What Is Exfoliation And Its Benefits For Healthy Skin

Exfoliation can seem like an intimidating word to say, let alone do on your skin, but it doesn’t have to be. This simple process of removing dead skin cells has many benefits to the health of your skin and its appearance that you won’t want to miss out on, so don’t let exfoliation intimidate you any longer! Here are the top ten benefits of exfoliation and how you can start using them today.

What is exfoliation?

Exfoliation refers to any process that removes dead skin cells from your body. It can refer to chemical or mechanical treatment. Both have benefits, but there are pros and cons to each one. Mechanical exfoliants include brushes, scrubs, and cloths that slough off dead skin through abrasion. Chemical exfoliants include fruit acids like glycolic acid, lactic acid, and malic acid. Some of these are derived naturally from foods (like milk) while others are man-made in labs. The best exfoliator depends on what you’re using it for (face or body) and how quickly you want results.

What are the benefits of exfoliating your skin?

Exfoliating your skin regularly can help to keep it healthy, but many people don’t know how exactly it benefits their skin. Exfoliating your skin stimulates cell growth and prevents clogged pores. It also improves blood circulation and removes dead skin cells, which allows you to achieve a more radiant complexion. Exfoliating is recommended at least once a week in order to keep your skin looking smooth and feeling soft. To reap these exfoliation benefits, try using products with enzymes or acids that act as gentle exfoliants without being abrasive on your delicate facial features.

How often should you exfoliate?

There’s no right answer, but a good rule of thumb is to start with three times per week and work your way up from there. Exfoliating removes built-up dead skin cells, revealing younger, fresher layers. If you want to use an exfoliant more than once per day, it’s important to let your skin recover overnight between sessions. For example, wash off any exfoliant from nighttime before you apply a new product in the morning.

At what age should you start exfoliating?

Although you may be tempted to start exfoliating as soon as possible, your skin needs a little help before it’s ready. Exfoliating too early can irritate your skin and cause redness or flaking, which isn’t very attractive to anyone. If you have mature or photo-damaged skin, wait until after age 35 before jumping into exfoliation—you’ll thank yourself later. If you have oily skin with occasional breakouts, consider adding mild chemical exfoliants to your routine beginning in your 20s. Just use them twice a week; overdoing it can leave you looking like an oil slick.

Are there any side effects from too much exfoliating?

While exfoliating can leave your skin feeling refreshed and smooth, it is possible to overdo it with scrubs and chemical peels. If you do a heavy chemical peel or use microdermabrasion too often. Your skin may get irritated. You might even end up damaging your skin’s protective barrier. For healthy, younger-looking skin, try a simple scrub that helps keep dead cells off of your face as opposed to deep-cleaning away every bit of natural oil and moisture on your face. That way you can enjoy exfoliating benefits without worrying about drying out your skin in the process.

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