In your weekly skincare routine, exfoliation should be an integral part. Exfoliating does not only get your skin soft, smooth, and healthy-looking, it also improves its tone and texture by helping to combat the signs of aging. When dead skin cells and dirt pile up on the surface of your skin, it can leave your complexion looking rough, dry, and dull. Getting rid of this yucky layer on your skin encourages cell renewal and will let your skin replenish itself.
There are two types of exfoliation: chemical and physical.
Physical exfoliation uses abrasive-style substances to buff your dead skin cells away. Chemical exfoliation uses an enzyme-based or acid-based formula to remove and dissolve dead skin cells without any scrubbing. An example of physical exfoliation is using a cleanser containing microbeads. An example of chemical exfoliation is a peel.
How often you exfoliate all depends on the type of your skin. If you have sensitive skin, you should start by using a very gentle formulation once or twice a week. If you have oily and problem prone skin, you can try exfoliating more frequently. Just don’t go overboard — too much exfoliation can strip away too much of your skin’s natural oil, causing more problems than you started off with.