You’ve probably heard of the term exfoliate; a lot of people have! However, many don’t know what it is or how to use it. In fact, exfoliators are often confused as cleansers, but they should NOT be used as one. They are both entirely different products with different purposes. So, what exactly is an exfoliant and how should it be used on your skin?
Exfoliators are products that are used to help remove your body’s dead skin cells on the skin’s outermost surface. Our body naturally exfoliates itself, but it takes a long time doing it and often leaves dead skin behind. This can cause clogged pores and dry skin.
Before we tell you how to use exfoliators, we want you to know that there are two types of exfoliants, physical and chemical.
Physical exfoliation requires scrubbing your skin with an exfoliator. You can do this with your hands, luffas, and bath mittens! This type of exfoliation can be done at home!
On the other hand, chemical scrubs can be done at home, but if you want a drastic chemical scrub, it should be done by a professional. An example of a chemical exfoliator is a chemical peel. Peels involve placing face acids on the skin that absorb all the dead skin cells.
Unclogs pores
Prevents acne
Evens skin tone
Increases cell turnover
Stimulates collagen
Now that you know what an exfoliator is and some of its benefits, how do you exfoliate? The first thing you should know is that you should be exfoliating two to three times a week. You need to make sure to never exfoliate two days in a row!
You should not only be exfoliating your face, but you should also exfoliate your body! To exfoliate just apply the exfoliant of your choosing and gently rub it on the area that you want in circular motions. You should do this for about 30 seconds and rinse with lukewarm water. If you have any cuts or burns, then you should avoid exfoliating those areas.
