The exfoliation process is one that needs to be approached with care, but the benefits are wonderful indeed! Read on as we unpack the amazing skincare technique that is exfoliation.
What Is It?
Exfoliation is the process of removing the skin's outer layer of dead skin cells. Skin cell turnover slows down as we age, so exfoliation is a really effective way of speeding up this process for smoother, brighter skin.
Types of Exfoliants
Physical (aka Mechanical)
Products and treatments that remove dirt and dead skin cells using friction from particle ingredients like jojoba beads or sugar granules.
How Does This Affect the Environment?
Unfortunately, a lot of the physical scrubs on the market are not environmentally friendly, as the scrub beads often result in micro-plastic pollution. This is why we've intentionally formulated our Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Polish using jojoba beads as the physical exfoliant, which are fully bio-degradable and don't cause any harm to the environment whatsoever 🌸
Chemical
Products and treatments that loosen the bonds between skin cells using enzymes and acid ingredients like AHAs and BHAs. As these bonds are broken, the top layer of the skin cells are shed, thereby unclogging the pores and resulting in smoother, healthier skin.
Combination
Generally speaking, exfoliating products are typically either chemical or physical. At Standard, we're all about simplifying your skincare routine in lines with the here-to-stay "skinimalism" trend, which you can read up more on here, and we have therefore combined the two - resulting in a single product that contains both physical and chemical exfoliating ingredients in balanced concentrations.
Our award-winning face scrub, the Double Power Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Polish
What About Sensitive Skin?
Although there are many exfoliants on the market that feel more harsh on the skin, this isn't the case for all face exfoliating products. The exfoliant particle size plays a huge role as far as sensitivity is concerned, as micro-tears in the skin can come about as a result of particles that are too large. Of course, a patch test is always recommended for people with sensitive skin, but our Exfoliating Polish, for example, is a face scrub that is suitable for all skin types, including the more sensitive babes out there 😉
The Benefits
There are so many benefits of exfoliating your skin. In addition to increasing cell turnover, these benefits include:
1. Unclogging pores
2. Preventing acne
3. Evening out skin tone
4. Boosting circulation
5. Stimulating collagen production
Exfoliate 1-2x per week for smoother brighter skin ~
The Risks
It's very important to allow enough time between exfoliations for the skin to heal. Yes, we looove how soft our skin feels after exfoliating, but over-exfoliation is something that should be avoided by ensuring that you don't exfoliate too frequently. A general rule of thumb for facial exfoliation is once or twice a week, but be sure to check the guidelines on that particular product before use.
If you suffer from skin conditions like eczema or rosacea on your face then it's best to avoid exfoliating altogether, as this could cause further irritation to the skin, leading to flare-ups.
So go ahead and do your thing, babe. These guidelines will get you that smooth, bright complexion you've been dreaming of. Happy exfoliating!
