What is Exfoliation, and how can I get started?

We’ve all heard the advice, telling us to exfoliate all the time, but why? In order to realize the importance of Exfoliation, we need to under what exactly Exfoliation is, as well as the best ways to exfoliate your specific skin type without getting irritated skin.
So, let’s breakdown exactly what exfoliation is, the different ways to exfoliate, and how you can get started today.

What is Exfoliation?
Exfoliation is the act of removing dead skin cells from your skin, either by means of mechanical exfoliation, which uses a tiny grainy substance or an exfoliating tool, or chemical exfoliation, which uses chemicals.
These dead skin cells would fall off by themselves, but getting rid of them sooner will give your skin a younger and brighter look.

How does my Skin Type affect how I should exfoliate?
If you have sensitive skin, you should avoid harsh exfoliators, and look for ones that are specifically formulated for sensitive skin. Avoid mechanical exfoliation if you’re just starting out, and stick to a chemical exfoliator that is mild.
For Oily Skin, you should increase the frequency that you exfoliate, as your skin type requires more upkeep.
If you suffer from Dry Skin, you should reduce the frequency that you exfoliate, to avoid drying your skin out further, and hydrate your skin thoroughly after doing so.

Should I exfoliate just my face, or my entire body?
Exfoliating your face is extremely important, but you shouldn’t stop there. For younger looking arms, hands, legs and feet, you should exfoliate twice a week with a body scrub, keeping in mind your skin type.

How Often should I Exfoliate?
Your skin type will affect how often you should exfoliate, but on average, you should be exfoliating at least twice a week. People with sensitive and dry skin should exfoliate less often with a mild exfoliant, while people with oily skin should exfoliate three or four times a week.

The Different Types of Exfoliating
There are two main ways to exfoliate, a mechanical exfoliation and a chemical exfoliation.

Mechanical Exfoliation
This method uses a physical object to scrub off the dead skin cells. This can be done with either tiny granules suspended in the exfoliant that scrub the skin, or with a loofah, pumice, or scrubbing brush, which is used to gently scrub the skin.
This method works well for quick results, but can lead to irritation and rashes in those that have sensitive skin.

Chemical Exfoliation
This method uses chemicals to remove dead skin cells and can yield better results that a mechanical exfoliant if done correctly, however, harsher chemical exfoliants can also cause irritation and rashes. Thankfully, sensitive skin chemical exfoliants are now very common.

How can I get started today?
Now that we know what exfoliation is, the different types of exfoliation, and how our skin type affects how often and which type of exfoliant we need to use, we can get started on incorporating exfoliation into our weekly skincare routine.

Barebody Skin Lightening Xfoliating Gel Wash and Soap Bar are the perfect addition to your routine.
The range has been developed to be gentle and soothing, and support skin lightening and the visible reduction of pigmentation. Utilizing them will cleanse, exfoliate and add radiance to your skin, as natural pumice sloughs away dead skin cells for smooth and brighter looking skin.
The BareBody Body XF Gel Wash contains Vitamin B3, also known as Niacin, that works to condition and nourish your skin. It also contains Walnut Shell Powder, which works to remove dead skin and excess oils, reduce acne and red spots and treat mild to moderate skin conditions.

Head over to our BareBody Shop to get yours now, and start the journey towards healthier, younger, more radiant looking skin.