Benefits of Exfoliating Face

What I Use:

Exfoliating Scrubs

Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash pink grapefruit foaming scrub (NET WT. 4.2 OZ) $6.97 (Walmart) or April Foaming Ace Scrub Lucious Grapefruit scented (NET WT. 4.2 OZ), $1.00 (DOLLAR TREE)

Exfoliating Brush

Exfoliating Facial Brush (Dollar Tree)

Directions

It's been awhile since I used the Neutrogena one.  The one from the Dollar Tree does a really good job.  First, I take dime amount sizes to four parts of my face (cheeks, chin, forehead).  Second, I rub it in.  Third I use the exfoliating brush to work it in.  For best results bristles need to be a bit dry and stiff.  The best way to get it this way is to continue to use it over and over again. Once it air dries after each use it will be this way.  In using the April version, it's liquid enough to get around the face without applying water.  Still firm enough as well to exfoliate.  

BENEFITS

Helps Clear Acne & Breakouts 

Exfoliation, helps to reduce the occurrence of acne and blackhead breakouts. Acne-prone skin sheds extra skin cells more than other skin types, but the cells do not fall away. Instead, they stick to the skin, clogging pores and hair follicles. As this dead cell debris builds, the skin produces excess follicle oils—which leads to blackheads and blemishes. Think of regular exfoliation as “taking out the trash” and reducing the likelihood of clogged pores and acne.

Improve Your Skins Texture 

Exfoliating the tired, dead cells also speeds up the skin renewal process, allowing new healthy cells to take their place. This process turns your complexion from dull and dry to bright, vibrant, and smooth. In addition, regular exfoliation reduces fine lines and wrinkles and keeps your skin much softer! 

Reduces Appearance of Large Pores 

Along with dead cells, exfoliating also removes the dirt stuck deep inside your pores. Washing your skin alone will not accomplish this. When pores become clogged, they appear larger, which is the last thing we all want. By “decongesting” your pores through exfoliation, they will diminish in size and allow your skin a healthy polished glow.

Exfoliate Away All Signs of Aging 

As you age, your skin becomes drier and less elastic, which can result in lines and wrinkles. You also may find your skin is more rough in texture than it used to be. This is because of the multiple layers of dead skin cells that accumulate of the years. Exfoliaiting aids your skin to maintain its luster and shine as you age. Exfoliation is also the perfect solution to lighten and brighten age and sun spots. Exfoliators containing renitoid compounds, such as Retinu, are effective and safe options to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Better Absorption 

Serum and moisturizers are better absorbed into skin that’s not blocked by layers of dead cells and dirt. Exfoliating allows your skin to be properly moisturized and stay healthy! This is also true for makeup and sunscreen. Regular exfoliating of your face will help your makeup go on smoother, more even, and will also allow your sunscreen to better protect your skin.

BE CAREFUL!!!

Don't be harsh on your face and  exfoliate in moderation.

Dermatologists are becoming increasingly worried about the long-term damage super-facials may do.

They believe that after experiencing the instant ‘brightening’ effects of microdermabrasion and chemical peels (including glycolic, lactic acid and salicylic), some women become hooked and start having them more frequently — as often as once a week or more. Then, they are left with broken veins, uneven lined skin, dark pigmentation spots and acne.

Exfoliating your face in moderation can make skin brighter and softer. Buffing away dry, dead cells on your face will reveal the fresh cells underneath, but exfoliants are definitely not for everyone. People with skin issues such as hives or sensitive skin should check with their dermatologist before considering using these types of products. Exfoliating to help maintain the youthful glow to your face should be the goal. Exfoliating helps fights against aging because it stimulates blood and lymph flow and cell turnover. As we age, cell turn over slows down and your skin can start to look dull. If you want that Adriana Lima  glow to your face, exfoliate!

Adriana Lima's natural glow due to exfoliating

There isn't a one step plan or product for everyone. How often you exfoliate depends on your age and skin texture. Younger people tend to have oilier skin and will be able handle more scrubbing. People with more mature skin will have a thinner epidermis and will need to do less with a proper product catered to their skin type.

Too much of anything isn't good for you.  Exfoliating two to three times a week max, depending on your skin type. Someone with eczema or dry skin should not be exfoliating more than someone who has oily skin. You will be able to gauge how your skin is reacts to scrubs and create your own exfoliating regimen. If you do over-scrub your face, stop immediately and let your skin heal.

Chemical peels known as a glycolic, takes just a few minutes. It uses an acid derived from sugar cane to dissolve the ‘glue’ that holds the older, top layer of skin in place. The result is baby-soft new skin. Both are popular with celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow and Madonna who want to look glowing for red-carpet events. 

Chemical peels and microderm-abrasion are increasingly common in salons. Women can get obsessed with them. The problem is some beauty therapists are untrained and inexperienced, failing to recognise skin types — fair, sensitive, acne-prone or with broken veins — that will react badly to them. 

At-home glycolic peels leave some women at risk of oversensitive, thinning skin. And while the odd mild peel may have a harmless, brightening effect, home kits make it possible for women to do weekly or even twice-weekly doctor-strength chemical peels without professional supervision, each time applying products in dangerously high concentrations. 

Most women find that after just one of these super-facials or at-home peels, the results appear miraculous. Without the top layer, skin looks fresher and pores seem smaller — at least for a few days.  The trouble is, women then get addicted to these treatments and their appearance afterwards.  Few realize the outer layer of skin is not useless dead cells but a vital protective barrier. It keeps out pollution, conserves moisture, acts as our skin’s own natural sunscreen and keeps acne bacteria at bay. 

A peel or dermabrasion may be OK once a month, but if women have these treatments weekly or even more frequently, they will interfere with the skin’s protective barrier. This can lead to chronic levels of inflammation, thread veins  and blotchy discoloration.

It is even more of an issue now — in the spring and summer — when we start to get more sun. These treatments make skin overly sensitive to sunlight, or hyper-photosensitive. That means that the minute you go in to the sun, you’ll be at risk of developing patches of dark brown pigment, and this skin discoloration can be even more ageing than wrinkles. 

Black Swan actress Mila Kunis reportedly had a £4,300 (7028.78 US Dollars) facial using rubies and diamonds to remove the top layer of her skin

SPARKLY SKIN 

Wearing a broad spectrum high SPF of between 30 and 50 can help, but you may have to keep out of the sun completely as microdermabrasion can also interfere with the way sunscreens work.

Sunscreens need to adhere to the cells on the top layer of the skin. If you remove that layer, the sunscreens cannot “stick” properly to create a protective barrier.  Worryingly, extreme exfoliation can trigger hyper-pigmentation even if you don’t expose yourself to the sun. Harsh facials may cause inflammation, especially in darker skins, and that in turn can cause a condition called ‘post-inflammatory hyper-pigmentation’. This means the skin produces extra melanin — the substance that makes us get a tan — spontaneously and patchily.

Acne sufferers can also have problems after an excessive number of super-facials. Exfoliation can cause rebound acne. When the skin is damaged, it tries to repair itself by increasing skin cell production. But these skin cells can block your pores, which causes spots, which in turn makes women exfoliate more. It becomes a dangerous yo-yo effect.

TYPES OF EXFOLIATORS

Physical cream exfoliators 

Cream scrubs contain micro-beads in a moisturizing cream or lotion base, and are great for people with dry skin. Just be wary when choosing with the type of beads in the creams. Some contain sharped-edged beads that can leave micro-scratches on your skin, so look for creamy exfoliators that have rounded beads instead. 

Physical gel exfoliators 

Gel scrubs give the same results as cream scrubs but are in gel form so they are better for oily and combination skin types. (Neutrogena's Oil-Free Acne Wash pink grapefruit foaming scrub and April 's Foaming Ace Scrub Lucious Grapefruit scented are both gel formula's.) 
Neutrogena's, $6.97 / Walmart 
April's, $1.00 / Dollar Tree

Chemical exfoliators 

These exfoliators use glycolic, lactic, citric, or salicylic acid to chemically remove dead cells on the surface of the skin, which is also good for people with oily skin. If you have never used a chemical exfoliator before, start using it only once or twice a week, at night—once your skin adjusts, you can increase the number of times used per week. (Olay Regenerist Night Resurfacing Elixir) $19.99 / Target

Cloth or pad exfoliators 

These gentle manual exfoliators are meant to cater to all skin types, except for people with skin issues. They can also help with acne problems, fine lines and hyperpigmentation. Like any manual scrub, always follow product instructions and be careful not to go overboard. (St Ives: Scrub-Free Exfoliating Pads) 
$4.97 / Walmart