You’ve no doubt heard about how beneficial exfoliating is, it’s been around for years after all, but do you know how to do it properly? If you’re simply scrubbing away at your skin without much instruction, you could actually be doing more harm than good.
Exfoliating correctly has a whole host of benefits, including an anti-aging boost to keep you looking youthful for longer. In addition, exfoliating actually encourages the natural shedding and regenerating process, which adds health and a natural glow, without having to resort to expensive creams and potions.
So, what is the right way to exfoliate? Firstly, you need to commit to the process. You need to exfoliate once a week without fail; many people start with good intentions and then it falls by the wayside and they resort to once a month when they remember. Commit to the process and you’ll gain the benefits and results.
What is Your Real Skin Type?
Knowing the type of skin you have is beneficial in many ways, but it can certainly help you to exfoliate in the right way. This means you can purchase the type of products which will compliment your skin properly, without adding too much oil, or taking its way. If you have sensitive skin, try an exfoliating product which is non-granular, to avoid too much scrubbing. If you have dry skin, go for a scrub which is designed for this type, to add moisture where you need it the most.
Always do a Test and Follow Instructions
Of course, you should never use any product on your skin without doing a patch test first, and this is even more important for your facial skin. Try the product out on your neck or just behind your ear and I leave it for 48 hours minimum. If you don’t see or feel any reaction, you should be good to go. In addition to this, you should always follow the instructions on the product’s packaging. Certain products are designed to be used in a certain way, and to get the best out of them, safely, you should heed advice.
Exfoliating Isn’t a Rough Process
When you’re exfoliating, you shouldn’t press or scrub, it should actually be quite a gentle process. Use a gentle, circular motion, as this will encourage and boost circulation, and it won’t lead to irritation and excessive redness. It’s quite normal to have a rosy glow for a couple of hours when you’ve exfoliated, but raging redness is not normal, and even the rosiness should disappear relatively quickly. When you rinse off afterwards, stick to lukewarm water, for a soothing finish.
Don’t Forget Your Neck
Exfoliation shouldn’t stop at the chin, and it’s a great idea to give your neck a little treatment too. This area will need a different exfoliating product, so go for a body scrub here, and not a facial product. Use the same type of circular, gentle motion and you will have a neck that looks as youthful as your face!
Remember to Follow up
Once you have exfoliated and rinsed with lukewarm water, it’s a good idea to look into after-exfoliation products too. We’re talking about serums or moisturisers, which calm the skin down after the exfoliation and soothe it all out. You’ll also get a youthful and softer glow as a result. You don’t have to spend the Earth on these types of products, and it’s a case of shopping around.
Exfoliation might be time consuming but it is definitely worth the time investment. Remember, if you’re not doing it right, it’s not worth doing it at all, so make sure you’re ticking all the right boxes and wait for that youthful glow to arrive!
