Easy Exfoliation Secret To Get Your Skin Glowing!

Hello, Beautiful!

By now you likely know that exfoliation is the key to a soft, beautiful, healthy glow! 

But how do you know when to exfoliation and what products and ingredients to use?

Before we get into the nitty gritty details, let's talk basics.

There are three different types of exfoliation: Physical, Chemical and Mechanical.

An example of a physical exfoliant would be a scrub, an example of a chemical exfoliant would be an acid, and a mechanical exfoliation usually involves a machine or device. 

I'm a huge fan of chemical exfoliation because I love the control you have over what types of products you use to give you pointed results.

Physical exfoliation isn't bad, in fact, I have one I use in my spa on occasion, BUT you do have to use them with caution so that you don't create micro tears on your skin, and especially careful if they contain stronger acids so that you don't over-exfoliate your skin just because it 'feels good' to use.

I also think there's a time and place to receive mechanical exfoliation by a licensed professional. 

In addition to using products that blatantly say they're "exfoliating agents" it's important to note that a lot of other products you may use may contain acids or actives, too. In example, you may have an active serum you wear every night or use Retinol. 

While Retinol is extremely effective for meeting your anti-aging goals, it's more like a work out for your skin, bringing new skin cells up to the surface of your skin, while acids are the ones that actually slough off the dead skin cells leaving you with that glow!

However, to avoid potential irritation or skin barrier disruption, I recommend spacing out the use of your active products so that you don't risk over exfoliating your skin and layering with a gentle nighttime cream like our Whipped Olive Oil Face Butter when/if your skin seems extra dry. 

Fun fact from Alex who was born and raised in Italy: When olive oil comes from different regions (i.e., when olives are mixed) it diminishes the quality of the olive oil because different olives have different properties. So when you mix them you don’t know how those olives where treated and processed, and sadly, the purity and benefits are usually comprised.

Pro tip: Use your Retinol and/or acids at night because it can create skin sensitivity if used during the day, especially without the use of sunscreen. 

If you've got your favorite exfoliating agent but you're still unsure of how often to use it, or you're not sure what to use to exfoliate with at all consider the following:

On a scale of 1-10, how sensitive is your skin?

Do you have any other skin condition, like Rosacea or Acne (or both)?

Does your skin burn easily?

If you're skin isn't too sensitive, you don't suffer from other skin conditions and don't burn really easily, you're likely able to effectively exfoliate 2-3 times a week. 

But here's the big secret...

When you're using so many different products with actives in them, it's hard to know how many times you're actually exfoliating. That's why I recommend using a peel with actives or our Brighten & Reveal Pads.

When you use exfoliating pads or at home facial peels you don't think about using them every night. 

This is why doing this can be a game changing lifesaver for your skin, especially if you have a hard time remembering which acid you used last. 

Pro tip: If you suffer from any skin conditions, like acne, please avoid using physical exfoliants and seek the advice of your dermatologist because you use anything that can disrupt your skin barrier or cause further irritation. 

There is no reason, however, that you can't exfoliate -- you just need to find a gentle method that's right for you. 

And don't forget your eye area. Our Brighten and Reveal pads are gentle enough to use around your orbital bone area. 

Remember, the more you know the more you glow!

With love,

Jentri