If the world of exfoliation is leaving you dumbfounded, you are not alone. Advice is often varied and these days it’s difficult to interpret science from myth.
But fear not, we’re here to provide an exfoliation 101 so that you can make a more informed decision about the right skincare for you.
So first, physical exfoliation. We’ll start with this one because it’s what we do.
This is the action of physically rubbing the surface of your skin, loosening up, and ultimately removing, any surface dirt or dry & dead skin. It can come in all forms but mostly scrubs, brushes and of course, gloves like ours; the No1 Illume Silk Exfoliating Glove.
This form of exfoliation is great because it’s instant. Take 15 minutes out of your hectic schedule to soak your skin, and buff away whatever build up there may be. And the best bit? It’s recommended that you only need to do this once a week (to avoid any damage to the surface layer of skin). Quick and stress-free.
Next up, the chemicals! Now this is more scientific, time consuming and can be risky for your skin. In short, chemical exfoliation is the use of a chemical to dissolve dirt and remove dead and dry skin.
There are many different types of chemicals that can be used for exfoliation, the main ones being AHAs & BHAs. AHAs target the surface of the skin and can be great for hyperpigmentation and preventing breakouts. BHAs go a little deeper. They are oil soluble meaning they can penetrate into the skin further; great for treating acne prone skin or larger pores!
However, here’s the risky part - get the cocktail of products in your skincare routine wrong and damage and irritation can occur. It can be a game of trial and error, with most dermatologists encouraging starting lower percentage products first and building up to stronger ones once your skin has shown no signs of irritation.
But as with anything, the effort is nearly always worth it. Get the balance of exfoliation right, either physical or chemical, and you will be rewarded with glowing, balanced gorgeous skin.