Exfoliation is Essential for Your Skin
Author: Anna Wilen Clark
Why exfoliation is essential for your skin?
Did you know that your skin is constantly regenerating itself? In fact, even as you’re reading this, the cells in the outer layer of your skin (the epidermis) are reproducing themselves and pushing new, fresh skin cells outwards as the ones towards the surface die and flake away. This constant regeneration process is so effective that you actually have new skin every 27 days!
You may be feeling a little grossed-out by this idea, but the constant renewal of the skin’s surface is part of what keeps your skin soft, supple and young. As you age, however, this process slows down and a build-up of dead skin cells can occur. The result is tired, dull and dry-looking skin.
Exfoliation is the answer to this build-up, sloughing away dead skin cells for a fresh and healthy feel. When you exfoliate you make way for fresh new cells, allowing your skincare products to penetrate more deeply, as well as tackling well-known skin problems at their source. Here are some of the many advantages of making exfoliation a regular part of your beauty routine:
Exfoliate for smoother, softer skin
Regular removal of the surface skin cells doesn’t just clear the way for new cells, it actually stimulates the regeneration process and encourages new growth. Regular exfoliation helps transform your complexion from tired and rough to a soft, healthy glow! You’ll even find that building exfoliation into your regular skincare routine actually reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles for soft, smooth and radiant skin.
Exfoliation tackles acne and oily skin
Skin prone to acne actually sheds more skin cells than other types of skin. While this should be a good thing – after all, the loss of more dead cells means more new cells below – with this skin type, the dead cells tend to stick to the skin rather than flaking away. The dead cells collect, building up to clog hair follicles and pores. To deal with the blockage, the skin produces extra oils, resulting in breakouts and blackheads – all part of the viscious cycle.
Oily, acne-prone skin benefits from regular exfoliation as removing the excess dead skin cells tackles the problem at source: no blockage means no extra oils, so less breakouts.
Exfoliation helps fight the signs of ageing
The skin constantly exfoliates itself by shedding old skin cells, but as we age this process slows down and becomes less effective, which is why it’s time to give it a helping hand. If left to its own devices, the skin slowly develops a barrier of old skin cells which leaves your skin looking old and tired.
Without exfoliation, the skin becomes dry and less elastic, and fine lines and wrinkles begin to appear. The texture of your skin is no longer soft and smooth and loses its colour and shine. By removing the dead cells you are encouraging the renewal process, reducing wrinkles and restoring a natural glow to the surface of your skin. Effectively, by exfoliating you brush away the signs of age.
Exfoliating your skin gives you a better shave
One of the lesser known benefits of regular exfoliation is a better, closer shave. Facial and body exfoliation before shaving removes a build-up of dead cells that could actually be clogging your razor blade as you shave. The result is a clean shave for super-smooth skin.
Get the best from your skincare products
You can get the most expensive moisturiser in the world, but if your pores are clogged then it won’t be absorbed. Improve absorption of your skincare products by clearing away the barrier of dead skin cells that’s between you and your creams. Regular exfoliation clears your skin for easier and more effective moisturisation, cleansing and more: make-up should go on more smoothly and sunscreen should create a better barrier between you and harmful, ageing UV rays.
How to exfoliate safely
While exfoliation is essential for healthy, younger-looking skin, your choice of scrub is also an important choice. Exfoliation can be carried out using harsh chemical scrubs which strip away the ‘glue’ that holds dead skin cells in place, or by manually applying an abrasive scrub and rubbing it over your skin. Your skin is a living organism that literally absorbs what is applied to it, which is great for moisturising but care needs to be taken when harsh chemicals are used. Your skin will absorb those into your body, too.
Actually, a gentle natural scrub is all that is needed for deep-down healthy skin. Choose one that contains soft, rounded particles, such as our yummy coffee scrub for body and face, rather than one with rough, sharp particles which can cause damage to your skin. Exfoliating just once a week is all that’s needed to keep your skin looking fresh, healthy and young.