If your news feeds are anything like ours, you're hit every day with an overwhelming barrage of advertisements for hundreds of skin care products. One would assume, given the amount of exfoliating products on the market, that giving your skin a good scrub is extremely important.
But how much of it is hype, and how much of it is actual skin-science? Let us shed a little light on the topic for you.
Odds are, you do need to exfoliate your face, but how often is a question that will have a different answer for everyone. You might have sensitive skin, might have an allergy you don’t know about or you might be prone to acne.
So don’t rush out and purchase all the latest and greatest face care products. Start small and pay attention to the results because the best way to exfoliate your face isn’t necessarily how your best friend should exfoliate theirs.
STEP 1 - MAKE SURE IT'S TIME
Exfoliating your face isn’t something you need to do every day. It might not even be something you need to do every week.
A simple way to see if it is time is to put your lips together and push the lower part of your jaw down and forward. Keep your lips tightly closed. This action will stretch the skin covering your chin. Once you’ve done that, lightly run your finger over your chin. Does it feel smooth? Does it feel a little coarse? If it feels a bit bumpy, it’s a good time to exfoliate your face.
STEP 2 - EXFOLIATE NATURALLY
If you are going to use an exfoliating product, we suggest opting for a natural product as opposed to one that contains harmful chemicals or ingredients such as walnut shell, which creates micro-tears or microbeads, which are environmentally unfriendly.
Once you've determined it's time to exfoliate, look in your cupboards for items you already own. No need to go out and buy an expensive face loofah, when you can just grab a clean wash cloth. The coarseness of the towel might be all you need.
Before you exfoliate, wash your face with your usual cleanser and use a wash cloth, moving it in small circles around your face. This simple action will lightly exfoliate using nothing but your usual cleanser and a face cloth.
If you need deeper action, there’s still no need to rush out and spend money on harsh chemicals. Exfoliating your face is a bit of a science. You need something coarse, but you also need something slick that can move the coarse objects over your face, grabbing loose skin cells without causing damage to the fresh, new cells underneath.
Try taking some cinnamon and honey out of your pantry. One tablespoon of honey to one tablespoon of cinnamon. Mix them together and then spread the mixture all over your face. To rinse, use warm water and your fingers. Massage the cinnamon and honey in small circles. The mixture will slowly be washed away leaving your skin fresh and smooth.
The key here is not to rush. This is a facial after all- it's meant to be relaxing.
STEP 3 - OBSERVE
After you’ve given yourself an exfoliation treatment, sit back and listen to your face. Is your skin red, irritated, or annoyingly dry the next day? If so, you might have over done it.
The skin of your face is thinner than the skin on your arms, so if you rub and pull at it too hard or too much, it’s bound to get irritated. The good news is that if you aggravate your face with over exfoliation, you can easily calm your skin down.
Try using an astringent of green tea or apple cider vinegar and hold off on exfoliating again until the redness has subsided. When you decide to try again, remember that the best way to exfoliate your face is gently and slowly.
Exfoliation removes dead cells, so it shouldn’t hurt. If it does, that means you are pressing too hard or using a product that is too harsh.
STEP 4 - EXPANSION
If you decide that you want to try supermarket store or pharmacy products or if you have a specific need, such as wanting to know how to exfoliate face discolouration, remember that taking it slow and listening to your body are still the golden rules.
Over the counter products, even if they cost $100 can still be harsh and full of harmful chemicals. As you browse the aisles for exfoliating products, look for natural products. These will ensure you are healthier in the long run. Don’t just jump right in and purchase just any product because they have a beautiful Instagram ad that keeps getting pushed your way.
If you go from using no product to using four products overnight, your face is likley to rebel and you might trigger a problem, such as congestion or acne, that didn’t exist before.
As for facial discolourations, these are often caused when a blemish is healing. A pimple or a scratch might leave behind a purple-brownish mark. Exfoliating this mark will help remove it, but it will take time, so be patient.
For deeper and more active exfoliation we have developed our Prebiotic + C Skin Polishing Powder to do exactly what it says- polish the skin. This dynamic powder combines the purest organic ingredients with natural actives from yoghurt, grapefruit and rice enzymes to help achieve a smoother, brighter and more even skin tone. You will feel the results immediately after using this exfoliator. You can even use this product as an intensely active exfoliating mask.
STEP FIVE - DON’T FORGET YOUR LIPS
Your lips can be easy to overlook, but they are just as prone to dryness, sunburn and irritation as the rest of your face. If you notice scaly, dry bits, try brushing your lips.
Smooth some lip balm over the affected area and using a soft bristle tooth brush, rub lightly until the excess skin comes off. Quite simple.
STEP SIX - SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES
Everyone’s skin is different. Lots of people want to know how to exfoliate face acne, but since there are various reasons behind the emergence of a pimple, the answer for getting rid of them won’t be the same for everyone. If you have breakouts because oil and dead cells are getting trapped under the surface of your skin, then a weekly exfoliation regime could help, but if the catalyst for your acne is chemical, exfoliating your pimples might just make them worse.
If you have a chronic problem, consulting a dermatologist is the best place to start.