3 Ways To Exfoliate Your Face For Glowing Skin

Exfoliation is super important for getting rid of dead skin cells that can clog pores and make skin look dull.

Regular exfoliation is also great for reducing fine lines, uneven skin tone, blemishes, scarring and hyper-pigmentation.

With all these great benefits in mind, today’s PSA is all about exfoliation and how you can get your skin to look smooth and glowing in three ways.

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What Is Exfoliation?

Exfoliating or exfoliation is the process of removing dead skin cells from the surface of the skin using a chemical, granular substance (scrub) or exfoliation tool.

The skin naturally sheds dead skin cells to reveal new skin every 30 days or so. But depending on your skin type, your age or seasonal changes, dead cells don’t shed completely, which can result in dry, flaky patches and clogged pores.

Exfoliating regularly can help remove the dead skin that sits on the surface and can help minimize large pores, prevent and reduce acne and blemishes, fade scarring, remove flaky skin and smooth bumpy skin texture. Exfoliation on the face can also help reduce fine lines and wrinkles and reduce the look of dark spots and hyperpigmentation for brighter looking skin.

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How Often Should You Exfoliate Your Face?

You should only exfoliate as often as your skin can tolerate it. If you are selecting an acid or chemical exfoliant, start with a gentle formula and work your way to stronger formulas as your skin allows.

Gentle alpha-hydroxy exfoliants like lactic acid or mandelic acid are great for acid beginners, as well as glycolic acid at 5% strength.

If you suffer from blemishes, enlarged pores and oily skin, I would also recommend using a beta hydroxy acid exfoliant that contains salicylic acid.

For more details on which acid to select for your skin type, click here.

Begin exfoliating once or twice per week and observe how your skin tolerates it. If your skin gets red, dry, flaky or feels tight after exfoliating, reduce how often you exfoliate or try a gentler method.

You can exfoliate daily with an exfoliating toner only IF your skin tolerates it. Dry skin or more sensitive skin types may only be able to tolerate exfoliation once or twice a week, so only exfoliate as often as your skin wants to be exfoliated! Your skin will tell you what it likes and doesn’t like quite clearly.

1. Chemical Exfoliation – Using An Acid-Based Solution To Exfoliate The Face

Chemical exfoliation uses acids as the main ingredient to break down and remove dead skin cells. Most acid-infused solutions, serums or face creams either include alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and/or beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) to do this.

If you’ve never used an acid toner, be sure to start with a low concentration of acids (e.g. 4-5% AHA) once per week and work your way up to daily use if your skin tolerates it.

Acid toners are applied to cleansed skin (usually with a cotton pad) and are not rinsed off.

To determine which type of acid you should use for your skin concerns, read this.

Some of the chemical solutions I’ve used for acid exfoliation include:

–Nip+Fab Glycolic Fix Night Care Extreme Pads (AHAs + BHAs) – reviewed here.

–Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant – reviewed here.

–COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid – reviewed here.

–Lotion P50T – reviewed here.

-Reversa Solution for Oily/Acne Prone Skin (AHA) – mini review here.

-Lactic Acid 10% by The Ordinary (AHA) – reviewed here.

–Vichy Idealia Radiance Activating Night Peeling – reviewed here.

–The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution | Complexion Miracle Worker

2. Mechanical Exfoliation – Facial Scrubs or Brushes

Mechanical exfoliation uses scrubbing particles such as jojoba beads or aluminum oxide crystals that are massaged into skin to physically remove dead skin cells.

A facial cleansing brush with silicone bristles, such as the FOREO LUNA mini 3, is a great way to exfoliate the face, while a dry brush can be used to exfoliate the skin on your body. I personally exfoliate in this way 1-2 times per week and maybe a bit more in the summer months when it gets super humid. You should also try to avoid facial scrubs that are made from rough items, such as nut shells, which could scratch and damage skin.

Some of the mechanical exfoliants or exfoliating tools I’ve used include:

-Peter Thomas Roth Clinical Peel & Reveal (now discontinued – consider the PTR Laser-Free Retexturizer for a similar formula).

–The Body Shop Drops of Youth, Youth Liquid Peel (AMAZING!) – reviewed here – called a peel but its really a scrub!

–FOREO LUNA mini 3 – reviewed here.

3. Chemical Exfoliation – Facial Peels

Similar to acid toners or creams, facial peels use acidic ingredients (usually at higher strengths) to remove dead skin cells. Facial peels are normally applied to the skin after cleansing. Peels have a higher concentration of acids than an exfoliating toner and are left on the skin for a prescribed amount of time and then rinsed away to exfoliate the face.

If you find mechanical exfoliation too harsh for your skin or want to try out a higher acid content, a facial peel may work best for you. I use facial peels once a week to freshen things up. You should use facial peels no more than twice per week to avoid irritation and damage to your skin’s natural moisture barrier.