Step 3 Exfoliants

Exfoliants – An essential part of your skincare routine

Every day, your skin cells renew themselves, and dead cells are shed from skin. This natural shedding process can slow down or stop altogether due to sun damage, dry skin, oily skin, genetics or various skin disorders that can cause a build up of dead skin cells or affect how cells move through the pore lining. It could lead to dull, flaky skin, clogged pores, pigmentation spots or breakouts. An exfoliant removes unhealthy, dead skin cells from the surface of your skin. In addition, it may improve the production of collagen and stimulate the skin's ability to retain moisture. Find out everything you need to know about exfoliants and exfoliating.

AHA and BHA

AHAs (glycolic acid) work on skin’s surface and are water soluble. They’re generally preferred for normal to dry, sun-damaged skin, due to their ability to enhance natural moisturising factors within skin. They’ve also been proven effective in reducing the visible signs of sun damage. BHA (salicylic acid) works on skin’s surface and inside the pore; it’s oil soluble, so it’s most often preferred for normal to oily skin prone to breakouts and enlarged pores. BHA also has natural skin-calming properties, so it’s gentle enough for sensitive skin. Want to know more? Discover the difference between AHA and BHA exfoliants.

How does an exfoliant work?

An exfoliant helps reactivate the natural exfoliation of the skin. It gently removes skin cells in order to expose healthy, new skin. Clogged pores and pigmentation spots (so-called age spots) will become less visible. An exfoliant also helps to fight wrinkles, prevent breakouts, mitigate skin discolouration after breakouts and repair sun damage. After exfoliation, a dull complexion will appear radiant and younger-looking.

How do you use an exfoliant?

After using a facial cleanser and toner, always use a product that contains AHA or BHA. Depending on its texture (lotion or liquid), apply the exfoliant with either a cotton pad or your fingers. You can apply it gently around the eyes, but avoid the eyelids. Unlike a scrub, you don't have to rinse an exfoliant. There's also no need to wait until the exfoliant has been absorbed by the skin. You can immediately continue with the next step in your skincare routine. For example, immediately apply a day cream (with SPF), night cream, serum or eye cream. At the end of the day, always end your routine with a product with an SPF rated at least 30. You may also combine different exfoliants (BHA and AHA) with each other.

What acid concentration should I exfoliate with?

AHA (such as glycolic acid) is most effective at a concentration of 5 to 10% and BHA (salicylic acid) at a concentration of 1 to 2%. The percentage that is most effective for your skin depends entirely on your skin type, possible skin problems and sensitivity. To find out what concentration produces the best results for your skin, it is best to experiment with different AHA and BHA concentrations.

How often should I exfoliate?

When using an exfoliant for the first time, you should give your skin some time to get used to it. Start by applying exfoliant two to three times a week during your evening routine and increase the frequency several weeks later. Depending on your skin and personal preference, you can use an AHA exfoliant or a BHA exfoliant once or twice a day.

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