10 Things That You Probably Don’t Know About Exfoliation
Exfoliation seems like a pretty straightforward process; you rub a mildly abrasive exfoliator on your face and body, such as the ViaBuff Body Exfoliator or ViaBuff Duo Exfoliator, which in turn removes dead skin cells, makeup residue, dirt and bacteria that were congesting your skin’s pores. While a great process for cleaning the skin’s surface, exfoliation also offers a whole host of benefits to your skin’s health, from helping to reduce the frequency of ingrown hairs to brightening your complexion. Below we have highlighted some of the most important and interesting facts to know about exfoliation.
- ViaBuff Exfoliators come in 10 different varieties to match your skin’s needs. Most other loofahs, sponges and exfoliating brushes offer only one strength, causing many of use to either exfoliate too gently or too roughly. Each of the ViaBuff Exfoliators can come as either Extra Mild, Gentle, Moderate or Clinical Strength, or a combination of these strengths to meet your skin’s needs on various parts of the body, without having to exert excessive force on any part of the skin.
- How frequently you exfoliate depends on your skin type. As Dr. Mary P Lupo notes, oily skin can require daily exfoliation, whereas dry and sensitive skin types may want to limit exfoliation to once or twice a week. For the results, you should consult with your dermatologist to determine what is the best frequency for your skin types, especially if you suffer from inflammation, severe acne, or any other significant skin condition (The American Academy of Dermatology)
- You can over-exfoliate your skin. You can always have too much of a good thing, even when it comes to When you over-exfoliate your skin, it greatly thins your stratum corneum (outermost layer of skin) and deprives it of adequate moisture. Excessive exfoliation can inhibit the skin barrier’s efficacy, make also skin appear shiny, inflamed and irritated, sensitive, create patches of dry and flaky skin, and even can result in dilated blood vessels (telangiectasias)(Charlene DeHaven MD, Innovative Skin Care, Dermalogica)
- You should exfoliate year-round. Many of us fail to stick to our proper skin care routines during the winter months. After all, if you sweat less and are less exposed to the elements for a few months, do you really need to clean your skin regularly? Yes! During the winter your skin is extra thirsty for any hydration that it can get, a thirst that is exacerbated by clogged up pores that hinder water absorption in the epidermis. For healthy skin all year long, you should continue your regular exfoliation routine (Lotus by Dr. K)
- You need to moisturize your skin immediately after exfoliating it. Put more products on your skin immediately after cleansing it may seem counterintuitive, but a good moisturizer can help to seal in moisture from your bath or shower ( Bailey Skin Care) For the best results, couple exfoliation with the ViaBuff Body Exfoliator with a moisturizer containing alpha-hydroxy acida (AHA). AHA’s have been shown to reduce the appearance of fine lines, eliminate dead skin cells, and hydrate skin, among many other benefits( Dr. Bailey Skin Care, Princeton University Health Services)
- Exfoliation reduce the appearance and frequency of ingrown hairs. No matter how much you poke, prod, tweeze and squeeze them, ingrown hairs will seldom emerge from their little bubble and let themselves be plucked out. Tweezing and prodding ingrown hairs can actually agitate them further and introduce new bacteria, whereas exfoliation can eliminate old skin cells and bacteria that were clogging up the hair follicle (NYU Langone). Even better, exfoliation encourages your hair to grow in the right direction, so that the problem does not repeat itself (Folliculitis Clinic)
- Exfoliation is not just for the face. Many of us make the erroneous assumption that exfoliation is just for the face and neck, and that a wash cloth and soap will serve to remove bacterial build up and dead skin. In actuality, your arms, legs, torso and even feet are just as deserving of regular exfoliation, especially since these areas frequently are exposed to the elements and can accumulate just as much debris as one’s face (The International Dermal Institute)
- Manual exfoliation aids aging skin to produce new skin cells. As we grow older, our skin becomes less efficient at disposing of old, dead cells and producing new ones. Manually removing these dead cells via exfoliation encourages our skin to more quickly generate new, healthy cells which make the skin appear more vibrant and healthy (Health and Wellness Magazine)
- Exfoliate in the evening for the best results. According to Dr. Arleen Lamba MD of the Blush Med Institute, it is best to cleanse and exfoliate your skin in the evening when skin can rebalance its ph level and boost collagen production. Exfoliating and cleansing in the morning washes away essential oils without giving your skin time to replenish them before starting your day(Shape Magazine).
- Remove makeup from your face before exfoliating. While many of us know better than to leave makeup when exfoliating, at one time or another we have all been either too tired to remove it before exfoliating. However, leaving makeup on keeps the exfoliator from deeply cleansing the skin, and usually just causes the makeup to be spread over your face instead of being lifted from your skin.
Although exfoliating is a fairly simple process, it offers numerous benefits to our skins health and well being. For the best results, you should choose a ViaBuff Body Exfoliator that best matches your skin’s sensitivity – our exfoliators come in Extra Mild, Gentle, Moderate, and Clinical Strengths, and we even offer exfoliators that combine two strengths for combination skin. How frequently you exfoliate depends on your skin’s sensitivity and oiliness, so it is best to consult with a dermatologist about which exfoliating strength is the best for you. Aside from exfoliating at night, you should always moisturize the skin immediately after exfoliating so as to lock in moisture from your shower. The most important fact to remember about exfoliating is to do it in moderation and to continue your routine year-round, or else skin may become inflamed, irritated, extra sensitive, or dehydrated