Exfoliating your skin is important part of your routine to keep skin fresh and bright. When we’re young, our skin renews itself roughly every 28 days. At the end of your 20’s, this renewal process slows down, and creates a buildup of cells that can clog pores and alter skin texture. The good news is that exfoliating sheds the dead skin cells that may be causing buildup, dryness or an overall dull appearance and gives you younger, brighter looking skin. It also allows your other skincare products to work better because it removes the barrier, so they can penetrate your skin better.
When your skin is ready for a good shedding, it will let you know. Here are five signs your skin is ready for an exfoliation:
- Your skin feels oily/clogged: If your skin is feeling oily, especially after wearing makeup or masks, you may have accumulated too much debris on your skin. A quick, at-home exfoliant 2-3 times a week is a great remedy for any buildup on the skin.
- Your skin is feeling dry, peeling or bumpy: If you’re seeing new bumps or patches of scaly skin (not caused by sunburn), it is your green light to exfoliate.
- You’ve spent too much time in the sun: We recommend exfoliating at the end of summer. During months of high sun exposure, the skin thickens and begins to peel. It’s important to remove this excess skin, but make sure to never exfoliate when you have a sunburn! Remember to wear sunscreen and to reapply if you are in the sun for a long period of time.
- Products aren’t absorbing: If your products feel like they aren’t sinking into your skin and just sitting on top, it’s a good sign there’s buildup and it’s time for an exfoliation.
- If retinoids aren’t a part of your skincare routine: Retinoids are derived from vitamin A and are significant in cell growth and producing collagen. Cell turnover slows as we age, so you are more prone to buildup and may need help removing it.
If you think it’s time to exfoliate, it’s important to remember that skincare isn’t universal. Less is better when it comes to home-exfoliation and remember to go very slowwwly in your approach. It’s easy to over or under-exfoliate. The key is finding the right fit for your skin type and not over drying your skin. Also, before exfoliating, consider the products you’re already using. Some medications or retinol may worsen your dry skin with exfoliation, so you’ll want to be cautious of this. You’ll also want to consider your skin-type. It’s also important to remember your moisturizer after each exfoliation to keep your skin healthy and moisturized.
Here are some of our favorite home exfoliants:
- Blissoma Glow Good Earth
- Josh Rosebrook Enzyme exfoliant mask
- Truth peppermint salicylic cleanser
- Josh Rosebrook Active Infusion Oil
- Josh Rosebrook Acid Toner
If you have any questions about what type of exfoliation you should be using and how often, our team of estheticians are here to help. Give us a call to schedule a consult: 727-656-9096