EXFOLIATION
“Tell me about your facial products.” I ask this question every day. And I get a lot of different answers. Sometimes it’s simple, like a cleanser and a moisturizer. And sometimes it’s a laundry list of serums and masks and different days of the week. Regardless of the regimen’s complexity, one thing comes up again and again as missing…exfoliation.
Exfoliation is Key. From acne to fine lines to pigmentation, exfoliation is the best way to treat most facial flaws. Every age can benefit. For teens, exfoliation keeps dead skin from building up so pores remain open, oil flows freely, and no bacteria can grow. For 20 to 30-somethings, exfoliation helps products penetrate to protect healthy cells from environmental damage. And for us 40+ers, exfoliation triggers the underlying tissues to help skin heal and regenerate.
Choose from Physical or Chemical. Exfoliation can be done with a scrub (beads), with an enzyme mask (fruit-based), or with an acid (lactic or glycolic). But never, under any circumstance, can it be done with St Ives Apricot Scrub. Haha. It really is a terrible product.
Exfoliate 2-3x a Week. Just like working out, “every once and a while” doesn’t do much. Cell turnover slows down as we age, so extra exfoliation can help new cells grow and push the damaged cells up and off.