The upper layer of your skin, called the epidermis, naturally renews itself every 28 days. If you are between the ages of 15 and 25 years old, your skin renews itself every 20 days. As a result, dead skin cell are left behind that make your skin look lusterless. If you have dry skin, it tries to correct the moisture imbalance by making more natural oil and those oils combine with dry skin flakes to clog your pores. If you skin is oily, excess oil and toxins build on the surface to clog your pores.
Exposure to elements such as pollution and UV rays can also cause your pores to get clogged. Exfoliation removes the dead skin cells and allows your skin to breathe naturally for a healthier complexion.
To exfoliate, first use a gentle cleanser and astringent to remove all traces of surface oil and makeup and dry your face thoroughly with a soft towel made from natural fibers. Now you are ready to exfoliate. One way to do it is to apply an exfoliating scrub with gentle beads and, using your fingers, make circular motions for about three minutes. There are also special exfoliating sponges, clothes and loofahs to help remove dead skin cells.
Exfoliation can also be achieved by using a peel-off or clay mask, which is usually left on for about ten minutes. After the designated time has passed, rinse or peel off the exfoliating agent thoroughly, dry your skin completely and make sure to apply a moisturizer.
You should gently exfoliate your face twice a week to keep it glowing and fresh. However, do not exfoliate your skin more frequently because it can result in cracked skin and broken capillaries under the surface. You can even use natural ingredients to exfoliate your skin. Witch hazel makes an excellent astringent and a combination of honey and oatmeal can be used to exfoliate dead skin cells away.
No matter what your skin type or age, exfoliation will noticeably improve the appearance of your skin.
Whatever your type of skin it will benefit from regular exfoliation. Although this is a natural process there is usually no harm in giving nature a helping hand. Removing the damaged outer layer of skin is an essential everyday skin-care. Exfoliation is necessary whether you have dry skin, oily skin, blackheads, acne, flaky skin, sun-damaged skin, or simply a rough surface texture to your skin.
Oily skin or skin with clogged pores requires some help to shed skin cells. Blackheads and blemishes can appear if the oil gland builds up too much sebum. Sebum is a soft wax that should liquefy when it reaches the surface of the pore and spread a thin protective layer over the skin. Skin cells that should naturally fall away from the skin can instead end up inside the pore and get stuck. The resulting build-up of oil can result in a blackhead. Exfoliants that can exfoliate the lining of the pore will encourage a normal flow of oil and help eliminate blocked pores.
Dry skin will also have a build up of dead skin cells and this can be for several reasons. There may be a lack of moisture, a build-up of dead skin cells that don't easily shed, or abnormal skin cells that cling together in a manner that prevents normal exfoliation. When you exfoliate and help dry skin shed these dead skin cells they are replaced with plumper, more moisture filled, less dry skin cells. This leads to the skin having a fresher and healthier look.
When choosing an exfoliant the aim is to find the most effective, least irritating product. The only word of caution is that those with very sensitive or older skin should choose the least irritating product they can find. The exception to this rule is the use of disinfectants by those with acne.
Disinfectants can be irritating to the skin but are essential for the treatment of acne. The cosmetics industry is full of commercial overkill trying to have you use loads of exfoliating products. Don't fall for the hype. Just use one exfoliating product but make sure it's a good quality one that suits your skin type.
Lastly a word of warning. If you exfoliate regularly then your outermost skin layer will be mostly composed of health growing cells, but this is just the type of skin that burns most easily in the sun. It's always essential to use a sunscreen but even more so if you regularly use an exfoliant of any kind.
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Ryan Cote has sinced written about articles on various topics from Finances, Acne and Wrinkles. Ryan Cote is the owner of , milk and plant-based