How To Exfoliate The Right Way

If you do not already include an exfoliant in your skincare routine, it may be time you started! Exfoliants have come a long way over the last few decades, and gone are the days that you just used them to manually scrub dead skin cells off your face (leaving your skin red and irritated in the process).

We’re big believers in using functional skincare here at Miami MD, so anything that can bring back that dewy, youthful glow is something we want our ladies to do.

Knowing how to exfoliate safely and effectively is vital, and we have everything you need to know about adding exfoliants into your routine.

What Is Exfoliation?

For starters, do you know what exfoliation is? The term gets thrown around a lot, but the actual science behind what they are and how they work is fascinating.

The primary purpose of either chemical or physical exfoliation is to remove the layer of dead skin cells that build up on the outside of the skin. Our skin is naturally constantly working to renew itself.

The process takes about 30 days (give or take a few days, depending on your age). 

This process is also constantly occurring, and dermatologists believe we shed about 30,000 to 40,000 dead skin cells in a single day, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.

As great as our body is at being able to shed those cells naturally, there are times that the turnover rate slows down, or our skin is less efficient at getting rid of the dead skin cells. The build-up of those cells can make the skin look dull and tired, and that’s where exfoliation comes in.

When we wash our face, exfoliation can help scrub the dead skin cells off of the epidermis. However, we can up the ante even more by using exfoliation. 

Here are just a few of the benefits of learning how to exfoliate:

• Helps reduce the appearance of clogged pores
• Reduce the risk of breakouts for acne-prone skin
• Helps products penetrate deeper into the skin
• Aids a brighter appearance of the skin tone
• Works to support circulation and lymphatic drainage
• Supports cell turnover
• Promotes collagen synthesis
• Decreases the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles

Ultimately, exfoliants are just one more tool that you can use to help your skin look and feel as healthy as possible.

Exfoliation Methods

There are two different methods that you can use to exfoliate your skin – mechanical and chemical. Each has slightly different advantages and disadvantages, so make sure to take your specific skin into account the type of exfoliation you choose.

Mechanical Exfoliation

Although it still has its benefits, mechanical exfoliation is the old-school way of exfoliating the skin. These are the physical methods that use force to remove the dead skin cells from the top layer of the skin, but they can lead to micro-tears in the skin if not done carefully.

Here are a few examples:

• Exfoliating brushes — These have been gaining popularity again recently, and you may have heard of a new way of using them, known as “dry brushing.” Essentially, exfoliating brushes use bristles to remove the dead skin cells manually.
• Exfoliating scrubs — Exfoliating scrubs are those with tiny beads or other materials in them that you can feel scrubbing your skin when you use them. These are applied with your fingertips in a circular motion and washed off immediately afterward.
• Exfoliating gloves/sponges — Although these are for the body and not the face, exfoliating gloves and sponges can help the rest of your body look more radiant as well. Just apply your bath products in the shower and scrub away!

Chemical Exfoliation

When most people talk about exfoliating the skin, they’re doing so with chemical exfoliants in mind. While chemical exfoliants physically remove dead cells using force, they also help to dissolve the bonds between them on a microscopic level.

Dissolving the bonds allows you to gently wipe them off your face using a cotton pad or washcloth. Here are three common ingredients used in this process:

• Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) — AHAs are water-soluble acids applied to the skin’s surface. Common AHAs include glycolic acid, citric acid, and lactic acid. AHAs work best for people with dry skin.
• Beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs) — BHAs, like salicylic acid, are oil-soluble. They work best for people with a more oily skin type, as they can get deeper into the pore to work.
• Polyhydroxy acids (PHAs) — PHAs are newer to the skincare market and include lactobionic acid and maltobionic acid. They tend to work better for people with sensitive skin, as they have a larger molecular shape, so they don’t penetrate as deeply into the pores. A mild chemical exfoliator with PHAs can be a great way to keep your skin fresh without causing irritation.

How To Exfoliate Safely

Safe exfoliation is key to being able to see the benefits of using these products. Rushing in too quickly can damage the skin and can also be very uncomfortable. You also need to consider your skin type, as different techniques work best for various skin types.

Take it Easy

No matter what method or ingredients you go with, though, it’s essential to always be gentle with your skin and use very light strokes! 

It’s tempting to want to scrub harder or use exfoliants more frequently in an attempt to get quicker results, but it doesn’t work that way. You should avoid exfoliating any areas that have wounds or open cuts.

Slow and steady wins the race with exfoliants every time.

If you’re using chemical exfoliation (which we recommend), use as little of the product as you can to cover your face. More products don’t equal quicker or better results but may lead to an increased risk of irritation instead.

Start Fresh

Always start with a clean face. If you don’t cleanse your face before exfoliating, you’re essentially throwing the product away because it will be unable to penetrate as deeply into the skin as it needs to.

Cleansing your face leaves your pores more open and able to accept the remainder of your products, making them more effective than they would be on their own. 

In general, exfoliation happens after cleansing. If you’re using a toner-based exfoliant, you’ll want to apply it after your skin has been patted dry. 

If you’re using a serum-based exfoliant, like Miami MD’s Dark Spot Corrector, you’ll use them after your cleansing and toning routine.

End On a High Note

You will always want to end your skincare routine with a quality, supportive moisturizer like a cream. Dry skin can create its own issues, so make sure to give it the moisture it needs to stay firm and radiant. If your skin begins to peel, it may indicate that the products you are using are too harsh.

Also, make sure that you’re staying aware of any irritation that is occurring. The same goes for excessive tightness, redness, or flaking. If you notice those symptoms, it isn’t a situation where you want to just “power through.” Remember to always listen to what your skin is trying to tell you.

If any of those symptoms occur, limit the exfoliation step to no more than twice a week. If that doesn’t work, you may want to take a break and rehydrate your skin before trying again. While irritation persists, focus on using very gentle cleansers and always make sure to rinse the product off your face thoroughly.

With how easy it can be to overwhelm the skin, starting slowly to build up your skin’s tolerance to the process is essential.

Don’t Forget To Use Sunscreen!

Although everyone should wear sunscreen regularly, it is even more critical for people who are using exfoliants. Because exfoliants can increase the skin’s turnover rate, it is constantly working to renew itself. The renewal process, while crucial, can also leave the skin more vulnerable than it usually would be to the damaging rays of the sun.

Adding sunscreen to your skincare routine and reapplying every two hours when you’re outside in the sun is essential to keeping your skin looking youthful and healthy for as long as possible.

When looking for sunscreen, the most crucial factor in choosing one you know you’ll regularly wear! If you don’t want to apply it to your skin, Whether that means a clear sunscreen, a spray, or SPF included in your moisturizer or foundation, if you don’t want to apply it on your skin, it’s not going to be very helpful.

In addition, the American Cancer Society recommends choosing a sunscreen that has broad-spectrum protection against both UVA and UVB rays, with an SPF of at least 30. Broad-spectrum protection works to keep your skin as safe as possible, not only against premature aging but also more concerning health issues. You can look beautiful and stay healthy for far longer when you make a point to use sunscreen regularly.

In Conclusion

Learning how to exfoliate safely can make a significant difference in your skin’s health and appearance. When you use the right products and support your skin with the hydration it needs, you can unleash the beautiful, radiant skin you’ve ever wanted.

With Miami MD’s functional skincare products, you can look good doing it.

Sources:

What kids should know about how skin grows | AAD

Dry skin: Overview | AAD

Choose the Right Sunscreen | American Cancer Society