Exfoliation is an important part of any good skin care routine. Your skin sheds its cells constantly, leading to buildup and debris in your pores. Through exfoliation, you can get the clear, glowing complexion you desire.
There are many articles and blogs that claim to have all of the answers. However, when it comes to the question of “how often to exfoliate,” there is no uniform answer. Everyone has different skin, so your exfoliation frequency will depend on your skin type, complexion goals, and other factors.
Here’s what you need to know about your skin care routine with exfoliators — how often to exfoliate, exfoliation benefits, and more.
Exfoliation is the process of removing old, dead skin cells from the top layer of your skin to refresh and renew your complexion. Think of exfoliation as a reset for your skin; you bring to the surface the fresh young skin cells hidden underneath the old ones.
It’s important to note that exfoliation can be more harmful than helpful if you do it too often or not often enough. Over-exfoliating can lead to many skin problems, just like a lack of exfoliation.
There are two types of exfoliants — physical exfoliants and chemical exfoliants. Learn more about each type and how to use them.
During self-care nights and spa visits, you probably undergo physical exfoliation. This is what most people recognize as exfoliation. It’s using a grainy, slightly abrasive scrub or soap to scrape away debris and dead skin cells from your face.
When you physically exfoliate, you’re clearing out the gunk and dead skin cells that build up over time on your skin. The abrasiveness of the small particles in your scrub or soap physically scrubs off this dirt and debris. After you use a physical exfoliant, your skin will likely feel smoother, softer, and healthier.
Chemical exfoliation works a bit differently. Certain skin-safe acids, like alpha hydroxy acids, can break down the bonds between dead skin cells and clear them from your face. These acids don’t provide physical exfoliation, but they do a good job of eliminating old cells from your skin’s top layer.
When you get a chemical peel or similar spa treatment, you’re undergoing chemical exfoliation. People in their 30s and above tend to use retinol for extra chemical exfoliation. That’s why retinol is so popular; it refreshes and renews wrinkled, dry, and dull skin to make it appear to be more youthful.
The stronger the chemical exfoliant, the deeper the skin cell removal goes. You should always consult a dermatologist or medical aesthetician before opting for a strong chemical exfoliant.
It’s also important to note that chemical exfoliants make your skin more photosensitive, so you should always wear SPF after using them because your skin will be more vulnerable to sunburn, pigmentation, and premature aging.
Bakuchiol provides similar results to retinol without the unwanted side effects. It’s safe for use day and night because it actually defends against UV-induced damage, keeping your skin protected at all times. So, if the harsh chemical exfoliants aren't for you, Bakuchiol might be the answer. Whish's Renewing Mud Mask is an award winning facial exfoliant that uses the power of bakuchiol instead of harsh chemicals.
Everyone’s skin needs a refresh now and then. If you don’t regularly use exfoliation to renew your complexion, now is the perfect time to start. Why? Because of the wealth of benefits exfoliation provides for your skin.
Exfoliation can reduce rough skin texture by smoothing and flattening the top layer of your skin. This is especially true of physical exfoliants, which scrub away undesirable skin textures and debris.
If you struggle with unsightly texture and rough patches on your skin, regular exfoliation can help.
Your skin cells are always progressing through normal cell life cycles, which means they eventually die. This is normal! Everyone sheds trillions of skin cells each year – it’s perfectly natural.
The problems start when you don’t clear away these dead skin cells and bring fresh, young cells to the surface. With chemical and physical exfoliation, you can clear out the old cells to make way for newer, smoother, and brighter skin cells that rejuvenate your complexion.
Since exfoliation is so beneficial for skin cell resurfacing, it makes sense that it can fight against visible aging. Everyone experiences skin aging at some point in their lives, but that doesn’t mean you have to settle for wrinkled, aged skin. Exfoliation helps refresh your skin cells so you can show off your best complexion at all times.
Some research suggests that regular exfoliation helps avoid sun damage, hyperpigmentation, and age spots, all of which are hallmark signs of skin aging. If you want to avoid these problems, add exfoliation to your skin care routine.
When you exfoliate regularly, your skin can absorb skin care products and makeup at a higher rate than before. This is because exfoliation opens your pores and provides an even foundation for your products to seep into. When it comes to building an effective skin care routine, exfoliation can boost your results.
Many people experience smoother makeup application as well. When your skin is soft and smooth on its own, makeup goes on smoother and remains fresh all day long. If you want to boost your products’ absorption into your skin, try exfoliating more frequently.
Acne is caused by a buildup of oil, dirt, and debris in your pores. When your pores become clogged, acne forms and can spread throughout your face and neck. Some people experience body acne as well.
Exfoliation helps fight acne breakouts by clearing your pores and giving your skin room to breathe (literally). You don’t have to struggle with frequent breakouts forever; give exfoliation a try.
It can be confusing to navigate all of the information in the beauty and skin care world. Follow these exfoliation tips to learn how often to exfoliate and how to make the most of it when you do.
Most skin types can handle physical exfoliation two or three times each week. Try to space out your exfoliation days so you don’t strip your skin of its natural oils and dry it out.
If you have sensitive or extremely dry skin, try doing physical exfoliation once or twice each week. Use a hydrating, soothing moisturizer after each exfoliation session so your skin can reabsorb moisture and stay healthy.
Whish's Sugar Scrub is the perfect exfoliant for the whole body. Yes, its gentle exfoliation helps remove those dead skin cells, but it also contains moisturizing ingredients that will keep your skin from drying out.
Chemical exfoliants can be stronger and more drying or irritating to your skin. Unless you have extremely oily, acne-prone skin, it’s best to use chemical exfoliants one to three times per week. Sensitive and dry skin should only need chemical exfoliation once a week or less.
Depending on the type of chemical exfoliant you’re using, you may be able to incorporate it into your daily routine. BHA serums, for example, are great for fighting acne breakouts. They don’t irritate your skin as easily as AHA serums, so you may be able to use BHA products daily.
Monitor your skin closely for signs of dryness and sensitivity after using a new chemical product to exfoliate. Faces require a balance of moisture and exfoliation, so keep this in mind, adjust how often you exfoliate, and change up your routine if needed.
Treatments like chemical peels are much stronger than over-the-counter exfoliants and should be used sparingly. However, they provide many benefits, including anti-aging and scar reduction. Deep exfoliation is good for refreshing your skin, keeping it youthful and bright.
You can get a chemical peel every one to three months, depending on your skin type and goals. Always consult an aesthetician before your chemical peel; they can help you find the best treatment plan for your complexion.
The best exfoliator for face rejuvenation will depend on your skin type. At Whish Beauty, we have several exfoliating products to suit various skin types and tones.
Our body scrubs are wonderful for physical exfoliation and skin softening. Each of our lip and body scrubs contains natural sugar, also known as nature’s exfoliator. When it comes to getting smooth, glowing skin, Whish Beauty scrubs are the way to go!
Our Coconut Milk + Verbena Exfoliating Body Wash contains AHA for optimal face and body exfoliation. You can use this any time of day to rejuvenate your complexion and get that bright, glowing skin you deserve.
Fall in love with the tropical scents of coconut and verbena with this exfoliating body wash. Always use sunscreen after using our AHA body wash and continue SPF use for one week after you stop using the product.
Save 20% by ordering our Exfoliator Bundle ! This bundle is full of nourishing, smoothing products for your entire body.
Our Exfoliator Bundle contains the following products:
With this money-saving bundle, you can get smooth, radiant skin on all areas of your body. When it comes to exfoliating your entire body, we have you covered!
You can shop our extensive beauty collection for the best face and body exfoliants on the market. Shop Whish Beauty to get the smooth, soft skin you’ve always wanted!