How To: What Is The Proper Way Of Exfoliating Body Skin

It is important to understand every process you perform on your skin before doing anything. Exfoliating is no exception. There are different types of exfoliants and techniques as well. But before we get into those we need to understand what exfoliating is and does.

Exfoliating removes dead skin cells improving the appearance and texture. It also helps unclog pores and prevent those pesky ingrown hairs. Never any fun. Exfoliating can also improve the ability for your skin to absorb the products you have carefully chosen to build your routine.

Of course not all exfoliation is made equal. Because how boring would that be. We need a little variety. But in all seriousness there are different types of exfoliating techniques and products that tackle different skin types and concerns. The two major types are mechanical and chemical.

Mechanical is what we call when you exfoliate using physical scrubs made out of things like sugar, coffee or salt. It is safe to perform this 1 to 2 times a week and all skin types benefit from this type of exfoliation.

Chemical exfoliation is the use of chemicals. Or in this case for your skin you probably use acids. This tends to be a more gentle option for anyone with a little more sensitive skin.

Let's focus a little bit on how to exfoliate

The process of exfoliating can be quite an enjoyable one. It tends to put me into a zone of bliss. Where nothing else matters but me and my routine at that moment. I look forward to these moments all week. Where I get to work on myself and my body. That always gives me a sense of connection. I quite enjoy that.

Ok so first things first and that is. Figure out which type of exfoliant you need. Are you opting for a physical or chemical exfoliant? Good choice.

It's good to remember that if you have sensitive skin you wanna opt for gentle enzyme based exfoliants. If you have dry skin a hydrating scrub with moisturizing ingredients is probably your best bet. And if you experience oily skin salicylic acid- asked exfoliants are the way to go.

But wait you don't just jump into it just like that. We do have a little bit of prep to do. Like cleansing and softening your skin first. Important aspects. Do not exfoliate daily. Oh no no no. This should be done 1 to 2 times a week. Always start with lukewarm water to soften your skin. Always apply light pressure to avoid doing damage to your skin. Always moisturize after. We want to hydrate that newly exposed skin.

As always the warnings. Don't exfoliate irritated skin. Do not exfoliate sunburnt or broken skin. You don't want to go through that experience. If you exfoliate and notice redness or irritation then stop using that exfoliant. It's always a really good idea to patch test before applying it all over your body. We don't know what we don't know and this is the way to know!

Well there you have it. A simple guide to exfoliating body skin. Till next time