How to Properly Exfoliate Your Skin?

Have you ever wondered why some of the cosmetic products you use do not work? A good explanation for that can be a lack of an exfoliation routine. Exfoliation is the procedure of using either chemical or physical exfoliants to remove dead and old skin cells. It is a procedure that affects the outer layer of the skin, or otherwise referred to as the epidermis. The body has its mechanisms of shedding old and dead skin and that process is referred to as desquamation. The desquamation process is usually slow on people with oily skin. This is because the oil on the skin acts as a binding agent and thus slows down the process of shedding dead and old skin cells. However, this does not have to be a hindrance when you want soft and glowing skin. You have to exfoliate your skin with either chemical or physical means. You can read on to find out what is chemical and physical exfoliation and the difference between the two. 

Chemical exfoliant

A chemical exfoliant can be a scary word to some because of the danger of any chemical reaction. But this does not have to be the case because there are chemical exfoliants that have been proven to be safe for cosmetic application. Though it is important to point out there is still some research done on their long-term effect so make sure to exercise due diligence before making any purchases. There are three major types and they can be categorized as AHA and BHA exfoliants. Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) is a chemical exfoliant that is water-based and it works by dissolving the dead skin to pave the way for newly regenerated skin cells. Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA) is an oil-based exfoliant and it works best for people who have combination, sensitive, and oily skin types. The best time to apply the exfoliant is in the evening when there are no ultraviolet rays. Use a moisturizer afterward to prevent breakout because of skin dehydration.

Physical exfoliant

A physical exfoliant involves the use of grain-like objects to scrub off the dead skin from your skin. Most people do not prefer this method because of the tedious process of continually rubbing the exfoliant on the skin. It takes time and you have to be gentle for the process to be successful. It is a less intrusive procedure because there is no chemical reaction on the skin. There are a lot of objects you can use to exfoliate and they can be synthetic or simple household items. There are synthetic products like plastic microbeads that can be used as an exfoliant. Plastic microbeads products will contain substances like polypropylene, polyethylene, nylon-11, polymethyl methacrylate, and nylon-6 on its ingredients list. You can also use natural and household substances like sugar, finely grounded oatmeal, baking soda, or salt to exfoliate. You can incorporate a physical exfoliant into your daily routine and the method of application will vary depending on the exfoliating agent. The rougher the agent the least amount of pressure you are to use and it is recommended that you use a circular rubbing motion when exfoliating.