You sure have heard of the word exfoliation. It is a crucial step in our skincare routine. But what exactly is exfoliation? Why is it so important? And how does it benefit our skin?
Our skin sheds off dead cells that lead on top of our epidermis every month, letting new skin cells form. However, if those dead skin cells don’t shed off and pile up on top of the epidermis, our skin will tend to look dull and dry, resulting in clogged pores and acne. Exfoliation is a process that speeds up the dead skin shedding process and makes sure the build-up of dead skin cells doesn’t happen. Furthermore, removing the dead skin cells prevents them from clogging the pores, allowing other skincare products to seep deeper into the skin, making them more effective.
Here are some of the benefits of exfoliating:
1. Increase collagen levels:
Antiaging is also one of the benefits of regular exfoliation. Exercising the skin can boost collagen synthesis and increase skin elasticity, keeping the skin looking tight and plump. It also reduces wrinkles and fine lines, the main concern for ageing.
2. Increase skin moisture level:
Another benefit of exfoliation is that it will help other skincare products to penetrate deeper into the skin. As dead skin cells build up on our skin, it will block out the moisturizers we apply on the skin, making the skin more challenging to absorb the skincare products. Exfoliating unclogs our pores and opens them up. This allows the skincare products we apply afterwards to penetrate deeper into the skin and increase their effectiveness. Therefore, improving our skin moisture levels.
3. Diminish acne and breakout:
As mentioned above, exfoliating helps to unclog pores, which can minimize the occurrence of whiteheads, blackheads, and other blemishes like acne. However, be mindful of how much you exfoliate. Too much exfoliation will result in extremely dry skin, which encourages the production of sebum and acne. Therefore, try to follow a gentle exfoliating routine. You can start off by exfoliating once per week and then increasing the frequency to twice per week and make sure to moisturize after that.
4. Evens out dark spots:
Everybody loves flawless skin and even skin tone. However, hyperpigmentation and dark spots have been a concern for many people. Through exfoliating, dead skin cells will shed off, which in turn fade away dark spots. Letting new and fresh skin cells underneath show through, making the overall skin tone more uniform. In addition, exfoliating can also help brighten the skin tone and get rid of dull-looking skin, making the skin more youthful.
5. Stimulate blood flow and lymphatic drainage:
As we are exfoliating, the motion will help stimulate blood flow and increase circulation, which helps in internal cleansing, flushing out the toxins and detoxicating the skin. Furthermore, it also helps to nourish the skin surface, increase skin elasticity, boost cellular skin health, and give the skin a youthful glow.