Exfoliation is that one step in any skincare ritual that can take your skin from dull to glowing in a matter of minutes. When dead skin cells are effectively removed off of your skin to reveal your new, radiant layers underneath, it will instantly look much brighter.
Our bodies naturally shed dead skin cells from the surface of our skin. In fact, we lose around 30,000 to 40,000 skin cells every hour! If that number astonishes you, then it might make more sense knowing that we have billions of skin cells in total. Next time you dust your window sills or your picture frames, you may be dusting away former pieces of yourself. Sounds icky… but it’s true!
Our bodies release dead skin cells by pushing them up to the surface while new cells are created underneath. This is known as cell turnover. The rate of cell turnover depends on your age. That fresh “baby soft” skin will renew itself every 14 days in infants. For teenagers, it’s roughly every 27 days, and the rate of turnover for adults is anywhere between 28 and 42 days. As you can see, this process slows down as we age.
That being said, there is no need to worry. There are several excellent, natural ways to boost cell turnover through topical products. In this article, I will go over the different types of exfoliation and which will be best for your skin.
Why exfoliation is so important
Our skin is protected by the stratum corneum, a dead, top layer of skin that protects the living cells beneath it. It does this by providing a protective barrier between the lower layers of skin and the environment.
Without this very important layer, your skin would be at risk for all sorts of issues, from pollutant exposure to loss of water through the pores. This layer prevents water loss or absorption, and it keeps bacteria and toxins out.
Every few weeks, the stratum corneum goes through cell turnover where old, dead skin cells shed to make room for healthy, fresh cells. Young adults have a shorter cell turnover process and naturally have plumper, more youthful skin, whereas older adults experience a decreased rate of cell turnover.
Exfoliation can help to stimulate the cell turnover process so you can enjoy bright, youthful skin, no matter your age! It also helps to clear the pores from potential dead skin cell build-up that may contribute to breakouts. Therefore, regular exfoliation will keep you looking young, and your skin radiant and clear… not to mention, beautifully dewy and hydrated!
The types of exfoliation
Mechanical or manual exfoliation
This is the type of exfoliation most people know best and involves using your hands to manually slough off dead skin cells with textured products, such as scrubs, textured cloths, or sponges. Treatments including microdermabrasion and dermaplaning also fall under this category.
Scrubs and polishes are great all year round, yet may be a little harsh for very sensitive skin, including rosacea and inflamed acne. The last thing you want to do is slide textured products over red, sore skin.
What manual exfoliants are good for is removing dead skin cells on the surface without over-drying the skin. It is also safe to use a scrub, even during the summer, as they do not cause oversensitivity to the sun.
Enzymatic exfoliation
Enzymes in skincare are derived from fruits like papaya and pineapple and they work by gently dissolving dead skin cells. You can think of them like Pac-Men, eating up all the dead skin cells.
This is the best form of exfoliation for sensitive skin types, as it is not abrasive. You can find some enzyme masks that have some plant acids mixed in, and those will be slightly more potent for those with non-sensitive skin.
For a gentle enzyme treatment for all skin types, including sensitive, I recommend Rhonda Allison Derma-Zyme.
Shop all enzyme treatments here.
Chemical exfoliation
When you hear the word “chemical” you may feel a little frightened, but chemical exfoliation involves the use of gentle fruit acids that help to gently break up and dissolve dead skin cells.
Acid exfoliants are best for oily, acne, and sun-damaged skin in need of repair by dissolving the bonds between cells for rapid relief. Acid exfoliants also target clogged pores and penetrate deep to kill bacteria in the hair follicle that causes acne.
There are two types of chemical exfoliants, namely AHAs (alpha-hydroxy acids) and BHAs (beta hydroxy acids).
AHAs are best for dry skin, as they help to break down the “glue” that holds dead skin cells together. The end result is baby-soft skin that is silky to the touch. AHAs can’t penetrate too deep into the pores since they are water-soluble.
BHAs are better suited for oilier skin types. They are oil-soluble and sink deep into the pores to clean them out and remove old cell build-up. They have powerful anti-inflammatory and antibacterial benefits, ideal for sore, inflamed acne-prone skin.
Shop all of my favorite corrective serums & masks here.
Don’t over-exfoliate!
It’s natural to become excited when you start to see the incredible results a regular exfoliation regime has to offer. However, you don’t want to go overboard and exfoliate too frequently. This may impair the skin’s barrier putting you at risk for irritation, inflammation, redness, peeling, and sensitivity to your topical products.
Always check with your skincare professional (I can help with this!) on what they recommend the best course of action is with your at-home exfoliation products.
Once you have found an exfoliation method that works for you and your skin type, you are going to experience beautiful results!
Some of the benefits from a regular exfoliation ritual include:
- Improved skin tone and texture
- Improved collagen production for plumper skin
- Reduced incidents of breakouts
- Brighter, more luminous skin
- Enhanced absorption of your skincare products
I hope you enjoyed this article and feel more informed when it comes to different methods of exfoliation! There’s nothing quite like a thorough and regular exfoliation ritual to instantly revive your skin!
