Now is the perfect time to get rid of all those dead skin cells from the long cold winter. It's time to renew more healthy and vibrant skin for the warmer months ahead. There are so many different kinds of exfoliants out there so here are some of my guidelines to help you navigate.
If you have sensitive skin once a week should be enough but if you have more oily or thicker skin, you could do twice a week depending on what kind of exfoliant you use.
The benefits of exfoliation are:
Minimize pores
Reduce acne and breakouts
Hides wrinkles
Improves skin texture
Leaves skin healthy and glowing
Here is a breakdown of some of the different kinds of exfoliants...
Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA's) are best for drier and more sun damaged skin. Alpha Hydroxy Acids exfoliate the surface of the skin but isn't drying like some others. It also helps promote collagen production. AHA's come from a variety of natural sources such as glycolic acid from sugar cane, citric acid from citrus fruits and lactic acid from milk.
Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA's)are better for more oily skins and those prone to breakouts. They help cleanse inside the pores, it's antibacterial and can reduce redness and inflammation. A common BHA is salicylic acid from willow bark.
Enzymatic peels containing papaya and pineapple extracts help dissolve proteins from the surface of the skin.
There are also physical scrubs made with oatmeal, sugar, salt, walnut etc that are more abrasive but also do the job.
If you have very sensitive skin, rosacea or another skin condition that causes inflammation steer clear of anything too harsh or gritty, and I suggest doing a test patch first. It is common to have a tingling feeling especially when using chemical exfoliants but it shouldn't be painful. It's important to know that some exfoliants are suitable to use when pregnant and can make you more sensitive to the sun.
It's important to use the right kind of products or you could be causing more harm than good. If you need help finding out what products are best suited for you I offer a Healthy Skin Analysis. You can learn more here https://www.glowingskinbeginswithin.com/skinhealth
It's time to get Glowing!
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