The Importance of Exfoliation

Most women are so busy, we’re lucky if we manage to take off our makeup and wash our faces before we collapse into bed. It’s a bonus if we manage to moisturise. But exfoliation is a step we often skip, as many of us see it as a luxury, and not all that important in our day to day beauty regime. But we’ve got news for you. It turns out that exfoliating is a key element of a good skin care routine and has all sorts of benefits you’re probably not even aware of.

But before we launch into them, here’s a quick definition:

What is exfoliation?

Exfoliation refers to the removal of dead skin cells on the skin’s surface. It can be performed mechanically, using abrasive scrubs on the skin, or chemically, by using scrubs that contain special kinds of acids that dissolve and remove dead cells without scrubbing.

Why is exfoliating important?

As we age, the process of cell regeneration slows down. This means the body is slower to shed dead skin cells and generate new ones. When old skin cells pile up on the surface of the skin, it can leave it looking dull, rough, and dry. Furthermore, the build-up of cells can result in excess oil and clogged pores – leading to dreaded blackheads and acne. Exfoliation removes the barrier of cells clogging the skin and uncovers new cells below. This opens the way for moisturising products to penetrate deeply into the skin, leaving it looking fresh and healthy.

What’s the best way to exfoliate?

The best type of exfoliation depends on your complexion and the sensitivity of your skin. If you use a manual exfoliating scrub, choose one with smooth, round granules rather than jagged, rough ones, to avoid injuring your skin. Be gentle with the scrub – a light touch is all you need to remove those dead skin cells. Any more than that and you’re going to irritate your skin.

If you choose chemical exfoliation, then peels and masks that contain alpha or beta hydroxy acids provide a deep level of exfoliation. If you have sensitive skin, you may be wise to look for natural peels that contain fruit derived enzymes.

Alternatively, you can make your own DIY body scrub by following our advice in this blog post.

The benefits of exfoliation

If you’re still not convinced about exfoliation, here are four great reasons why you should exfoliate – tonight.

It helps clear acne and spots

Exfoliation helps reduce the occurrence of acne and blackhead breakouts. Acne-prone skin sheds more skin cells than other skin types, but the cells do not fall away. Instead, they stick to the skin, clogging pores and hair follicles. As this dead cell debris builds, the skin produces excess follicle oils – which lead to blackheads and blemishes.

It gives you younger looking skin

As we age, our skin becomes drier and less elastic, which results in lines and wrinkles. Our skin also becomes rougher in texture because of the multiple layers of dead skin cells that accumulate over the years.

Regular exfoliation stimulates blood circulation and helps our skin maintain its freshness. It’s also a great way to lighten sunspots. Exfoliators containing retinoid compounds such as Retinu are effective and safe options to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

It reduces the appearance of large pores

Along with dead cells, exfoliating also removes the dirt stuck deep inside your pores. Washing your skin alone will not accomplish this. When pores become clogged, they appear larger, which is the last thing we all want. By ‘decongesting’ your pores through exfoliation, they will diminish in size and give your skin a healthy polished glow.

It removes grease

Another reason to exfoliate is it removes the skin’s excess oil and grease. If you have greasy skin, exfoliation can be particularly helpful as it unblocks the pores and controls sebum build-up.