Summer School 04: Exfoliation, Explained
Exfoliating is essential for glowing, radiant skin.
Old, dead skin cells can sit on the skin’s surface, causing dullness, breakouts and even premature signs of aging. What’s the best way to remove those old cells and reveal healthier skin? Regular exfoliation!
When it comes to choosing an exfoliant, you have options: chemical exfoliants and physical exfoliants. But we don’t discriminate between the two! In today’s Summer School lesson, our Nashville provider and nurse practitioner Carly Smith explains the difference between chemical and physical exfoliants — and why there’s room for both in your routine.
Watch the full episode below or read on for the recap!
Why is exfoliating important?
The average skin cell cycle is about 28 days. New skin replaces old, dead skin. Exfoliating helps get rid of those dead skin cells to reveal fresh new ones.
What’s the difference between a chemical exfoliant and a physical one?
When we’re talking about chemical exfoliants, we’re referring to salicylic acid, glycolic acid and lactic acid. These are non-abrasive acids that break down the bonds between skin cells and remove the dead ones, allowing for glowing skin underneath. Chemical exfoliation is great if you’re feeling dry or scaly or have acne-prone skin. It also helps your other products penetrate better. When we talk about physical exfoliants, that’s going to be something that has some texture to it — a little bit of grit, like a scrub or a mask. These physically remove those old, dead skin cells.
Which one should I use — chemical or physical?
Using both chemical and physical exfoliants in your routine is really the key to healthy and glowing skin!
For something you can use almost daily (or at least a few times a week), you’ll want to reach for our Crystal Clear clarifying pads. They have salicylic, glycolic and lactic acid in them. These are going to help buff and brighten the skin. They work really well for anti-aging or if you’re feeling kind of dry and scaly. I recommend following these with our Youth Serum!
For a physical exfoliant, you’ll want something with that texture, like Clay Time. This is a great one to keep in your shower and do once a week. It has quartz crystals that gently remove any remaining dead skin. It’ll make your skin feel softer and smoother, too!
