Everyone wants to maintain that radiant, youthful, glowing skin. However, aging is inevitable, but you can still maintain a vibrant glow with proper exfoliation tips.
Exfoliation involves removing dead skin cells to restore soft, vibrant and healthy skin. It allows serums and moisturizers to penetrate through the skin. It also allows your foundation to slide smoothly rather than layering up on cracked skin. Are you wondering how this is possible? Here’s everything you need to know.
Why Is Exfoliation Important?
The skin renews itself regularly. The process takes place when the epidermis (outer layer) replaces dead cells with new ones. Although the skin sheds the dead cells, you can get rid of the old skin cells faster through exfoliation.
Accumulation of dead cells can make your skin dull or, worse still, block your skin pores. Skin pore blockage can result in acne and skin diseases like eczema. With exfoliation, you can bid goodbye to a dull look and reveal a healthier, smoother and more vibrant appearance that everyone admires.
Step-By-Step Guide for Face Exfoliation
If you don’t adhere to exfoliation tips, you may see no results or even worse, even if you use the right products. Here’s how you should exfoliate your face:
- Use warm water to cleanse your face
- Use a small amount of your exfoliant and rub your face gently in a circular motion
- Once you rub the skin, give it a while, and then rinse off with warm water
- Apply a moisturizer, serum or cream that’s ideal for your skin type
The Dos and Don’ts of Exfoliation
The Dos
There are physical and chemical exfoliants. Physical exfoliation involves the use of coarse particles like sugar and nutshells. If you’re not careful, the granules may damage your skin. On the other hand, chemical exfoliants contain enzymes and are gentle on your skin since you don’t have to rub them excessively.
A while after exfoliation, the skin may react adversely to UV rays. Sunscreen is important anyway, but after exfoliation, it is even more important to stay safe so that you don’t regret it later.
After exfoliation, make sure you rinse the skin to clear dead cells and dry it with a towel. Later, you can apply moisturizer to maintain that moist and radiant skin.
The skin renews itself at night, so getting rid of the dead skin in the morning is ideal. However, there is nothing wrong with exfoliating during any other time of the day.
One of the essential requirements for a successful exfoliation is warm water. Warm water helps soften the skin, get rid of natural oils and open up your pores. If you intend to exfoliate your whole body, taking a steamy bath before exfoliation can come in handy.
Your skin type requires specific skincare products. If you’re not sure about what should work well for your skin, consider visiting a dermatologist. Remember that the face and the neck are more sensitive than other parts. You will find people who use two separate exfoliants, one for the face and the other for the neck.
The Don’ts
Although you want to get yourself that radiant look faster, it’s important to note that over-exfoliating can do you more harm than good. Exfoliating once or two times a week is enough. Remember that exfoliating daily can result in dehydration and redness.
While exfoliating requires pressure, applying too much pressure can lead to micro-tearing. Always make sure you apply enough pressure just to feel a little bit of the texture.
Give the chemicals time to get rid of the dead skin. Let the ingredients sit on the skin for 15 to 30 minutes. Also, don’t forget to continue with your morning and evening skincare program.
It’s advisable to be gentle with your skin as much as possible. Therefore, it’s not advisable to exfoliate your skin if you’re under laser treatment or after bleaching. Don’t forget that waxing is similar to exfoliation, and it may rip your skin away.
Final Thoughts
These exfoliation tips will help you retain that smooth and healthy skin. However, avoid being too overwhelmed by the urge to look younger. Make sure you seek help from a skincare professional before you use any new product.