients like pumice, poppy seeds, and jojoba beads.
Effective Exfoliators
A few effective exfoliators are:
- SkinMedica AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser.
- CeraVe Salicylic Acid Cleanser.
- Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Salicylic Acid Exfoliant.
- DERMALOGICA Daily Microfoliant.
- Beekman 1801 Milk Scrub Oat and Goat Milk Exfoliating Facial Cleanser.
- La Roche-Posay Ultra-Fine Scrub.
- OleHenriksen PHAT Glow Facial Mask.
- VLCC Pomegranate & Aloe Vera Gentle Exfoliating Scrub
Forms of Exfoliation
There are three key types of exfoliation, each with different functions that work best for different skin types. A quick breakdown:
Physical Exfoliants
- What they are: Also known as mechanical exfoliators, these include products and treatments like face scrubs, polishes, cleansing brushes, microdermabrasion, and dermaplaning that lift and remove dead cells and dirt with friction.
- Key ingredients: Abrasive particles or granules such as fine sugar or salt, ground nut shells, cornmeal, or beads made from a natural ingredient like silica or jojoba.
Chemical Exfoliants
- What they are: Treatments such as face peels and cleansers, toners, masks, and leave-on skincare products (serums, moisturizers) containing acids or enzymes that loosen the bonds between dead skin cells so they can be dislodged.
- Key ingredients: Alpha hydroxy acids (or AHAs, like glycolic, lactic, citric, and mandelic acids), beta hydroxy acids (BHAs, e.g., salicylic acid), or gentle enzymes such as those derived from fruits like papaya.
Combination Exfoliants
- What they are: Rinse-off exfoliators that contain both physical and chemical exfoliating ingredients in one product in balanced concentrations.
- Key ingredients: A mix of one or more physical and chemical exfoliant ingredients.
Benefits
This is where exfoliation comes into play. Here are some benefits of exfoliation:
- Exfoliation creates a radiant, glowing complexion
- It helps moisturizers work more effectively
- It helps unclog pores and takes out impurities
- It is anti-aging
- It improves the circulation of blood in the body
- It prevents acne problem
Long-term exfoliating can increase collagen production. Collagen is key to glowing, vibrant skin. Moreover, the protein also promotes skin elasticity, minimizing the appearance of fine lines and related sagging.
Make sure to only exfoliate about 2-3 times a week to make sure you’re not harming your skin. When we are very young, our skin naturally sheds itself every week or two, up to every 4 weeks when we are teens.
The Best Schedule For You
Here is the best schedule for exfoliating your face according to your skin type.
Normal Skin
People with normal skin should start by exfoliating two to three times a week.
Dry, Sensitive Skin
For people with dry or sensitive skin, exfoliating twice a week is the maximum frequency dermatologist recommends. You may want to exfoliate only once a week or even every other week if you have products that can cause dryness and irritation.
Rosacea-Prone Skin
If you have rosacea, your dermatologist may recommend avoiding exfoliating so as not to cause further redness, irritation, or stinging.
Combination Skin
People with combination skin can typically exfoliate their face twice a week.
Oily Skin
If you have oily skin you can probably exfoliate two or three times a week, and possibly more often depending on what exfoliation method or product you use and how your skin reacts
How To Tell If You’re Exfoliating Too Much Or Too Little?
If you’re not exfoliating enough, you need a whole skincare routine. You may find your skin dull and lifeless, with built-up dead skin cells robbing your complexion of radiance. On the other end of the spectrum, over-exfoliating can leave skin red and uncomfortable. It disrupts the skin barrier, leaving it more exposed to pollution and other stressors, which can in turn lead to dehydrated skin and breakouts.
Precautions to Take When Exfoliating Skin
Exfoliating has essentially endless benefits for the skin, but there are some precautions we should all take. Dr. Magovern summarizes some key pointers for exfoliating:
- Don’t scrub too hard or too often if you’re using a beaded scrub.
- Be careful when using a loofah or other tools—you don’t need to do it all!
- Don’t use a chemical exfoliator too frequently if your skin gets dry and irritated.
- Try to use warm water, as hot water can be too harsh and lead to dry and irritated skin.
- Moisturize your skin after you exfoliate.