Better Skin in 5: Exfoliate
I don't know about you but when it comes to how and when to exfoliate the (facial) lines get all blurry! Am I being too aggressive by exfoliating daily? Is 1 or 2x a week, not enough? Do I do it manually, or chemically? Wait, I just read that my skin naturally sheds, so why do I need to do it at all?
AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!
Help!
Okay, let's take a deep breath and figure this out.
The outermost layer of your skin, the epidermis, is frequently changing.
As skin cells travel from the lower layers of the epidermis to the surface, they’ll ultimately fall off.
The process is known as skin cell turnover or natural exfoliation, where cells die and shed off to reveal more glowing younger skin.
It takes about 4-6 weeks for this process to happen.
However, as you age this process can take even longer.
To give you some context, a baby sheds skin cells every 14 days; as a teen, it takes around 28 days; if you're middle-aged and going through the "change" in life it could take 28-42 days, and if you are 50+ it might take as long as 84 days.
So, as you age gentle exfoliation can be vital for the health of your skin. The dead skin can even form a barrier that prevents your topical products from absorbing and doing their jobs. So the benefits of exfoliating can include brighter, smoother, more even-toned skin, and less clogged pores.
But what kind of exfoliation should I be using?
Well, it depends on what kind of skin you have. For instance, I have thin, dry, sensitive, and prone to blackheads and rashes type of skin. So, I have to be careful to not over-stimulate my skin with harsh chemicals, and scrubs.
Here are some methods of exfoliation:
Lactic Acid: This is my favorite because it is the most gentle, and hydrating type of AHA (alpha hydroxy acid). It is derived from milk and plants and is wonderful for dry and sensitive skin like mine. AHAs make your skin more sun-sensitive so don't forget to use your sunscreen.
Glycolic Acid: This is the strongest type of AHA that is water-soluble and derived from sugarcane. I would recommend this one to someone who has normal, thicker, sun-damaged skin. It can be irritating and drying, so make sure your skin's natural barrier is healthy before using any type of acid.
Beta-Hydroxy Acids: BHAs can be quite effective for those who struggle with acne. It is an oil-soluble acid that penetrates the skin and unclogs pores. It is better used on skin that is oily as it "unglues" the dead skin cells that create blackheads.
Enzymes: One of the safest forms of exfoliation is using extracts from fruits, and or rice. Enzymes digest dead protein material on the skin (a.k.a. old cells). My favs are papaya and pineapple. Products that come as a scrub can be great as long as the size and the feel of the scrub are small and non-abrasive, think powder, not grainy. Masks with enzymes can be a wonderful option as well.
Cleansing Brushes: My least favorite of the group are the brushes. These do more harm than good in my opinion. If you like the idea of using one, I'd go with a silicone one since the nylon ones can be too abrasive.
How to add them to your routine
SLOW & GENTLE
I mentioned above that your skin's natural barrier needs to be healthy before you start adding in an exfoliant, especially the more active ones. Think of your skin's barrier as your security guard, it's there to prevent any "bad guys" from passing through like pollution, bacteria, toxins, and dirt.
If you have sensitive skin, and you've never exfoliated before, start one day a week with a gentle exfoliant like an enzyme.
If you want to use an acid start with a low dose 1x a week, and graduate to 2x a week.
Notice how your skin behaves. If you see any irritation happening like redness, tightness, or flaking back off and do less.
No matter what exfoliant you use please make sure you use sunscreen!
That wraps up your 5-day mini-course. Thank you so much for participating!
As you can see there is A LOT that can attribute to healthy skin. It's not 1 size fits, magic cream, potion, or elixir that is going to give you healthy skin. It's looking at the whole life puzzle.
I know you are BUSY and it can be difficult to sift through it all. That's where I come in.
You can sign up for my SKINCARE CONSULT where we dive deeper into your skincare routine, the products you are using, and how you are applying them.
OR, you can go ALL IN and we can work together for 4 months and knock out what it takes to achieve that GLOW inside and out. Focusing on the WHY behind it all. The transition into perimenopause can be confusing and lonely, but it doesn't have to be!