Exfoliate, Look Alive!

Exfoliation is an essential step in a solid skin care routine. It not only refreshes your skin in an instant, it also happens to be one of the best ways to get immediate gratification. Exfoliation removes dead or living skin cells from the layers of your skin, producing a noticeable and immediate improvement in the appearance of your skin. Exfoliation is necessary as our skin is in constant state of renewal. 

From mechanical to chemical means and everything in between, our skin therapists have an endless amount of options for not only the kind of exfoliation products to use but the ways in which they may be used. We talked with our experienced skin therapist, Jin and she shared the different methods and some of her favorite tips to properly exfoliate and look alive!  

Mechanical Exfoliation

Mechanical exfoliation employs the use of either a tool or a substance, depending on the amount of friction and nature of the abrasive used, it loosens and polishes the outer surface of the skin. This method primarily polishes but it does not unclog pores as chemical exfoliants can. It’s good to keep in mind, that excessive abrasion can result in skin irritation, which is why we use abrasives that do not result in irritation such as, crushed fruit pits, shells or similar damaging substances.

Chemical Exfoliation

Chemical exfoliation, we believe is the more effective of the two, it employs a variety of means to achieve skin renewal such as hydroxy acids (i.e. Lactic Acid, Salicylic Acid and Glycolic Acid), Retinol (i.e. Vitamin A) and enzymes (i.e. Papain, Bromelain and protease enzymes from Bacillus microbes). Unlike, mechanical exfoliation, chemical exfoliation can penetrate deeper into the skin and dissolve dead skin cells, revealing a smoother and fresher appearance. 

How to Decide Which Exfoliation Method is Best for You

When it comes to exfoliation, we can be overwhelmed by our options as there are many ways to go about exfoliating our skin. Many times exfoliating ingredients may be hidden in our day to day products and too much exfoliation can lead to issues. Such as, removing too much skin prematurely, triggering inflammation, or simply causing irritation to our skin. Though there is no definite answer as to what is considered ‘too much’ exfoliation, taking cues as to how each individual’s skin reacts is the best way to gage what type, and how often exfoliation is needed. 

Exfoliation At Home 

• cleansers containing AHA’s or abrasive particles
• moisturizers or serums containing AHA’s 
• peel or masks containing enzymes or AHA’s 
• electrical or sonic cleaning brushes 
• non-electric brushes or hand gloves/towels 

Professional Exfoliation

• Deep Chemical Peels containing professional strength exfoliants such as AHA’s, Salicylic Acid and enzymes with products only available to professionals
• Dermaplanning, ultrasonic handheld device, lasers or microdermabrasion

It is easy to feel overwhelmed by the depth of the options available but our team of professionals are here to help. A great place to start is by making an appointment for a free skin consultation with our experienced estheticians. A professional exfoliation once a month is a great way to maintain healthy skin, we will also recommend an easy to follow routine for home that will work with even the busiest lifestyle.