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Exfoliants remove dead cells, exposing the smooth, undamaged skin layers beneath. If your skin doesn't shed the dead layers, your skin is covered in rough, dry clusters of dead cells that even makeup won't conceal. Combining two parts olive oil to one part sugar creates a cheap exfoliant, safe enough for all skin types. How often you use this sweet exfoliant depends on your skin type and its current condition.
Normal Skin
If you have the type of skin that isn't too dry or too oily and rarely breaks out, consider yourself lucky. This type of skin is the most healthiest, shedding most of the dead layers of cells naturally. Because the olive oil and sugar exfoliant deep-cleanses the skin down to the pores, you should still exfoliate one or twice a month. Over-exfoliating, especially when it isn't needed, leaves your skin red and irritated, making it prone to inflammation and bacteria, which are the most common causes of breakouts.
Dry Skin
Dry skin is dead skin. Everyone's skin sheds at a different rate, but those who are prone to dryness shed skin at a much slower than normal. Using an exfoliant removes the dead layers, leaving behind healthy, smooth skin. Store-bought exfoliants can be very abrasive, leaving your skin red and irritated. The olive oil and sugar exfoliant is much more gentle and less likely to damage your skin. Start out using this exfoliant twice per week, increasing the usage if your skin needs it. The olive oil and sugar mixture is safe for daily use, but may cause slight inflammation if your skin is excessively dry.
Oily Skin
Oily skin doesn't have to fight the dryness battle, but still needs a consistent exfoliant routine. Excessive production of sebum, your skin's natural oil, clogs the pores and increases pimples and blackheads. The olive oil and sugar exfoliant removes the oily buildup, keeping breakouts in check. Oily skin types should exfoliate once a week to remove the excessive oils and keep the skin fresh and clean.
Combination Skin
Combination skin is the most common skin type, because the skin is often affected by a variety of outside factors, including the weather, stress and illness. Your skin may be overly dry or oily sometimes and completely normal at other times. The olive oil and sugar exfoliant is safe for combination skin, but you must assess your skin's current needs before determining when exfoliation is needed. If your skin isn't currently in one extreme or another, use the olive oil and sugar exfoliant weekly and increase or decrease usage as your skin's needs change.
