Radiant and glowing skin, don’t we all want that? To achieve it, getting rid of dead skin cells by exfoliating regularly is a must. There are two types of exfoliation methods to choose from to help us achieve a smooth and glowing complexion: manual/physical exfoliation or chemical exfoliation. Both methods can be very beneficial, below you will find more information on both methods.
Manual exfoliation
Manual exfoliation refers to the use of products containing tiny grains, such as jojoba beads, to manually exfoliate your skin with your hands or with tools like a brush. Benefits of this type of exfoliation include stimulation of blood circulation and quick results that can be seen immediately after. When doing manual exfoliation, a misconception is that the harder you scrub, the better, but truly, being gentle with the skin when doing manual exfoliation is very important.
Manual exfoliation products
Why we love it:
This product combines both the benefits of manual and chemical exfoliation. It leaves skin soft and radiant.
Why we love it:
Formulated with spherical jojoba beads, this exfoliator effectively removes dead skin cells without any damage to the skin.
Why we love it:
By combining natural microbeads and hydrating ingredients, this product is gentle yet effective.
Chemical exfoliation
Although the word chemical may have a negative connotation, there is nothing negative to chemical exfoliation, in fact, it is quite gentle when done correctly. These exfoliating products use acids such as AHAs (Alpha Hydroxy Acids) and BHAs (Beta Hydroxy Acids) to lift dead skin cells. One of the benefits of chemical exfoliants is that they do not require manual scrubbing that can lead to micro-tears in the skin. Furthermore, they help target a wider scope of skin concerns, such as uneven texture, sun damage, and enlarged pores. The key when it comes to chemical exfoliants is to not over-do it. It’s also important to make sure to not use these acid treatments at the same time as ingredients such as retinoids, which could lead to irritation of the skin.
Chemical exfoliation products
Why we love it:
This mask contains a unique blend of asiatic, lactic and andelic acids which offers amazing benefits in terms of exfoliation and anti-aging.
Why we love it:
This lotion exfoliant formula is great for normal skin or oily skin prone to light acne, blackheads, dilated pores or ingrown hairs.
Why we love it:
With 8% glycolic and 4% lactic acid, this lotion helps with skin texture, tone and smoothness.
How to incorporate exfoliants into your routine
When it comes to incorporating exfoliants into your routine, it often seems unclear how often you should be using them. It all depends on your skin type and how much your skin can handle, but it is recommended to exfoliate around two times a week. If your skin is reactive, exfoliating once a week may be enough. On the other hand, if your skin is quite resilient, you could go up to three times. You should also avoid exfoliating two days in a row, your skin needs that downtime. It is possible to incorporate both manual and chemical exfoliation. For example, if you’re exfoliating three times a week, two times could be chemical and the third could be manual.
All in all, if you want glowing and radiant skin, exfoliation is a must. Regardless of your skin type, there is a product out there for you, the key is to not over-do-it, start slowly, and then you will see the results you were looking for.
