Is your skin looking rather dull? Do flakes of skin rub off the moment you graze your hand against your face and/or body? Is the texture of your skin rough and scaly? If you’ve answered yes to either one of or all these questions, then a solid exfoliation session might be what your skin needs (and is probably crying out for). But if this popular skincare practice is unfamiliar to you, not to worry! To learn what exfoliation means, how it benefits skin, the ways you can exfoliate, and more, keep reading. We got ya covered!

What is Exfoliation?

For those who don’t know, exfoliation is the process of removing dead surface-layer skin cells. To make it easier to understand and/or visualize, think of a snake. These reptiles shed a layer of skin in one piece, between four to twelve times a year. The result? Newly generated, lustrous scales! Humans, on the other hand, shed millions (yes, millions) of skin cells each day. But folks, sometimes dead cells stick around, leaving behind flaky, dry patches and/or areas of skin. This is where exfoliation comes into play and is key for the maintenance of healthy, glowing skin! Scroll a little further to familiarize yourself with some beauty-boosting benefits of exfoliation!

Benefits of Exfoliation

It’s safe to say, when it comes to exfoliation…

Not only does exfoliation slough away at dead skin cells, but it can help lift dirt and debris from pores (which can limit frequent acne attacks), improve the overall appearance of skin (even tone and soften texture), and increase product absorption of topical skincare products! And these are just short-term benefits. When completed on a routine basis (and as frequently as your skin type will permit it), proper exfoliation can boost your skin’s natural collagen production in the long run! Firm, radiant skin for life? Yes, please!

Types of Exfoliation

Chemical

Chemical exfoliants remove dead skin cells with the use of acids. Think AHAs (such as glycolic and lactic acid), BHAs (salicylic acid, mostly), retinol, and chemical peels (both at-home and professional-level). But do keep in mind that mixing acids is not the way to go. Stick to one acid in a single skincare session as combining multiple has the potential to not only aggravate skin, but also cancel one another out and/or compromise their effectiveness.

Physical

Physical exfoliants remove dead skin cells with the use of tools. Think dry brushes, loofahs, pumice stones, exfoliation mitts, derma rollers, and handheld devices such as the Foreo and LumiSpa. An important thing to remember about these types of exfoliants is that more force or pressure will not yield faster results. If you scrub vigorously or too often, irritation, redness, tightening, and dryness are likely to occur!

How Often + When Should You Exfoliate?  

Exfoliation, you ask?

Although the benefits make this skin practice tempting to complete on a daily or nightly basis, exfoliation should be incorporated into your routine one to two times per week. If you do, however, have an oily complexion, you can exfoliate more often (three to four times). When it comes to determining when to exfoliate your skin, it truly does depend on what works best both for your personal schedule and skin type! For example, if you find that your skin feels particularly grimy after the yoga classes you complete twice a week, choose those days or nights to treat your skin with a lil’ extra scrub action. But again, if you only have yoga twice a week but an oily complexion is what you routinely deal with, you can get away with exfoliating more.

Also keep in mind that if you have a pre-existing skin condition such as rosacea or eczema, exfoliation can potentially aggravate your skin further. It’s always best to consult with a dermatologist first!

MOZ Exfoliating Product Pick

Our Arabica Coffee Scrub was designed for the day-to-day maintenance of clean and healthy-looking skin. Once applied, it helps remove dead skin, reduce signs of cellulite, stretch marks, and wrinkles, improve swelling and inflammation, and cleanse skin to remove dirt and bacteria from pores. And we can’t forget to mention that the cleansing and moisturizing Arabica seed oil and Dead Sea salt components of our scrub are suitable for all skin types! 

The Bottom Line

Exfoliation clears away dead cells, provides an instant glow, and is suitable for all skin types. And in our professional opinion, it doesn’t get any better than that! Follow us on socials and let us know what type of exfoliator you are (chemical or physical) and what your exfoliation routine is like. We’d also love to know what other kinds of exfoliating products you’d like to see from us! Chat soon.