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In your quest to keep your skin glowing as fiercely as possible, exfoliation is a key process. While you don’t want to overdo it to the point of pain, a complete skin-care program definitely involves using exfoliating cream regularly to slough off the old, dead skin cells that aren’t doing you any favors sitting on your face.
Why Exfoliate
Your skin is an ever-changing organ, according to WebMD. Skin cells move from the bottom layer of the epidermis to the top layer over a period of about one month. If you leave those dead skin cells cluttering up your epidermis, you may start noticing dull, scaly, blotchy or blemished skin. Exfoliation is also helpful for setting up your skin to absorb the other products you slather onto it.
What to Choose?
You’ve got both natural and synthetic products to choose from for exfoliating. Beauty experts at Marie Claire magazine recommend natural fruit exfoliators because the natural enzymes in the fruit products may have a special ability to neutralize the dead cells on your skin. On the flip side, the experts at WebMD tell readers to avoid fruit exfoliators, suggesting synthetic products instead because they may be gentler. Experiment with both products to find something that sloughs your skin gently and leaves it happy.
How Often to Scrub
Whichever product you choose, you probably don’t need to exfoliate more often than twice a week. Watch your skin closely after you do the deed to make sure you didn’t overdo it. You might find that more frequent exfoliation helps you make it through the winter with healthier skin because lower humidity levels can make for more dead skin cells that need sloughing. You might also get away with a very gentle exfoliator in a daily shower routine.
Exfoliating Technique
Splash warm water onto your skin to get ready to exfoliate. Dip your fingers into the cream and gently spread the goodness over your skin in a circular motion. Gentle application is the key here -- exfoliation should never feel unpleasant or painful. After working the scrubbing beads into your skin for a minute or two, splash your skin with more warm water to rinse away the product. Pat your face dry lightly with a clean towel.
