This week we’ve been talking a lot about skincare essentials. What do you classify as the most important part of your skincare routine? Lots of people fall into either the cleanse or the moisturise camp, but not so many were willing to put their name against exfoliating.
As a pro-exfoliator myself, I feel this is a real shame and a skincare concern that must be addresses ASAP! Perhaps it’s because people think of exfoliating as one extra step that is just too hard? Well let me tell you (soapbox time) that those recurring blackheads on your nose, that crop of pimples on your chin or even those fine lines on your forehead are LOVING the fact you find exfoliating that little bit too hard.
Why is exfoliating important? Well, it removes dead surface skin cells, which are often the cause of the following:
- Blocked pores and blemishes- dead skin cells contribute to the grime that clogs up pores, which if left to linger create blockages that can turn into blemishes!
- Dry skin- dead cell build up on the surface of your face makes it harder for moisturisers to sink into where they’re needed.
- Pigmentation or pimple ‘scars’- these are darkened cells that colour the skin. But the good news is you can break this tissue up and decrease discoloration with exfoliation!
So, how to properly exfoliate and what do you need?
There are two kinds of exfoliants in the beauty world. The first is a chemical exfoliant.
Chemical exfoliants dissolve the dry skin cells with the ingredients in the formula like Glycolic Acid, AHAs, BHA and enzymes. These are nothing to be afraid of – they are often naturally sourced, like the enzymes in the Elemis Papaya Peel or the lactic and glycolic acids in the First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads, thanks to gooseberry and cucumber. Whilst they might sound harsh, chemical exfoliants are often better for sensitive skin, as they are granule free so won’t irritate or scratch the surface of the skin.
Physical exfoliants are the ones that contain grains, meaning you manually have to do the work, rubbing and buffing them in. The Comvita Brightening Exfoliant with olive leaf extract contains tiny grains to rub away dead skin whilst brightening tone, and the Indio Facial Scrub’s salt from the Dead Sea does the same job.
So make sure to make a little time for exfoliants in your routine – they are more important than you think! (rant, over!)
Do you use an exfoliant? It is a chemical or physical one?