Exfoliating your Skin the Right Way in 2023
Although you don't have to exfoliate every day, exfoliation is an essential component of any skincare regimen, especially if you want to achieve healthy, radiant skin. Exfoliating skincare routine aids in the removal of dead skin promotes cell renewal, avoids clogged pores, and evens out texture.
Exfoliation promotes the natural cell turnover process of your skin. Fresh cells are born in the epidermis's lowest layer, where this process starts. These fresh, springy cells ascend through the epidermis' additional layers until they come to the skin's surface.
Why Do We Need to Exfoliate Our Skin? (Exfoliating Skin Benefits)
Our skin cells regenerate every day, and when new cells take their place, the old ones that make up the outer layers of our skin die. Exfoliating makes sure that all of the dead cells are gone. If we don't get rid of the dead skin cells, our skin may look dull and eventually our pores may get clogged, which frequently results in acne breakouts or oily skin. Here are a few additional benefits of exfoliating.
- It helps to improve the appearance of your skin, lighten your complexion, and most importantly, helps prevent pore clogging, acne breakouts, blackheads, and whiteheads
- It stimulates collagen synthesis, which improves the texture and integrity of the skin and keeps it appearing lush, tight, and youthful
- It can reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines
- It enables deeper penetration of skincare. Serums, moisturizers, and masks enter the skin more thoroughly when there isn't a layer of dead skin cells in the way.
Different Skin Exfoliators Suited for Your Skin Type
Exfoliation procedures are classified as either physical or chemical. But they pursue the same objectives—removing dead skin cells, accelerating cell turnover, and leaving skin smoother and brighter—but do so in various ways.
Physical Exfoliation
Physical exfoliating products contain small particles such as coffee, jojoba beads, or sugar granules. To get the particles to work and buff away dead skin, you must actively rub the cream into the skin. Microdermabrasion procedures and any face mitt or washcloth with a rough surface that rubs away dead skin and debris are further examples of physical exfoliation.
Chemical Exfoliation
Chemical exfoliants are classified into three types: AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids), BHAs (beta hydroxy acids), and fruit enzymes. Do not be alarmed by the word "acid"; these compounds can be quite helpful for the skin. Acids help your dead skin cells loosen and slough off the skin by dissolving the "glue" that holds them together, as opposed to depending on mechanical action to remove them from your face.
The following are examples of common acids and enzymes:
- Glycolic Acid (AHA)
- Lactic Acid (AHA)
- Salicylic Acid (BHA)
-
Fruit Enzymes
Best Practices for Exfoliation
The recommended course of action for those just starting out with exfoliants is to use a milder treatment once or twice a week. You can gradually work your way up to daily exfoliation. One exfoliation product per day is advised, but switching between different exfoliants might be helpful once your skin can tolerate the products. If you're unsure about your skin type or the products that will best meet your needs and goals for skincare, see a dermatologist.
Depending on your skin type and concern, you may use a physical exfoliation, a chemical exfoliant, or a mix of the two. So, which approach suits your skin at best?
The best physical exfoliants have smaller, finer particles that aren't harsh on the skin. For a soft but powerful method of removing dead skin cells, physical exfoliants can also be combined with fruit enzymes in skincare formulations.
For dry, sensitive, and mature skin, a moderate exfoliant like bamboo extract helps promote cell renewal, revealing younger, smoother skin. Ideal for exfoliating dry skin, acne-prone skin, or skin with a compromised or sensitized skin barrier.
On skin types that require particular care during exfoliation, jojoba beads and rice powder are also effective while being soft and delicate.
For normal or mixed skin, Icelandic volcanic sand is a gentle exfoliant that can help regenerate the skin's top layer to encourage a more youthful-looking complexion.
For oily, acne-prone skin, exotic Polynesian sand's ultra-fine texture offers moderate exfoliation to help remove pore-clogging debris and promote a brighter appearance for oily skin.
So, which formulas are gentle enough for even the most sensitive, dry, it, or inflamed complexion?
Your best option for exfoliating skin at home is choosing a product with natural fruit enzymes or exfoliating acids like glycolic, lactic, and salicylic acid. Instead of physically scrubbing or brushing off dead skin cells, these elements from the soil basically dissolve them. While for physical exfoliants, you can use a naturally derived Konjac sponge. This 100% organic physical exfoliator can be used every day to gently exfoliate skin without any irritation. But always keep in mind that the best exfoliating skin method for you may not be as effective for others.
Avoid these Exfoliation Mistakes
So, how to exfoliate face without damaging skin? Or is it even possible? Although exfoliating is very crucial to our skincare routine, over-exfoliating skin is counterproductive. Even though exfoliating is beneficial for our skin, doing it too frequently or with an exfoliator that is excessively abrasive or irritating to our skin can have unfavorable effects including peeling, flaking, and redness. Because the duration varies amongst products, use caution when letting your exfoliant sit. Physical exfoliants should be used for no more than a few minutes, while chemical exfoliants should only be left on as long as the package suggests.
How to Exfoliate the Skin Naturally
A konjac facial sponge is a natural skincare tool made from the konjac plant root, which is native to Asia. It is a gentle exfoliating sponge that helps cleanse and nourish the skin. When soaked in water, the sponge becomes soft and spongy, making it ideal for daily facial cleansing.
The benefits of using a konjac facial sponge are numerous. Firstly, it effectively removes dirt, oil, and impurities from the skin, leaving it fresh and clean. The sponge also gently exfoliates the skin, helping to remove dead skin cells and unclog pores, resulting in a smoother and brighter complexion.
Konjac sponges are suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin, as they are gentle and non-irritating. They help balance the natural pH levels of the skin and promote better absorption of skincare products. Additionally, the konjac plant root contains natural vitamins and minerals that can nourish and hydrate the skin, leaving it soft and supple.
Exfoliating Sensitive Skin
Is your complexion reactive? Don't worry. Exfoliation is still safe for people with sensitive skin. Simply put, it needs to be done in a different way. We advise using light exfoliants when exfoliating.
Anyone with sensitive skin should choose for gentler exfoliation methods, such as a chemical exfoliant pad or a wash with a low concentration of an AHA or BHA. Organic konjac sponges, on the other hand, are ideal for all skin types if you're looking for a more delicate physical exfoliant.
Konjac sponges can be used for more than just facial cleansing; there are also konjac sponges for body use that have the ability to gently cleanse or exfoliate your entire body. In fact, their gentleness factor can even remove makeup from your eyes.
Konjac sponges are the best exfoliating scrub for sensitive skin because they are made from natural konjac root (a spongy vegetable native in Asia) and were originally developed by Japanese farmers to cleanse a baby's skin, so they're a much subtler way to exfoliate dead or dry skin during your daily face wash.
If you enjoy the feel of a physical exfoliant, like a cleansing brush, this facial exfoliating scrub could be a wonderful and milder alternative to your routine, especially if you have sensitive skin. Initially, it might look like a rough kitchen scrubber, but once you rinse it with water, the best konjac sponge is as soft as cotton.
While there is no one-fits-all solution for exfoliating your skin without are irritation at all, choosing the best products and methods can be very crucial, especially if you aim for healthy glowing skin without any visible exfoliation side effects.