Choosing The Right Exfoliating Product For You
What Is The Best Skin Exfoliating Product To Use?
If you have ever been shopping for an exfoliating scrub, you have probably noticed that there are lots of different exfoliating products to choose from.
However knowing which product will work the best for your skin type can be a daunting prospect, especially if you have never exfoliated before.
In this article we shall look at the main types of exfoliating treatments which are available to you, so that you can make the best choice that will help you to achieve healthy looking skin.
Chemical Facial Exfoliants
Chemical exfoliants work by dissolving dead skin cells, sebum and sweat that has accumulated on the surface of the skin.
Although chemical exfoliants can be very effective, you need to be careful using them so that you don’t end up burning your skin.
Chemical exfoliants are either alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) or beta hydroxy acids (BHAs), and both kinds can also be found in the same exfoliating product.
The most common chemical facial exfoliants are:
• Glycolic Acid
• Phenol
• Salicylic Acid
• Lactic Acid
How To Use A Chemical Exfoliant
To use a chemical exfoliant apply a thin layer to a cleansed face and neck, taking care to avoid the eye area.
Let the product sit on your skin for the recommended amount of time and then wash off. You do not need to rub chemical exfoliants into your skin because the chemicals do the exfoliating for you.
Advantages Of Chemical Exfoliation
• Can give your skin a deep cleanse.
• Easy to apply & no rubbing is required.
• Some chemical exfoliants have antibacterial properties.
• Great for smoothing out the skin.
Disadvantages Of Chemical Exfoliation
• Not suitable for all skin types, esp. sensitive skins.
• Can burn your skin if you leave on for too long.
• Generally done at a clinic or beauty salon, so cost can be high.
Skin Exfoliating Enzymes
Some fruits contain natural enzymes which can digest dead skin cells that have built up on the surface of the skin.
Fruit enzymes, such as papaya enzymes (papain) or pineapple enzymes (bromelain), have been used for thousands of years as a beauty treatment and can be a very effective and natural exfoliating treatment.
Because fruit enzymes work on the surface of the skin, they are great at removing small bumps and rough patches so that your skin is completely smooth afterwards.
How To Make Your Own Enzyme Exfoliating Face Mask
The good thing about fruit enzymes is that you can purchase fresh papaya or pineapple from your local store, mash it up, mix it with a bit of honey and then apply it directly to your face or body for an instant natural face & body exfoliator.
Although this can sometimes prove to be a bit messy, it smells great and after 10-20 minutes your skin will look great. If you decide to try this at home, make sure you rinse the mask off if your skin starts to feel hot.
If you don’t want to make your own exfoliating mask at home, enzyme exfoliants can usually be found in health food stores and in some beauty stores.
To use an enzyme exfoliant, apply a thin layer to a cleansed face and neck taking care to avoid the eye area.
You don’t need to rub it in, so just let it sit on your skin. After 10-20 minutes rinse it of with water and then tone and moisturise your face afterwards.
Advantages Of Enzyme Exfoliation
• Excellent as part of an anti-aging skin care routine.
• Can give deep and long lasting results.
• Can effectively balance out the skin removing rough patches.
• Can be very cheap if you make your own at home.
Disadvantages Of Enzyme Exfoliation
• Generally suited to older skin.
• May be too harsh for some skin types.
• Possibility of burning the face if left on for too long or not rinsed properly.
Exfoliating Facial Scrubs
Exfoliating scrubs are usually found as a creamy lotion that contains grainy substances which you then massage onto your skin to remove dead skin cells.
Facial scrubs can be made with natural ingredients such as ground nutshells, clay, cornmeal, oatmeal or rice powder. Facial scrubs can also be made with man made ingredients such as polyurethane or silicone beads.
Be Careful When Using Facial Scrubs
You need to be careful what type of facial scrub you use, because some types may not be very good for your skin type. For example, ground up nutshells may be too rough and abrasive for some skins.
This is because they can create microlacerations on the skin (tiny cuts), which wounds the skin causing inflammation. This leaves the skin looking red, inflamed and susceptible to infection.
Gentler substances such as polyurethane or silicone beads are a lot smoother on the skin, because they roll in and out of the pores gently.
The same applies to finely ground cornmeal. So if you have found facial scrubs too abrasive for your skin in the past, these may be a better option for you.
Clay masks, oatmeal and rice powder are even gentler forms of exfoliants, and can help to remove dead skin cells without disrupting delicate skin types such as sensitive skin.
How To Use Facial Scrubs
To use a facial scrub apply a small amount to a cleansed face and neck. Rub the cream or lotion in a circular motion taking care to avoid the eye areas.
Make sure you include the sides of your nose, your chin, forehead and jaw line. Afterwards rinse your face, tone and then moisturise.
The key to using facial scrubs is to let the product do the work. Don’t press onto the skin too hard, and use your hands only to move the scrub across the surface of your skin.
Advantages Of Facial Scrubs
• Cheap to buy & easy to apply.
• Range of scrubs to choose from to suit your skin type.
Disadvantages Of Facial Scrubs
• Some scrubs may be too harsh for certain skins.
• People have a tendency to overuse facial scrubs which is damaging to the skin.
• Requires more effort than chemical or enzyme exfoliants.
• Doesn’t cleanse as deeply as enzymes.
Mechanical Exfoliants
Another way to exfoliate your face is to use a mechanical exfoliant. These are essentially machines that work to remove built up dead skin cells from the surface of your skin.
However the trouble with mechanical exfoliants is that it is very easy to overuse them and apply too much pressure or exfoliate one area too much.
So unless you know what you are doing and have some experience with them, they are likely to result in inflammation, microlacerations and redness.
Most mechanical exfoliants you will find are usually hand held microdermabrasion machines, rotating brushes or ultrasound devices.
Generally these are not recommended for home use, and are better left to the professionals who have experience with them.
Advantages Of Mechanical Exfoliation
• Can give excellent results if you know how to use them correctly.
• Saves buying more products later on.
Disadvantages Of Mechanical Exfoliation
• Inexperienced users can damage the skin easily.
• Much more expensive than regular exfoliants.
Combination Exfoliants
Combinations exfoliants are those that combine enzymes and scrubs or chemicals and scrubs.
As long as they don’t irritate your skin these are fine to use, and you may find them to be more effective than regular exfoliants depending on what type of skin you have.
Advantages Of Combination Exfoliants
• Combinations can give better results than single products.
Disadvantages Of Combination Exfoliants
• May not suit all skin types.
• Are usually more expensive than single products.
