How to safely exfoliate for healthy, radiant skin

Exfoliating your skin is a great way to keep it healthy and remove dead skin from your face and body. However, it’s essential to do it properly.

In this article, we’ll teach you how to exfoliate, its benefits and share some tips for exfoliating for different skin types.

Skip to: 

• What is exfoliation?
• How to exfoliate
• Benefits of exfoliating
• Exfoliation for different skin types
• Exfoliating different body parts
• Exfoliating with different skin concerns
• Can exfoliation be used for anti-ageing?
• Side effects of exfoliating

What is exfoliation?

Exfoliation is the process of removing dead cells from your skin. Without exfoliation, your skin may appear flaky and dry, so it’s important to do this fairly regularly.¹

You may have heard that exfoliation scrubs away the top layers of dead cells on your skin, which makes it sound harsh, but there are a few different methods that you can use to exfoliate.

When using a scrub to exfoliate, look out for ingredients like coffee or sea salt, as these are some of the best exfoliators.³

You can even make your own face scrub or a DIY body scrub from ingredients you’ll find in your cupboards at home!

The benefits of exfoliating your skin

Exfoliation has a wide range of benefits and can help keep your skin healthy. Of course, the most obvious benefit is that it removes dead skin cells from the surface of your skin, but that’s not all!

Here are 3 benefits of exfoliating:

1. Brighter skin

Firstly, consistently exfoliating can help brighten your skin. Dead skin cells can make your skin appear dull, but new cells can help change the appearance of your skin to be much brighter.⁴

2. Smoother skin texture

Exfoliation can also help improve your skin’s texture, removing any rough or dry patches of skin, which can also help with making your skin appear much healthier overall. Brighter and smoother skin can help you achieve a more youthful complexion.⁴

3. More hydration

Exfoliating can also help keep your skin hydrated. Removing the dead skin cells that clog pores can help your skin absorb other skincare products, such as moisturisers, more effectively.⁵

• Oily skin – for oilier skin, mechanical exfoliation is the way to go. Using a physical method to remove dead skin cells may be more effective here, as those with oily skin tend to have more build-up on the surface of their skin.
• Normal skin – if you don’t face many skin issues, you should be free to exfoliate using any method you wish.
• Dry skin – the best option for dry skin is usually using a chemical exfoliant such as an AHA once a week, as using a tool or body scrub for dry skin can actually dry the skin out more.
• Combination skin – try using both methods at different times to see what works best for you. It could be that you have to include both mechanical and chemical exfoliation in your skincare routine.
• Sensitive skin – it’s best to avoid using a tool or body scrub for sensitive skin, since this may be too rough and leave it feeling sensitive. Instead, try a very mild chemical-based exfoliant once a week and be sure to be gentle when you apply and remove it.¹

Can exfoliation help my skin age healthily?

Exfoliation can help to maintain youthful-looking skin, since removing dead cells can help brighten your complexion and improve skin texture.⁷

How often should you exfoliate?

If you have drier skin, you may want to stick to exfoliating just once a week, using a gentle exfoliant, but if you have oilier skin, you may be able to exfoliate up to two times a week.¹

It is always important, though, to listen to your skin. If your skin feels sore after using any exfoliant, you should avoid using the product again. You should always start slow, too, and work your way up to exfoliating more than once a week.¹

3 top tips for exfoliating your skin

• Think about products you already use or any medication you may be taking. Some products may make your skin more sensitive, so using an exfoliant on top of that can cause sensitivity to your skin. If you’re concerned as to whether an exfoliant will interfere with any other products or conditions, always check with a doctor before using.¹ 
• Choose the right exfoliant for your skin, and be gentle! Always consider your skin type and try to choose an exfoliant that is suitable. But, regardless of your skin type, always be gentle when using an exfoliant and don’t overuse it.
• Keep your skin moisturised afterwards. Once you’ve finished exfoliating, follow up with a moisturiser. This helps keep your skin hydrated and stops it from drying out.⁹

The final say

Exfoliation is an essential part of your skincare routine, but it can cause problems if you don’t do it properly. When adding exfoliation into your routine, be sure to pay attention to your skin type and any skin concerns you may have.

For more information, check out our article on how to get rid of dead skin.