How To Properly Exfoliate Based on Skin Type
At the very top layer of our epidermis is a wall of dead skin that helps our skin retain its moisture. Getting rid of some of this dead skin helps our skin care products penetrate deeper and work better. But removing too much of it can cause or exacerbate problems such as acne and irritation.
One of the most common mistakes we can make with exfoliators is not paying attention to the ingredients and how they affect different skin types. Read on to learn how to properly exfoliate based on skin type to avoid damage and master glowing skin.
Dry Skin
As previously stated, that wall of dry skin on our faces keeps our skin hydrated with the sebum we naturally produce. Stripping our skin by exfoliating too much is a big mistake for people with dry skin. Try to only exfoliate once or twice a week, and give yourself a week’s break if you start to notice dryness, redness, or flakey skin.
In addition, avoid mechanical exfoliation and stick to chemical exfoliators like glycolic acid or other AHAs. Chemical exfoliants are less likely to break down too much of the dead skin wall.
Oily Skin
Typically, you can exfoliate oily skin up to three times per week, which is more than any other skin type. However, if you start to notice more oil production after exfoliating, you are exfoliating too much, and your skin is starting to overcompensate. Make sure you’re using a physical exfoliant like oatmeal or jojoba beads, and avoid any products that are not finely ground. You want to use a physical exfoliator because you likely have an extra layer of build-up.
Combination Skin
Combination skin can be a bit trickier to treat as it really depends on what your skin can handle. Start by exfoliating around once or twice a week and slowly increase to no more than three times a week to see how much your skin can handle without going overboard.
Use different exfoliators on different parts of your face to see what works best for you. We’d recommend reading the other two sections to see what’s best for each part of your skin. However, never use two exfoliants on your face in the same day. Be sure to spread it out and give your skin time to recover between products.
Learning how to properly exfoliate based on your skin type is critical if you want to keep your skin happy and healthy. And always be sure to patch test any new product under your jaw or on top of your hand to ensure you won’t have any allergic or adverse reactions.
