What Does Exfoliation Do?
Everything you need to know about chemical and physical exfoliation
What is exfoliation?
Exfoliation is the process of removing dead skin cells as well as dirt and debris from the outermost layer of your skin with the use of certain topical products. This makes way for newer and healthier skin cells and instantly reveals brighter and fresher looking skin. There are multiple benefits to adding this step into your skincare regimen, from youthful and healthy looking skin to clearer pores. Essentially, there are two ways in which one can exfoliate their skin—physical and chemical. Although both the methods share the same goal, the processes are different. Physical exfoliants manually remove surface debris whereas chemical exfoliants chemically dissolve the debris. You can choose one or the other depending on your skin type.
PHYSICAL EXFOLIATION
Also known as mechanical exfoliation, this method is the more commonly used one as it is a fairly convenient technique and does the job quite well. This kind of exfoliation refers to any kind of physical force that is used to remove dead skin cells such as granulated topical scrubs or exfoliation brushes. Topical scrubs use granulated particles such as apricot kernels, salt, rice, etc. to buff away dead skin cells, clear pores and visibly smooth the skin. Exfoliation brushes or gloves help to exfoliate the skin without adding an extra skincare step. Simply apply a generous amount of your regular cleanser onto a soaked and softened brush or sponge, and work your way in circles to lightly exfoliate your face. This action physically gets rid of the loose cells on the outer layer of your skin.
Most drugstore topical exfoliators and scrubs use rough granules that are abrasive and cause micro-tears on your skin making it more prone to external damage and aging. Hence, it is always recommended to use gentle exfoliators that are effective but not detrimental. The Zo Skin Health Exfoliating Polish is an excellent product for mechanical exfoliation. The ultra-fine magnesium crystals gently exfoliate to improve circulation and promote brighter and smoother looking skin. The product is non-abrasive and also delivers anti-oxidant protection due to the presence of Vitamins A, C, C-ester and D in it.
CHEMICAL EXFOLIATION
Contrary to what the name suggests, chemical exfoliators are gentler than mechanical exfoliators due to the sheer absence of physical force in its technique. This kind of exfoliation uses gentle acids to dissolve the substance that binds your dead skin cells and breaks down the bond between them. This eventually causes the gunk on the outer layer of the skin to come off. There are two different types of chemical exfoliants, AHA (Alpha hydroxy acid) and BHA (Beta hydroxy acid), both of which have different results depending on your skin type.
This chemical works best for normal, dry and sensitive skin. AHA’s are water-soluble, meaning they exfoliate the surface of your skin while also keeping it hydrated by drawing in moisture. They come in a few forms, like lactic, mandelic, glycolic, and tartaric acid and are great for promoting cell-turnover and making the skin appear youthful, radiant and healthy.
BHA’s on the other hand are oil-soluble, meaning they break down oil-clogged pores to treat blackheads, whiteheads, and zits. They are also anti-inflammatory which helps if the skin feels irritated with the exfoliation process. One of the most commonly used BHA’s is salicylic acid, which is a longtime favorite acne spot treatment.
How often should you exfoliate?
Our dead-skin cells re-accumulate every day so ideally, 3-4 times a week of exfoliation should be followed to keep the skin glowing and healthy. Of course, those with super sensitive skin can opt for mild exfoliation perhaps once or twice a week. But regular exfoliation works wonders for the skin and this step should not be missed in your skincare routine. However, it should be kept in mind to not over-exfoliate or do this step everyday as it can be quite harmful for the skin.
What does Exfoliation do? What are the benefits?
DEEP-CLEANING
By effectively removing the build-up of dead skin cells that’s sitting on your face, exfoliation deep-cleans your pores and outermost skin layer thoroughly that normal cleansers and face washes usually can’t.
PREVENTS BREAKOUTS AND ACNE
Exfoliation removes excess oil, cell debris and dirt from your pores. Clean and unclogged pores imply reduced breakouts and acne and also facilitate removal of blackheads. Moreover, acne-causing bacteria thrive on dead-skin cells. By stimulating skin-cell regeneration, exfoliation gets completely rid of the acne-causing bacteria.
BETTER PRODUCT ABSORPTION
Potent ingredients and formulations are key to maintaining the efficacy of your skincare routine. When you have dead skin cells on your face, products cannot be absorbed as easily, if at all. When they are removed by exfoliation, skincare products will penetrate into the skin more effectively.
STIMULATES COLLAGEN PRODUCTION AND PREVENTS AGING SKIN
Regular exfoliation stimulates synthesis of collagen, which is an important structural protein in our body. Collagen not only helps maintain the texture and firmness of your skin, but also prevents premature aging by reducing fine lines and wrinkles. Exfoliation promotes faster cell turnover as well, which helps in keeping the skin healthy and youthful.
SMOOTH AND NOURISHED SKIN
One of the most important benefits of exfoliation is that it smooths the texture of the skin post effectively getting rid of build-up and debris. Using physical exfoliants such as the Zo Skin Health Exfoliating Polish , besides exfoliation, also nourishes and hydrates the skin as opposed to harsh scrubs that dry the skin out. Chemical exfoliants such as the water soluble AHA’s , also help in hydration as they draw in moisture while getting rid of dead-skin build-up.
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