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Exfoliating

Ben Williams looks at the pros and cons of exfoliation.

The average person has thousands of dead skin cells per day. To remove the dead cells, exfoliating is a crucial step. Unlike the daily cleansing routines, you can exfoliate two to three times a week to remove the cells and avoid blocking the pores.

For the rest of your body, exfoliation is also essential to remove all the dead cells. As you grow older, cell regeneration is much slower, which results in a dull skin complexion.

Many products and ways to exfoliate your skin, even in places you cannot reach. Exfoliating does not only get rid of dead cells but also gives you a bright and rose complexion. It should be done to the entire body in these ways:

  • Chemical exfoliation - the process uses Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) OR Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA) to remove the dead cells. It comes in the form of a lotion, which exfoliates the skin upon application. It should be used sparingly as it can irritate the skin if used too frequently. The creams and lotions also help smoothen out fine lines and even the skin tone.
  • Physical exfoliation - uses scrubs and other aids to remove the dead cells. The scrubs usually have particles that aid in the process mechanically. The scrubs can contain fruit or nut particles. Choose scrubs that are smoother since nuts might have rough edges and cause irritation to the skin.

The pros and cons

Chemical exfoliation is easy to use since you can apply it to the whole body, but at the same time, people react differently, and it may cause inflammation if you have susceptible skin. Physical exfoliation is very popular since the scrubs are made with different products and are easy to use.

In some cases, masks are formulated with natural products to make an exfoliating solution. It works equally well as a scrub, and you can apply it for a longer period, up to 20 minutes, as you relax your dosha. Some of the key ingredients in the mask include clay, seaweed, and essential oils to ensure your skin has proper nutrition.

Another alternative to the scrub is bath salts. The salts are part of natural ayurvedic skincare products. They assist in skin repair and dead skin removal. A soak with your favourite bubble bath with added bath salts is bound to help you relax and prepare you for a good night's sleep. The salts also look after your mental health as they help to relieve tension. Another advantage is that they are readily available and are easy to use.

Take your vitamins

It is important to check the skincare products you use to ensure that they contain vitamins that help your skin age gracefully. Most products contain vitamin E, an excellent anti-oxidant, while anti-ageing serums and creams have the Q10. It would help if you took enough vitamins and minerals to aid in the natural process of cell regeneration.


Page Reference

If you quote information from this page in your work, then the reference for this page is:

  • WILLIAMS, B. (2015) Exfoliating [WWW] Available from: https://www.brianmac.co.uk/articles/article201.htm [Accessed

About the Author

Ben Williams is a beauty blogger and a consumer of natural ayurvedic skincare products. Go to www.shankara.com to read his reviews on the products.