Exfoliate: Your Must-Do Step for Glowing Summer Skin
Exfoliate: Your Must-Do Step for Glowing Summer Skin
Have you ever applied fake tan without exfoliating and ended up with all your dry areas sticking out like sore thumbs?! If you haven’t, I’m sure you’ve seen someone who has!
But whether you use fake tan or not, exfoliation is THE most important step in creating summer skin you’re proud to show off. Let’s find out why and how you should exfoliate your skin before you prepare to bare all (or maybe just a little) this summer. Plus, the essential post-exfoliation skincare steps not to miss!
The Skin
The skin is made up of three layers that have different functions. The top layer of skin is called the
epidermis, and it:
- contains melanin which determines the colour of your skin
- produces new skin cells
- keeps the body hydrated by preventing water loss
- protects us from the environment.
The epidermis actually has five layers within it. New skin cells are produced in the deepest layer of the epidermis, and make their way to the outermost layer as they age and die. The outermost layer is the stratum corneum, which is made up of dead skin cells.
Skin cell turnover is the time from a new skin cell is produced to shedding, and it takes around 28-40 days, but this increases as we age.
Why Exfoliate?
When dead skin cells aren’t removed, they pile up on the surface, leaving skin dry, rough, dull, and uneven — plus clogged pores. Not a good look!
Exfoliating helps smooth out dry patches, lets your skin absorb moisture better, and reveals the fresh, glowing skin underneath.
Exfoliating benefits:
- creates smooth, touchable, brighter skin
- evens out skin tone
- aids the absorption of serums, oils, and moisturisers
- provides a better base for fake tan
- helps prevent blackheads
- helps banish “strawberry skin” on arms and legs (strawberry skin is the common term
- for keratosis pilaris which is a blockage of the hair follicle, and results in small, red
- bumps on the skin)
- gives you confidence to show off your skin
How to Exfoliate
You can exfoliate dead skin cells in two ways: physical or chemical.
- Physical exfoliation uses gentle scrubs or textured materials to manually slough away dead skin.
- Chemical exfoliation applies mild acids to dissolve the “glue” that holds dead cells together, making them easy to remove.
Our physical exfoliators give you summer-ready skin while letting you control the intensity of exfoliation. We even have options perfect for sensitive skin.
How Often Should I Exfoliate?
Exfoliate: How Often?
Ideally, exfoliate your skin 1-3 times a week, depending on your skin type and how well you tolerate exfoliation. Once a week may be enough for those with dry or sensitive skin, whereas if you have normal to oily skin, you can exfoliate up to 3 times a week.
Over-exfoliation causes irritation, dryness, and sensitivity, as when you remove too many dead skin cells, the stratum corneum can’t prevent the cells underneath from losing water, or protect them from the environment.
Essential Exfoliating Aftercare
Aftercare Tips
Always moisturise you skin after exfoliating to help keep the skin cells hydrated and moisturised. And more importantly, you must apply SPF after exfoliating as the newer skin cells that will be nearer the surface of the skin are more susceptible to damage from the sun’s UV rays.
Ready To Explore?
We offer a range of face and body products to help you exfoliate your way to summer-ready skin.
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