Exfoliation using an exfoliator or face scrub is a skincare technique that removes dead skin cells from the skin's top layer. Exfoliating your skin helps to brighten your complexion and allows your skin-care products to penetrate deeper into your skin.
Types Of Exfoliation
Mechanical Exfoliation: This is a top-down method that uses mechanical energy to exfoliate graphite. Most often, high-shear mixing and sonication are used. It is not easy to control the effectiveness of mechanical exfoliation.
Chemical exfoliation: Chemical Exfoliation is an expedited process to remove dead skin cells from your skin. This exfoliation method can be used in many ways to improve skin health.
How to exfoliate your skin
Mechanical Exfoliation
- It is suggested that you should use a soft, circular motion with a toothbrush or your favourite scrub to move around your face.
- Be light in your movements. Shah suggests that you think of it as a way to caress flowers petals, rather than rubbing stains out of your favorite shirt.
- So that your freshly exfoliated skin isn't irritated, rinse with lukewarm.
- Apply moisturizer to the face and pat dry. Do not skip this step--Dr. Shah states that exfoliation should be done every once in a while.
Chemical Exfoliation
- After cleansing, take your favourite chemical exfoliant. Use small circular movements to apply it.
- Follow the instructions on how long to wait before you rinse your face if it sits on your skin (like a peel). Use lukewarm water to lightly rinse your face if it's a facial wash.
- Apply moisturizer to the face and pat dry. Do not skip this step!
You might feel tempted to use exfoliants if you are in the middle of a breakout, but you should avoid using abrasive mechanical techniques. Exfoliation can cause more damage than good in many of my patients with acne.