Scrub, brush, or sponge, effective exfoliation can be a minefield.
You’re aiming for glowing, but what you get is aggravated. Exfoliation is a sensitive business, when done well, it reveals smooth, radiant, and younger looking skin, but if it goes awry, it can trigger both short and long-term damage, and not to mention angry looking skin.
There are many different ways to exfoliate the skin. Mechanical exfoliation uses friction to remove dead skin, by way of electrical face brushes which can be used daily when applied correctly. Otherwise there are many scrubs which vary in intensity, or harder bristled brushes which should be used more sparingly.
There is no real consensus as to how often to exfoliate as it depends on your skin and the climate in which you live, meaning it is important to react to how your skin behaves. Both over and under-exfoliation can be evident on the skin, with under-exfoliation preventing topical ingredients from absorbing, leaving the skin looking dull and lacklustre. Whereas too much exfoliation can strip the skin of natural oils, leaving skin looking, and feeling, irritated and sensitive.
Here we give you some top tips for how to strike the balance between a clean sweep and exfoliation overkill, to get rid of impurities and leftover dirt.
DO’S
Start off by exfoliating once or twice a week, preferably at night.
Be gentle and understand your skin type. For dry skin, be gentle, and in the case of oily skin do not be too aggressive, but do exfoliate more frequently.
Always apply sun-cream in general, but especially after exfoliating.
DON’TS
Do not over exfoliate, and most certainly do not exfoliate every day.
Avoid applying too much pressure when you’re exfoliating using a mechanical method.
Ensure you don’t exfoliate irritated skin, bearing in mind that waxing is a form of exfoliation.
Take a break from exfoliation if your skin is being treated with lasers, and before or after sunbathing.
By Eliza Scarborough
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