We’ve all heard about the three basic steps in a regular skincare routine – cleanse, tone and moisturize. But, there’s one more step that’s just as important in any beauty regimen: exfoliating. Regular skin exfoliation helps prevent several skin issues.
However, unlike the three, exfoliating is not an everyday task. Many people are highly dedicated to regular face washing that exfoliating often gets left out. Even if we all understand how important this step is in keeping the skin healthy in glowing, it may appear very complicated at times.
After all, it’s the one step that gets rid of dead skin cells for that smooth complexion. With all the drama surrounding that infamous walnut face scrub, it can be challenging to choose the right product that suits your skin type.
Should you go for microbeads, scrubs, or chemical exfoliants? Or should you practice an organic face and skin care regimen and make your own exfoliant using some ingredients available at home? There are so many choices available in the market today, so the confusion is truly understandable.
Most products for exfoliation contain fine particles that give it that textured feel. This slightly rough surface is responsible for creating a light friction, which allows you to get rid of dead skin cells using a gentle motion. Here are some facts about skin exfoliation every skincare junkie should know.
Myth #1: If a scrub causes a tingling sensation, it’s cleaning your skin deeply
Reality: Many face scrubs out in the market have active ingredients such as eucalyptus, menthol and peppermint, which creates that cooling sensation on the skin right after rinsing. Many users, however, often think that this is an indication of deep pore cleansing.
It couldn’t be farther from the truth. This tingling sensation you get is actually a sign that your skin gets irritated. So, never choose these types of scrubs.
Myth #2: If you use a scrub, you’ll be able to get rid of your acne and blackheads
Reality: Blackheads form deep within the pores, so even the best formulated face scrubs can’t reach them. The same is true for acne; you can’t merely scrub them away. Proper acne treatment goes way beyond using a single product.
In fact, choosing a harsh, abrasive scrub on active acne breakouts may actually cause increased redness and irritation, and none of these will clear your skin. However, a scrub with gentle formulation and used with minimal pressure can be effective in providing extra cleansing.
So, make it a part of your anti-acne routine; but make sure to choose a product that contains acne-fighting ingredients.
Myth #3: All types of face scrubs cause skin damage, no matter how careful you are
Reality: Face scrubs that have large, irregularly-shaped particles cause skin damage when used over a long period because these create micro-tears on the skin surface. Volcanic rocks, ground-up shells, fruit pits and, yes, walnuts, are among the most common products.
Micro-tears cause the skin’s barrier an overall level of protection to weaken gradually. This, in turn, will increase the skin’s sensitivity, dryness, redness and flakiness.
