Oct 25, 2021

Why is it important to exfoliate your skin (body and face)

Chemical exfoliant, physical exfoliant… We hear of these products all the time. But why do we need them? If dull, rough or textured skin textures, acne or breakouts, discolouration or uneven skin tones, sun and or age spots, or dry, flaky, irritated skin are skin issues you’ve been battling, then it’s likely time to introduce exfoliation into your skin care routine.

Exfoliation is vital because it promotes the shedding of the top layers of the dermis to allow fresh skin to breathe and function without any unwanted barriers. Every 28 days or so, your skin sheds dead skin cells to make room for new cells. However, sometimes these dead cells don’t shed completely which can result in dry, flaky patches and clogged pores, the latter of which leads to breakouts. Exfoliating is the process of removing such dead skin cells.

If acne or blemished skin are your main skin concerns, a good exfoliating routine could be your saviour! If you often fall victim to break-outs, exfoliating helps to unclog pores which minimizes the likelihood of whitehead and blackhead formation. White and blackheads are two skin issues that are extremely difficult to get rid of which is what makes exfoliating so important in this situation. The age old saying of “prevention is better than cure'' applies here as exfoliating stops them from developing before they even have a chance to appear. Apart from unclogging pores, another reason exfoliating may help with breakouts is that a gentle exfoliating regime slows down bacteria growth and speeds up new skin cell production.

What else is exfoliating good for? Exfoliation can also leave your skin looking brighter and improve the efficacy of skin care products by increasing product absorption according to the American Academy of Dermatology. If skin exfoliation is not already a part of your skin care regime, it’s likely that your skin is dehydrated! As dead skin cells layer and build up, it may become increasingly difficult for your skin to soak up the hydrating moisturisers you’ve been applying.

By adding the exfoliating step to your regime, you won’t just be buffing away at those dead skin cells to remove dry, flaky skin, but by following it up with application of a moisturiser to the fresh skin cells you’ll be helping your skin improve in absorption. Thus, you get to truly reap the benefits of healthy, hydrated skin. The cleaner the skin, the easier for your products to penetrate deeper. When a rich and nourishing product penetrates deeper, it's able to work more effectively which is why exfoliation should always be included in your skincare routine. Sonya Dakar a celebrity esthetician and skin expert says that dead skin is essentially a barricade between your fresh skin and serums; by exfoliating, you allow everything to work much better.

Apart from that, long-term exfoliating is also said to increase collagen production which is the key to glowing, vibrant skin. As you get older, so does your skin. Darker pigmentation spots will begin to develop, and you’ll begin to notice reduced elasticity and rough patches on your skin. Those that suffer from dark spots, textured skin, hyperpigmentation, and acne scars know how difficult these issues can be to treat. Exfoliating is beneficial battling against these pigmented cells and removing build-up of dry skin to help maintain your skin’s youthful, healthy, and smooth, glowy, soft texture even as you mature. The production of collagen will also promote skin elasticity, minimizing the appearance of fine lines and related sagging. With a regular exfoliating and moisturising regime, you will soon notice your complexion transform from dull and dry to soft and glowing.

Aside from that, exfoliating also encourages blood circulation! What good is that to your skin? The circulation of blood helps flush out toxins. Exfoliation is one of the best ways to stimulate lymph drainage. Improved blood circulation is also said to minimize the appearance of cellulite, improves skin elasticity and will enhance your all over body glow and radiance. Skincare expert Jocelyn Petroni stated that stimulation of lymphatic drainage is encouraged by exfoliation which stimulates internal cleansing and promotes oxygen-rich blood that feed and nourish the skin's surface. Draining of the lymphs is a form of skin detoxification, which removes toxins and other unhealthy waste. Such skin nourishment boosts cellular health to reveal glowy, radiant skin.

Besides that, exfoliation is an important prequel to real or fake tanning. Whether you’re planning on fake tanning or soaking up the sunshine, exfoliating is important. Removing dead skin cells from your body before tanning will guarantee that smooth, even tan, avoiding any patchiness.

In conclusion, proper exfoliation removes the barrier of dead skin cells clogging the skin and uncovers fresh new cells below. This opens the way for moisturizing products to penetrate more deeply into the skin, which makes them more effective. Thus, a regular exfoliating routine will leave your skin looking fresh and healthy.

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