What Is Exfoliation & How To Exfoliate?
Good skin comes to those who exfoliate. Anyone who knows anything about skin care will tell you that a good exfoliator is a must-have, especially if you're a skincare addict. But do you know what exfoliation does? We've also been asked if exfoliation is the “real deal” for acne (or better yet, maskne). But finding out which type of exfoliation or exfoliator works best for you and your skin type, or what ingredients to look for in an exfoliator, takes time and effort. Consider this your ultimate exfoliation cheatsheet for gorgeous, glowing skin!
What is exfoliation, really?
Exfoliation removes dead skin cells and impurities from the skin. Imagine shedding skin like a snake, your skin turns into dead skin cells after 30 days. Exfoliating your skin with topical skincare products helps remove dead skin cells and make room for new ones, resulting in a more youthful complexion. Without exfoliation, your skin may appear dull, dry, and flaky, clogging your pores with dirt and dead skin cells.
So, how often should you exfoliate your face?
It all depends on your skin types and skin conditions. For oily skin type, we recommend daily exfoliation (with a gentle chemical exfoliant) or every other day to reduce the chance of clogging your pores and potential breakouts. For all other skin types, you can keep it once or twice a week for basic maintenance.
Does exfoliation help with acne?
Yes. Exfoliation is commonly believed to irritate acne-prone skin and exacerbate breakouts. But here's the thing: dead skin cells, dirt, sebum, and impurities in the pores cause acne and breakouts. In fact, regular exfoliation can help prevent acne breakouts by keeping pores clear.
How to exfoliate face?
There are plenty of topical skincare products that serve as a good exfoliant to help you buff those nasty dead skin cells right off. So along with our top recommended skincare products, we are introducing these two basic types of exfoliation to your skincare routine: physical exfoliation and chemical exfoliation.
Physical exfoliation
Physical exfoliation means scrubbing or rubbing your skin with a facial scrub to buff away dead skin. But, no matter how bad you wanna ditch those dead skin, DO. NOT. OVERSCRUB. Instead, opt for gentle, water-soluble ingredients like black sugar for a more mild exfoliation.
Chemical Exfoliation
Chemical exfoliation is our personal favourite! Chemical exfoliants such as AHA, BHA, and retinol can help unclog pores, remove dead skin cells, and provide a deeper cleanse than your regular cleanser. Chemical exfoliation, unlike physical exfoliation, relies on layering acid ingredients on the skin and letting them work their magic to make the dead skin go “poof” rather than using force.
Including a gentle chemical exfoliator formulated with AHA, BHA, and PHA in your skincare routine can help to improve your acne skin conditions, which is why COSRX's BHA Blackhead Power Liquid has become our best-selling pore treatment, particularly for sensitive skin. Active ingredients in this BHA exfoliant help exfoliate and clean your pores for healthier, clearer skin.
SOME BY MI's AHA-BHA-PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner is another holy grail for acne-prone skin. This sold-every-3-second Korean toner is a popular skincare product when it comes to acne treatment and chemical exfoliation, thanks to the potent AHA-BHA-PHA solution.
Other BEST SELLING Exfoliator
The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution
The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + Ha
Some By Mi Bye Bye Blackhead 30 Days Miracle Green Tea Tox Bubble Cleanser
Found your perfect match yet? Take a look at our entire exfoliator collection and choose your favourite right now! Start today by refining your skincare routine with the best exfoliator and clogged pores will be a thing of the past!