If you’ve been taking great care of your skin lately, pat yourself on the back. It isn’t always easy to remember to drink plenty of water, eat a balanced diet, not stress so much, and get plenty of sleep ON TOP OF creating a skincare routine that addresses your skin’s personal needs. For some that could mean cleansing, toning, and applying super hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid to address dry skin. For others, salicylic acid serums may be in order to help balance oil production and prevent breakouts.
But there’s one skincare step that’s worth giving some attention to because it can make a radical difference in your skin’s texture and keep your complexion looking youthful and smooth. The reason this step is often overlooked is because too much of it isn’t a good thing, so it isn’t a step you’ll want to take every day. But if you add this one step to your skincare routine, dermatologists say it can really make your skin glow.
Exfoliate
Exfoliating your skin is a must-do step, especially as we age. The reason it becomes increasingly more important with age is because your skin cells turn over at a slower rate after a certain age, so all of the dead skin that’s clogging the top layer of your skin sticks around for longer than it did when you were a teen. This could be the big reason why you feel your skin looks dull or breaks our more often or shows dry spots that no serum or moisturizer on Earth seems able to tackle.
In the past, we were advised to exfoliate, but few tips were given on how or how many times a week to do it or which products are best for the job. So, if you were like many other skincare enthusiasts, you reached for the nearest bottle or jar of some skincare product on a shelf that contained large grains or seeds and figured — this will slough away dead skin, no problem.
And it might. But it also might strip your skin of much-needed moisture and irritate your skin in the process, especially if you’re exfoliating with harsh products four to five times a week.
The key to proper exfoliation is knowing that less is often more — exfoliating two to three times per week is ideal for many, and you may want to make it once to twice weekly if you have sensitive skin. And choosing chemical exfoliants over physical exfoliant, which tend to be those grainy, abrasive scrubs mentioned above.
Chemical exfoliants instead use acids and enzymes to break down and dissolve dead skin cells. It tends to be much gentler and more effective.
Which Exfoliant Should You Try?
If you’re new to exfoliation, you may want to start off with a gentle formula, like one made with glycolic acid. This alpha hydroxy acid removes the top later of dead skin cells and can help reverse sun damage. If you find glycolic acid is a bit too irritating or drying, lactic acid is another exfoliant that is said to be even gentler. It has a higher molecular weight and more moisturizing properties, so it’s less likely to cause sensitivity.
When you’re beginning to incorporate an exfoliant into your skincare routine, it’s best to go slow. Start off exfoliating once or twice per week until your skin become accustomed to the formula. Experts disagree on the best time to exfoliate — morning or night. But whenever you choose to do so, start by cleansing your skin, then add the exfoliant, and finish off with a moisturizer (and sunscreen if it’s daytime).
You may just find your skin looks so much more radiant by adding this single step to your routine.
