What is Exfoliation?

What is Exfoliation?

Exfoliation is the removal of dead cells from the outermost surface of your skin by physical or chemical methods.

Skin cells experience a lot of wear and tear due to environmental exposure. The dead cells of your skin are shed off naturally, and are constantly replaced by new skin cells growing underneath. This is known as cellular turnover, and normally takes 28 to 45 days in an average adult.

However, dead cells shed by your skin can get deposited on the skin surface. This can lead to an uneven skin tone or even acne breakouts. Including a well chosen exfoliator for your skin removes the build up of dead cells, speeds up cell turnover and brightens your complexion.

How To Exfoliate Your Face?

While the benefits of exfoliation are many, there isn’t one method that suits all. Before choosing an exfoliation method, you should know your skin type. Most importantly, special skin conditions such as hypersensitive skin, rosacea, etc. need to be kept in mind. In such cases, you should consult a dermatologist or avoid exfoliating all together.

Here are some simple steps to set up an exfoliation routine at your home:

Step 1: Choose the right products

Choosing the right exfoliator is of primary importance. You need to consider not only your skin type, but also which part of the body you wish to exfoliate. Hence, you cannot use an exfoliation product meant for the body on the delicate skin of your face and vice versa. Also, tougher regions like your heels or elbows might need special attention.

Do keep in mind that your facial skin may cycle between oily and dry or normal to sensitive based on various factors. So, you may need to change the exfoliation product accordingly.

Step 2: Applying the exfoliator right

When using a physical exfoliator such as a face scrub, apply it on a clean, dry face, avoiding the region around your eyes. If you are using a serum based chemical exfoliator, apply a few drops to your face just before using a moisturiser.

Step 3: Getting the exfoliator to work

While using a face scrub, massage it gently on your skin with wet fingers. If you are using serum based chemical exfoliators, use dry fingers to evenly massage the product onto your face.

Step 4: Wash off

If you’re using the face scrub, rinse it off completely with lukewarm water. A serum based chemical exfoliator will however have to be left on.

Step 5: Moisturise

It is very important to apply a moisturiser on your face immediately after exfoliation. This will prevent any damage and keep your skin hydrated.