Why Should You Exfoliate at All?
For a lot of people, exfoliation is an important part of their skincare routine. And it really should be, considering the number of benefits it provides your skin.
Exfoliation helps to remove your dead skin cells. This is super important. It will prevent acne, clogged pores, and flaky skin. When the dead skin cells are gone, new skin cells will produce faster and help your skin feel and look fresher. Also, any moisturizer you apply later will absorb deep into your skin and do its job better.
Exfoliation will also remove other impurities from your skin, and leave it clear and smooth. Be careful to keep exfoliation to just once or twice a week, as that will do the job without overdoing it.
Now that we have established how necessary exfoliation is, let’s talk about the type of exfoliants; physical and chemical.
Physical Exfoliants
You have probably heard more about physical exfoliants than chemical exfoliants. As the name suggests, this type of exfoliation physically scrubs your skin. It either uses products that contain small abrasive particles, or various tools like brushes or washcloths.
So what are the benefits of using physical exfoliants? They are very readily available; you can easily find facial scrubs of a wide range at different stores. Not only are they easy to use, but you will also see an instant result. The dead skin cells will be wiped off, and your skin will feel smoother and softer. Since granular scrubs have to be massaged, your blood circulation will improve, and your skin will look fresher.
All of this sounds pretty amazing, right? But before you decide to start physically exfoliating your skin, let’s have a look at chemical exfoliants.
Chemical Exfoliants
You might have a bias against these exfoliants, because of the word chemical. But don’t be scared, and hear us out here. The way chemical exfoliants work is that they contain acids that help to dissolve the dead skin cells from your skin. These acids are not just gentle and mild but are present in very little amounts.
The benefits of chemical exfoliation are that they don’t just exfoliate, but also help with uneven skin tone, pigmentation, fine lines, and wrinkles, and make your skin look brighter.
Which One is Better?
Well, here is the moment of truth. Which type of exfoliant is better? While physical exfoliants provide results quickly, and chemical exfoliants take their sweet time, physical exfoliants can end up damaging your skin. They can be very harsh, and cause dryness. Moreover, physical exfoliants can cause micro-tears, resulting in redness and irritation.
So, you might see a difference immediately after using a scrub, but is it really worth it if your skin is left damaged and broken? We don’t think so. Chemical exfoliants are definitely the winner here.
That being said, be sure to pick up chemical exfoliants that contain natural acids and fruit enzymes, and no toxic substances.
Ultimately, the decision is yours. No matter what exfoliant you choose to use, keep its use to a minimum, and make sure you moisturize afterward.
For more information on how Missouri College of Cosmetology can help you, contact us today.