Exfoliation is considered to be one of the key and most vital rituals in any skincare regime for a healthy glowing skin and face…yes face too, that is where most of us get it wrong, We think that only buffing our body to the end is considered good exfoliation but that is not right. Our face too requires its exfoliation for rejuvenation and that is because on an average we get a new set of skin cells after every couple of weeks. These cells are present on our skin surface and are pretty much responsible for dull skin, products like cleansers and masks can play their part but are not sufficient to remove the dead cells.
There is also a very popular myth that exfoliation is just for dry skin, that’s not true. As long as we need a perfect glowing skin…we need exfoliation, to simplify things- just like you need cleansing for face and body- you need exfoliation as well- it’s a cardinal rule, plain and simple.
But I get a lot of questions when it comes to exfoliation from my clients, thus I thought to listen to them and jot them down once and for all…the how and when and whys. If there is any question or confusion that you have, feel free to drop a comment and I’ll be more than happy to guide you through…
First things first, there is a fine line between exfoliation and scrubbing your skin to the brim of damage. Every skin is different; therefore, every exfoliation method should be different. There is no rule of thumb that should be followed…what works for you might not work for someone else…and that’s perfectly normal…I took years to figure out that every skin is different and that is why my recipe for each product is different!
To start with the basics, I must tell you what are the benefits of exfoliation. In simple words- it is the process of removing dead skin cells from the skin through various methods. It not only unclogs your pores and lets them breathe but also deep cleanses them and helps in reducing breakouts and body acne. If that isn’t enough, it also boosts new cell growth thus encouraging that youthful glow that we all desire. Thus, to break the benefits into two parts:
– Unclogged pores by removing dead cells from the skin’s surface that had accumulated with time. Removing these cells is a great way to remove impurities and improve the texture of the skin making it soft and smooth.
– Clear skin would encourage better absorption of the products that you use after exfoliation. You might have the best moisturizers and serums available in the market, but they will have little or no affect, if your skin is already clogged pores! Unclogged pores will allow your products to penetrate deeply and have give you better results.
– Treats hyperpigmentation
– Prevents acne and breakouts
– Solution for tanning
– Prevents ingrown hair
– Promotes general health of the skin
So by now we know that exfoliation is SUPER important and is key if you want to prevent clogged pores and bacteria and dirt from accumulating on your skin. Now moving to the next part… which is DO I NEED TO EXFOLIATE? In one word…YES…if you see that your skin appears to be dull and lifeless and you seem to be missing that glow from your face. Your skin is indicating that it needs to be treated right!
Another sign is if you have dry and flaky skin, if you take a piece of clear tape and apply it on a part of your face , rub it and remove it gently- and you see small pieces of flaky skin…your skin is speaking out to you…YOU NEED TO EXFOLIATE !
To set the record straight…you need exfoliation in your life…be it dry skin or sensitive skin(stay away from harsh exfoliants though)
When and How often should I exfoliate:
You definitely should not be exfoliating daily. That would be too harsh on your skin. Don’t do that and expect faster results, you will end up damaging your skin rather than helping it. Generally, once or twice a week is more than enough for exfoliation. If your skin is sensitive or you have mature skin…try sticking to exfoliating once a week.
As far as the timing is concerned do what you feel is right…more importantly when you have the time…it is recommended to exfoliated in the morning for that is when your skin is fresh and it can help in clearing more dead cells…but there is no harm if you exfoliate at night as well.
How to exfoliate
Now that we have the when started…let us get to the how. Shall we?
Before we go any further, I cannot stress enough as to how important it is to be gentle to your skin and face while exfoliating. Remember that the reason behind exfoliation is only to remove the excess dead cells and bacteria and other impurities that are already present on your skin’s surface. You don’t want to be so harsh that you damage the healthy skin cells as well. Which will do nothing but leave your skin sore and red.
There are many people with acne prone skin and oily skin who think over exfoliating and scrubbing your face harshly will do the trick and remove the impurities…hear me out- it does quite the opposite. That is the case with skincare unlike makeup, there are no instant results- you’ve got to be patient and kind.
Before exfoliating. Make sure that you have cleansed your skin properly for a good deep cleansing.
Now you just need to rub the exfoliant firmly on your wet skin and massage gently on your skin surface for a few minutes. Remember not to be too harsh. Keep massaging in circular motion keeping gentle pressure for a few minutes and wash off.
The last and final question that is the most daunting one is – which exfoliant to use? And I completely understand that it can get a little overwhelming when you see the huge variety of products that the market has to offer. The choice is endless and you can experiment to your heart’s desire, just bear in mind not to use harsh exfoliants which have sharp edges that can tend to tear delicate skin or products that have harsh and complex acids in them that can cause damage. Another thing to bear in mind is to avoid chemical exfoliants that have microbeads in them, they are not harmful for your skin, but they are made of plastic and are non-biodegradable…’nuff said!
There are many soaps too that offer gentle exfoliation for your skin and are not too harsh, since they have natural ingredients like oatmeal and grinded coffee and sea salt…they play the role of simple exfoliation which is caused due to the friction that is created when you rub the soap on your skin. These ingredients provide gentle and natural exfoliation and are even powered by clays and natural organic butter for the added benefits.
– Our oatmeal and honey soap is a great all natural exfoliator that is gentle to sensitive and troubled skin and is also naturally soothing for skin conditions like acne and eczema or psoriasis.
– Our coffee exfoliating soap is made with freshly grounded arabica coffee beans. Coffee is known to have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties and thus regular use of this soap can reduce occurrence of cellulite and acne as its chlorogenic acid helps to fight acne and stimulated blood flow.
At Aaranyam, I tried to keep my exfoliators natural and gentle, they are plain, simple and non-toxic weather it is my coffee beans and brown sugar scrub or my gentle lavender sugar scrub that as bits of lavender buds to act as a relaxant and exfoliant, my basic rose petals sugar scrub is basic yet so effective…it never disappoints. What’s better is that I added emulsion to my scrubs…thus what you get is not only exfoliation but a gentle rich and creamy lather for the ultimate spa like experience! These scrubs are so gentle yet so effective…they are idea for body as well as the face.
I love going that extra mile to make my customers happy, so if face and body scrubs were not enough…I went on to make lip scrubs! After all, our lips too have dead skin cells as well and require some extra care and attention every now and then. I have hot chocolate, orange and cinnamon and Espresso…they are so natural… You might as well just eat them!
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