You should NOT exfoliate everyday.
Unless you want to feel like this.
You should aim to exfoliate once or twice a week. For those with dry or sensitive skin, it is not recommended that you exfoliate as often. This is because your skin is already thin, and so if you exfoliate, it will only make your skin become thinner.
For teenagers, skin cells regenerate new skin cells every 14 days. For adults (until the forties), skin regenerates every 30-40 days.
So you can imagine, if you exfoliate everyday, your skin will eventually become thinner, and it will also become easily sensitive, highly irritant, more prone to sun damage, and premature ageing. And when that happens, only a dermatologist can help you.
Why Exfoliate?
Your skin has a natural physical way of losing dead skin cells from the top layers of the skin, and this process is called desquamation. Exfoliation is the term used to ‘accelerate’ this process by using facial exfoliating products. You can get exfoliation treatments done at home, or in the salon.
Exfoliating masks are also available.
You would usually exfoliate after the skin has been cleansed and toned, and before applying further facial treatments such as masks.
Exfoliation has the following benefits:
- to remove dead skin cells, grease and impurities from the surface of the skin….
- allowing fresh new cells to be exposed, therefore improving the appearance of the skin.
- skin preparations after exfoliating such as moisturizers, mask products penetrate easier into the skin.
- the blood circulation increases, bringing more oxygen and nutrients to the skin cells, therefore improving the skin colour.
- hyperpigmentation improves as the pigmented surface skin cells is removed.
Exfoliation is excellent for those with oily skin. People with oily skin have a thicker Epidermis layer, which is prone to excessive sebum being produced and most commonly, acne. Exfoliation therefore helps to act as ‘deep cleansing’ for oily skin, removing dead skin cells, grease and impurities from deep inside the pores.
Exfoliators for oily skin usually contain a mild astrigent effect (for antiseptic and tightening), with ingredients such as witch hazel, tea tree oil, calendula, or cucumber to help soothe the skin, and that can also help to lessen acne. For those with oily skin, you can exfoliate twice a week.
Men love exfoliating. Not only because it gets rid of the grease from their skin, but it also helps to soften it, giving it a better appearance. Men and women (that have oily skin) both have something in common: they have a thick Epidermis, prone to shine and acne. Exfoliating products for men are often stronger with more granules in them, because men generally have thicker skin than women.
You probably come second on the charts. As we mature, our skin cell regeneration deteriorates -- the rate of skin cells renewing and growing weakens. This means that more and more dead skin cells are unable to desquamate. Exfoliation is strongly recommended for people with mature skin as the removal of the surface dead cells has a rejuvenating effect on the skin’s appearance.
This is also great for people with normal skin, but choose a facial exfoliator that is mild and gentle to use. Exfoliating helps to brighten the facial appearance as dead skin cells are removed. Aim to exfoliate once or twice a week.
Especially for those oily areas prone to acne and blackheads, you can exfoliate these areas with a facial exfoliator. An oily T-Zone is the most common area. You can exfoliate once or twice a week, depending on you.
If you must exfoliate, exfoliate with a product that is gentle, and do this once a week. Your skin needs all the natural sebum it can get produced to help keep your skin stay moisturized.
Important things to remember:
- Always work with warm water when exfoliating. An exfoliating product can be too uncomfortable when applied on it’s own.
- NEVER use body exfoliators on your face.
- Do not apply make-up immediately after exfoliating. This is why you should exfoliate at night.
- Do not exfoliate after shaving facial hair.
- When exfoliating twice a week, do not do this two days in a row. Seperate these days within the week so that your skin cells can regenerate well.
- Try to use exfoliating products on your neck area also.
- Exfoliation is not recommended for those with highly sensitive skin, or pustular, blemished skin.
- Avoid exfoliating products that contain sharp grains of nut shells, as these can scrape, split and damage your skin.
- Always test the product on the back of your hand before purchasing.
Do you exfoliate? How often? What products do you use?
Editor’s Note: This post has been abridged. Read the full entry here.
magnolia / 1296 posts
i used body exfoliator on my face once. worst experience ever.
cherry blossom / 49 posts
I exfoliated my skin for the very first time today–thank goodness I read this, or I would’ve continued to do it everyday!
Very helpful post.
sunflower / 320 posts
I exfoliate more than I should. ^^’ I need to watch out.
guest
Wait a minute. So you cleanse your face first THEN you exfoliate? I just exfoliate. Have I been doing it wrong?
guest
i made the mistake of exfoliating too much. plus i was trying out a new anti wrinkle anti blemish cream from neutrogena and my skin ended up looking so bad. there were dry/irritated patches everywhere!
def. a big no no.
thankfully after a week of not touching it except for using a lot of moisturizer, it’s almost back to normal.
daisy / 613 posts
I’ve heard that exfoliants with walnut shells or whatever are really bad for your skin, like that St Ive’s Apricot Scrub. Is that true?
guest
i have very oily skin and blemish prone, but it’s recently gotten really better with using St. Ive’s apricot scrub blemish prone as a facewash in the mornings, 99.9% alcohol free toner, and a light lotion at night, and my skin has gotten better!
guest
Does it count as exfoliating if you use toner/astringent everyday… 2 times a day?
guest
this is REALLY helpful! thanks!
guest
Is St. Ives exfoliation scrub damaging??
guest
Thanks!
cherry blossom / 48 posts
i can’t exfoliate my skin
it irrates it.
cherry blossom / 48 posts
@iamhyokim@xanga - I’ve used that before, it’s way too harsh on the face, the grains are so big, they made my skin so dry!
guest
@Cuenquita@xanga - thank you!! i just bought it but im going to return it now
Does anyone know a good exfoliator? Help me!!
daisy / 742 posts
People should already know that daily exfoliation is damaging. It’s common sense, really.
cherry blossom / 48 posts
@iamhyokim@xanga - You’re welcome, I personally don’t use scrubs for my skin because I use benzoyl peroxide on my skin and it makes it dry and flaky, but I when I want to look up a good product to use, I go to acne.org, they have reviews and whatnot. I think this is site is good if you have sensitive or acne-prone skin.
http://www.acne.org/over-the-counter/cleansers-washes/exfoliating-scrubs/rcat27/page1.html#browse
guest
Listne, I live in a hot, humid, stciky tropical climate.
I have normal skin with the occasional oily nose or so.
I have to exfoliate every damn day. BUT the scrub I use is an all-natural Papaya scrub from India (an Ayuverdic type) that is for 7-days.
Damn it works! My skin is great. If I don’t use this, my skin will be disgustingly sticky.
Blame the current scorching 34 Celcius temps.
guest
This was very comprehensive, thanks!
I have combination skin and I use Natio’s Young Polish Pore Unclogging Face Scrub.
guest
@skillusionz@xanga - If you don’t think you need a daily cleanser for washing your face, then still wash your face with slightly warm water first before exfoliating.
guest
I use St.Ives avocado scrub. Is it recommendable to use it on my back, i have bacne.):
guest
I exfoliate once every two days.
Quite a nice cycle I have going on
X
tulip / 5 posts
I cleanse first and then use the Mary Kay Timewise microderm abrasion set with some warm water. I used to think it was a fad but now I swear by it twice a week. My skin has never looked better
peony / 2 posts
a person should only exfoliate once every two weeks. with a finely creamy emulsion base. cells need to regenerate and therefore need two weeks to heal. if you do this more often then that you will cause damage to your injured cell trying to heal. cells divide and need to divide in the same healthy replica for the skin cells to stay healthy. normal skin just needs a wet white warm wash cloth that has texture to it and that its. No need for all these sand paper treatments. if you have a mild break out use purpose cleanser, a toner and spf moisturizer and change your pillow cases. acne lasts awhile if you want a treatment talk to your dermotolgist about retin-a.
peony / 2 posts
if you wanna tear up your skin with st ives apricot scrub be my guest. sometimes a blotting tissue for oily skin is all you need not sandpaper that causes broken capiliraries, photoage sun damage, wrinkles, red spots, and even rosaseca, and other skin formalities. Scrubbing your skin with st ives srub will get in the way of our cells natural generating processes to divide properly and flourish at the top of the epidermis. its a false feeling to feel the smoothness it leaves behind from scrubbing the skin but i assure it is more harm then good. i know my stuff, look it up for your selves.
peony / 1 posts
Thanks for the exfoliation tips. I’m pretty sure I’ve been the victim of over-exfoliating before. It’s not fun. Also, I think it’s great that you included different tips for different skin types. They definitely have different exfoliation needs. My skin, for example, is pretty oily, so it needs more help getting rid of the dead cells. Also, something else that I’ve found really useful is a salicylic acid peel. I do those less often, but they are nice.