As the weather warms up and the summer begins, our thoughts turn to getting our skin as glowing as we can. In order to achieve this exfoliation is key. Exfoliation is key for smooth, glowing skin but there is a right and wrong way to go about it (the wrong way can lead to irritated skin and even some damage to your skin.) 

What is exfoliation? 

It's essentially removing dead skin cells from the surface of your skin, which would otherwise sit there and cause your skin to look dull and lacklustre. There are two types of exfoliation : Chemical and Physical. Chemical involves using resurfacing skincare with retinol's or acids to break down the surface build up and reveal the fresh skin underneath, whereas physical exfoliation is scrubbing of the skin with an exfoliating brush or scrub to buff away any dead skin cells.

What are the benefits? 

As we age, the bodies ability to shed dead skin cells slows down, which leads to dull skin, so in order to achieve healthy, glowing skin it is essential. If we don’t remove the dead cells, our skin can appear dull and, in time, our pores can become blocked, which often leads to a breakout of acne or oily skin.

Regular exfoliation can also help your serums and creams penetrate the skin better as they won’t be layered on top of dead skin cells. Without exfoliating you are essentially wasting money on the rest of your routine.

How often should you exfoliate? 

Exfoliate your body a few times a week (as often as you feel you need) and your face depends on your skin type and skin care concerns. If you have sensitive skin once a week is usually enough but other skin types such as oily and combination can usually exfoliate twice a week. Less is more when it comes to exfoliating as too much can cause serious irritation. 

Chemical exfoliants should only be left on for as long as the packaging recommends. Physical exfoliants should be used for no longer than a couple of minutes.

How to exfoliate? 

If you have sensitive skin - opt for a exfoliating cleanser or serum and skip the chemical as this may cause too much irritation.

If you have oily or combination skin - you can choose between a chemical or physical exfoliation. Once you get this routine right, you will see a dramatic improvement in your skin and will feel the GLOW.

Unsure what skin type you have? 

What are the benefits of Glycolic acid? 

How do I exfoliate my body? 

The best tip for exfoliating your body (or your face) is too do so in a hot steamy bath or shower as this will open up your pores and prepares the skin to be cleaned. It's also a great tip to exfoliate first thing in the morning as the skin repairs itself over the night - which means there is often a lot of dead skin cells waiting to be removed! 

After you have exfoliated make sure to apply a moisturiser or body butter to help your skin retain moisture and ensure skin is looking radiant.