Your skincare routine isn’t complete without exfoliation. You can have all of the best face care products and still find your routine isn’t giving you the results you want because you might be skipping the skin exfoliation step.
While you may spend a lot of time carefully cleansing, moisturizing, and trying to prevent signs of aging, buildup of dead skin can actually prevent your skin from looking and feeling fresh in the first place! That high-end serum you love? It won’t work as well as you think if you have a layer of dead skin sitting on top of your skin cells.
Let’s discuss why skin exfoliation matters. From what skin exfoliation is to what exfoliation of skin does, once you understand the why and how you can dramatically change how your skin looks and feels. Keep reading to learn how exfoliation can help you achieve smooth texture and improve radiance while locking in moisture and making your skin softer overall.
Here at Eight Saints Skincare, we believe that skin exfoliation and facial skincare are important, but you have to know how to do both properly. Don’t strip your skin of too many natural oils and cause irritation by over-exfoliating. Take a peek at these skincare tips to learn how exfoliation can benefit your entire routine.
What Is Skin Exfoliation?
Skin exfoliation is when you remove dead skin from your face. As your skin naturally renews itself, old skin cells die and slough off. The problem? This process doesn’t always happen fast enough, which is where skin exfoliation comes in.
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When dead skin cells build up on your skin, it can cause your skin to look dull, feel rough and flaky, or even feel dry or bumpy.
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Exfoliating your face removes that old skin to reveal the newer skin below.
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With regular exfoliation, your face will feel smoother and look brighter!
Contrary to popular belief, exfoliation isn’t about scrubbing your skin until it feels raw. Good exfoliation should leave your skin feeling happier and more rejuvenated. Keep reading to learn exactly what exfoliating your skin does and why it’s so important!
What Does Skin Exfoliation Do for Your Skin?
Exfoliating improves your skin’s texture and brightness. You will also notice that your skin looks smoother and feels softer after you exfoliate. There are so many other benefits your skin will enjoy when you make exfoliation a regular part of your routine.
Exfoliation also helps your skin better absorb other products. If you’re wondering why your favorite moisturizer or facial serum isn’t living up to the hype, it might be because your skin is covered in dead skin buildup. When you exfoliate, you don’t just leave your skin smoother—you also allow for better absorption of the products you use.
Use exfoliation to your skin’s advantage by letting your favorite products actually do their job. Once you start exfoliating your skin on a regular basis, you’ll discover other benefits like:
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Improving the look of dry, uneven skin
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Minimizing the appearance of dry patches
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Helping your pores look cleaner
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Softening the skin
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Enhancing your skin’s natural glow
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Improving your skin’s overall texture
Exfoliation makes every step of your skincare routine better. Give your skin the healthy foundation it needs by making exfoliation a regular part of your routine.
Why Should You Cleanse Before Exfoliating?
When you exfoliate, you want to make sure you’re starting with a clean face. Cleansing before exfoliating your skin ensures you won’t spread dirt and oil around your face. Think of it this way: you wouldn’t use scrub on your face if it’s already dirty. The dirt will only spread and you’ll still be left with unwanted grime.
Cleansing should always be step one in your facial skincare routine. After cleansing, you’ll want to exfoliate your skin. Remember, don’t exfoliate instead of washing your face; you should always wash your face before exfoliating.
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Use a cleanser that works for your skin type and that leaves your skin feeling balanced.
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If you use a cleanser that leaves your skin feeling stripped or tight, exfoliating your face will only feel harsher.
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You should be left feeling refreshed after your cleanser, not dried out
Our Down to Earth Gel Facial Cleanser is a lightweight gel that cleanses away excess oil, impurities, and daily buildup. If you have combination or oily skin, a gel cleanser is the perfect option for you.
If you prefer a creamy cleanser, try our Bright Side Cream Facial Cleanser. Our cream facial cleanser is great for those who love that creamy texture and want to nourish their skin at the same time. Cleansing isn’t just about getting rid of dirt and oil; it’s about preparing your skin for the rest of your skin-care products.
Where Does Exfoliation Fit Into a Facial Routine?
Exfoliation should always come after cleansing. But what comes after exfoliation? Apply your serums and moisturizers after exfoliating your skin. The general skincare routine order looks like this:
1. Cleanse
2. Exfoliate
3. Apply serums and/or treatment products
4. Apply moisturizer
5. Apply SPF in the morning
Did you notice exfoliation comes before serums, moisturizers, and facial oils? That’s because you want your skin to be as fresh as possible before you lock in those nutrients. Think of exfoliating your skin as sloughing off the old skin that doesn’t need your skincare products. By exfoliating first, you won’t be wasting any product!
Many skincare newbies forget to exfoliate their skin altogether. Others place exfoliation at the wrong step in their routine, making their skincare products less effective. Properly exfoliating your skin allows your moisturizer to glide on smoothly and your makeup to apply better.
If you want your skincare routine to feel complete, don’t forget to add in exfoliation!
What Makes a Good Skin Exfoliation Scrub?
Since exfoliation is such an important step in your skincare routine, you want to make sure you’re using a good exfoliator. A good skin exfoliation scrub won’t have you feeling raw or painful after your skincare routine. Using a quality exfoliator will aid in your skin’s natural ability to rejuvenate and renew.
One of the biggest skincare mistakes you can make is using an exfoliator that is too intense. Your skin does not need to be scrubbed until it hurts to effectively exfoliate. Scrubbing your skin too hard can cause:
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Irritation
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Dry skin
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Sensitivity
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Discomfort
Nobody wants dry, uncomfortable skin. Be sure to take a closer look at your exfoliator and pay attention to how it exfoliates. Our Zen Out of Ten Face Scrub focuses on consistency instead of intensity. This gentle face scrub helps smooth and rejuvenate skin in the most natural way.
A lot of people think exfoliating your skin should leave your face squeaky clean or tight, but that’s not the case. Tight skin can be a sign that you’re over-exfoliating. After exfoliating your skin, it should feel softer and smoother.
Remember: don’t apply too much pressure when exfoliating. Gently massage the scrub into your skin in circular motions. You should still be able to feel your exfoliator working without causing your skin unnecessary stress.
How Often Should You Exfoliate Your Skin?
You should exfoliate your skin 1-3 times a week. There is no need to over-exfoliate your skin! Sure, you might see results in the short term, but over-exfoliating your skin can damage your skin’s natural barrier. Red, irritated skin is not an attractive look for anyone.
If you notice your skin is too sensitive after exfoliating, you’re probably exfoliating too often. Signs that you may be over-exfoliating your skin include:
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Redness
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Tightness
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Sensitivity
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Flakey/dry skin
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Reaction to skincare products
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Pain/irritation after cleansing
Listen to your skin and pay attention to how it feels! Some skin types can go longer between exfoliating while other skin types may require more frequent exfoliating. If your skin tends to be on the dryer side or more sensitive, you’ll want to exfoliate your skin less. Exfoliating 1-2 times a week will be enough to keep your skin smooth and glowing.
If you have combination or oily skin, you have a little more flexibility. You can probably exfoliate your skin every other day without irritating your skin. Weather and temperature can also affect how many times you should exfoliate. Colder weather tends to cause dry skin, so you may want to reduce your exfoliating sessions in the winter.
Remember, consistency is key. Exfoliating your skin too much *will not* speed up the results. Stick to exfoliating your face 1-3 times a week for softer, smoother skin.
Can Exfoliation Improve Product Absorption?
Yes! When you exfoliate your skin, you remove layers of dead skin that could be blocking your skincare products from fully absorbing. Even if you spend money on the best serum, moisturizer, and treatment products, they’re useless if they don’t properly absorb into your skin.
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When there is excess dead skin on your face, your moisturizer will have a hard time spreading evenly.
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By exfoliating your skin first, you don’t waste your skincare products.
- Exfoliating can also improve your makeup application.
Believe it or not, foundation and concealer loves to cling onto dry patches and uneven skin. Even if you can’t see the dead skin buildup on your face, it’s there. Facial care allows your makeup to apply evenly and smoothly.
Why Does Exfoliation Matter Beyond Your Face?
You may be thinking, “Wait. Does my body need exfoliating too?” Yep! While facial exfoliation is important for the skin on your face, other areas of your body need exfoliation as well.
Just like your face, dead skin can build up on your elbows, knees, shoulders, arms, and legs. Make sure to exfoliate these areas to leave your skin feeling smoother and softer. Use our Welcome to the Scrub Body Scrub to improve the appearance of dry skin and uneven texture.
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It smells amazing!
- We love exfoliating our bodies before big shaving days to ensure our legs look (and feel) their best.
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Some people only exfoliate their body during certain seasons.
- Skin tends to be drier during the winter months, so exfoliating can help improve dry texture.
Skincare doesn’t stop at your neck and shoulders. Make sure you’re taking care of your whole body by exfoliating regularly!
Why Isn’t Your Skincare Routine Complete Without Exfoliation?
Skincare routine isn’t complete without exfoliation because once you cleanse and moisturize, you still may have dead skin buildup on your face. Sure, you read those labels about how gentle your cleanser is and how moisturizers are supposed to hydrate the skin. But do they?
Eliminate the dead skin buildup with exfoliation. You’ll wonder how you lived without it! Not only will your skincare products work better, but your skin will look brighter and smoother.
At Eight Saints Skincare, we strive to create products that work for your skin. That’s why we have skincare products like our Down to Earth Gel Facial Cleanser and Bright Side Cream Facial Cleanser so you can properly cleanse your face without stripping your skin. Pair your cleanser with our Zen Out of Ten Face Scrub to properly exfoliate your skin.
Lastly, don’t forget to exfoliate your body with our Welcome to the Scrub Body Scrub. You’ll wonder how you went so long without adding exfoliation to your skincare routine.