Why Exfoliation is the Key to Glowing Skin: A Thorough Explanation

Many women regularly exfoliate the skin to thoroughly remove the oil, sebum, and signs of ageing. Exfoliation makes the skin clean, delicate, and smooth. The underlying cell division becomes more active, the pores feel relaxed, and the skin absorbs nutrients better. And eventually, the skin becomes better!

I believe that many women have the habit of exfoliating their skin, but not everybody knows the scientific reasons. Do you know which skin type needs exfoliation? Does exfoliation cause damage to the skin? Well! Let’s answer these in brief.

The Function of Epidermis

The stratum corneum (aka Epidermis) is an essential part of our skin, and its role is to protect the skin from external irritation and damage.

Since the stratum corneum protects our skin, then why do we need to exfoliate?

Exfoliating is basically the removal of dead skin cells. The human stratum corneum metabolism cycle is 28 days. After 28 days, the cells of the stratum corneum die and fall off to form dead skin. If it does not completely fall off from our skin during the normal metabolic period, the stratum corneum will slowly accumulate. The stratum corneum serves as the first barrier of the skin, and it directly affects the appearance of the skin.

The normal healthy stratum corneum is neatly arranged like bricks. If the dead stratum corneum cells stay on your skin for a long time, it will cause your stratum corneum to become thicker and thicker over time. But it does not mean that you must exfoliate after 28 days in a cycle.

So, When do I Need to Exfoliate? Is There Any Right Time?

If you feel your skin is rougher, darker, and uneven, you need to exfoliate just at that time. On the contrary, if your skin does not have the above conditions, yet you exfoliate the skin frequently, it will only destroy the skin’s sebum membrane. There would be no storage space left for the nutrients of skincare products, and the skin condition will get worse and worse.

The Right Way to exfoliate

For women, the frequency and duration of exfoliation are different for different types of skin. For dry skin, the metabolism is slower. Under normal circumstances, exfoliate once a month.

For oily skin, if the skin tone is complex, yellow, and the stratum corneum is thick; thus, exfoliation should be more frequent. Under normal circumstances, you can choose to exfoliate once a week.

For mixed skin, oily skin with oily T-zone, and dry cheeks, you can take the method of zone exfoliation.

For greasy areas, you can choose to exfoliate once a week. And for dry areas, you can choose to exfoliate every 2 to 3 weeks.

For problematic skin, acne is often troublesome, so no need for special exfoliation. Just use anti-acne products to unclog the pores, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory.

For sensitive skin, because the skin’s resistance is relatively weak and the stratum corneum is thin, it is not recommended for people with sensitive skin to exfoliate more often.

Exfoliate properly according to your age. For women over 28, at least 1 to 2 times exfoliation is a must in a month.

For younger people, it is better to use it every 2 months. The mask should be used immediately after using the exfoliating cream so that the skin can absorb better.

Under normal circumstances, the skin’s metabolism is 28 days. With the advancement of age, the skin metabolism of women around 40 years old becomes about 45 days, and you can do it once a month. If you exfoliate too much, the stratum corneum of the skin will become thinner, and bloodshot is prone to appear.

Do a deep cleansing mask once a week, and exfoliate once a week to facilitate the absorption of skincare products.

If your deep cleansing mask is peeling, there is no need to exfoliate. But long-term use of the peeling mask is not beneficial to the skin.

Make sure to use a moisturizing mask two to three times a week. If necessary, apply it for several days to improve the skin condition.

Skincare Routine to Follow Post-Exfoliation

1. After exfoliating, the skin becomes thinner and more fragile, so maintenance is a must. First of all, use toner, which can astringe, replenish, soothe, and soften the keratin, promote keratin metabolism, and facilitate nutrient absorption.
2. Choose some skincare products such as moisturizing lotions, face creams, and eye creams, which can achieve water-locking and moisturizing, and form a protective barrier on the skin.
3. Post-exfoliation, the skin becomes more sensitive and the pores enter into a relaxed state. Thus, you must choose some nourishing, gentle, and non-irritating skincare products, which can not only supplement the skin but also avoid irritating the skin.

Pay Attention to These After Exfoliation…

• After exfoliating the keratin, you need to moisturize the skin in time, and following up with sunscreen is a must too.
• Once the cutin of the skin is removed, the skin moisture will easily evaporate.
• Therefore, after exfoliating the cutin, you must use moisturizing products to replenish the skin in time to avoid skin dryness and dehydration.
• And apply lotion or cream in time to form a grease protective membrane on the skin to prevent the loss of moisture.
• After exfoliating the keratin, the ageing stratum corneum of the skin will fall off, and the skin will become delicate and shiny.
• Post-exfoliation, skin becomes relatively fragile too, which can be easily damaged by ultraviolet rays. Therefore, you must use good sun protection to avoid the appearance of the spots.