Fresh face, clear complexion, acne free & smooth skin… who doesn’t want that? With all of the different products on the market, and “beauty hacks” promoted via Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, etc. it can be a little confusing to know just what we should do for our skin care routine. Exfoliating your skin is something that should be done regularly, to maintain a clear complexion, and have a fresh faced look all year round.
1. Out with the Old, in with the New
Our face takes quite the beating. It is, after all, the only part of us that is always exposed to the elements. Sandy & salty beach days in the summer months demand we get rid of the dirt and grime that threatens to clog our pores. In the winter, dry flakiness and other pollens and bacterias tend to be a theme for many as our skin dries out in the cold and we spend a lot of time without that extra kick from our friend Vitamin D that hibernates more in the winter months. Exfoliating your face helps rid the exterior layer of skin, not only does it rid the more obvious flakiness that tends to greet us around the dryer winter months, but it also removes the smaller external layer of skin that we can’t see with our blind eye in the mirror. Exfoliating regularly helps ensure that the old, outer and dead layer on your skin is gone, and the new fresh layer is revealed.
2. Simplify Your Makeup Routine
Let’s be honest here. As women, doing our makeup can be really fun. It’s like painting, and you are the canvas. But it can also be a huge inconvenience and something we simply don’t want to be obligated to do every day. Many makeup routines consist of a whole concoction of different foundations, concealers, and powders aimed to cover up our imperfections and make our face look flawless. Most men and women adore the natural look, anyway. We all have a natural beauty and uniqueness to our faces that shouldn’t be covered up. Let’s keep it simple, shall we. Exfoliation removes this old and tired outer layer, revealing a fresh face, clean complexion that doesn’t require makeup to pick up the slack.
3. Quick Fix
Not enough sleep? Too much dough-eating while baking leave your face looking inflamed or broken out? Don’t sweat. Exfoliation is more about just removing the external dirt, oil, grime and bacteria, but it also helps improve circulation and decrease signs of inflammation. Think of exfoliating as waking up your skin when you need a quick refresher before you start your day.
4. Soften Your Skin, and Lips
Because exfoliating removes the outer layer of skin, what is left is a fresh and soft layer of skin. Lips unfortunately get missed when talking about the topic of exfoliation, but they are just as important to make sure we exfoliate regularly. Exfoliating your lips can help increase circulation and keep them plump. Mixing honey and sugar together is a quick homemade scrub that helps revive your lips and reveal a soft, outer layer without dry or flakiness.
5. There’s Really No Reason Not To
Exfoliating is simple. Whether you make your own homemade scrub, or opt for a store brand, its only takes a few moments after cleansing, and 2-3 times a week to do. The benefits outway the costs by far, and you are setting yourself up for lifelong skin health when you exfoliate. When exfoliating, do not press down hard, let the micro beads and granules in the mixture to do the work for you. Pressing down too hard can be damaging at the microscopic level, so be mindful of this fact. Exfoliating is a practice to start young, and make a habit in your regular beauty routine through the years.
Hannah W.
December 20, 2016Exfoliating truly does wonders. I try to keep my product use cruelty free. I have found that I love a few scrubs from “Lush Cosmetics” and “Yes to.” I’d love to know some of your favorite scrubs!
Sarah
December 20, 2016I agree!! I was recommended by my facialist to only exfoliate once per week (I have breakouts and she warned me overexfoliating could aggrevate them and lead to excess oil production), but that soft feeling right afterwards is bliss! Also, a quick tip for exfoliating lips is to use an extra soft toothbrush. Giving your lips a 30-45 second scrub at the end of brushing your teeth gives them the same super soft feeling, and if you do it before a date it plumps them up beautifully.
Amanda
January 12, 2017You are looking so awesome! I agree with you that our face takes quite the beating. It is, after all, the only part of us that is always exposed to the elements. In case of face scrub what you use? You can use elf skin care products. I think it’s really helpful for face scrub. Whatever, All the point is really informative and it will help us to take a decision about face scrub. Thanks! For sharing. See you again.
andreeabolbea
February 1, 2017i use different ones but one of my favorites is the Omorovicza one