Stop by the drugstore and you'll find shelves brimming with anti-acne treatments. Yes, a dizzying selection of potions, lotions, washes, masks all promising to banish acne. Many of them harsh and stripping on skin which ironically can make skin break out more.
Before loading up on harsh anti-acne products, how about a review of your exfoliation technique first? Without proper exfoliation, dead skin cells create a barrier that prevents skin from breathing and can lead to buildup which causes acne.
Everyone has different needs when it comes to buffing away dead skin cells. What works on the body will not work on the face. What works for one may not work for another. What works today may not work tomorrow. Effective skincare is ever-changing so being proactive will pay off.
The good news is this—exfoliation does not need to be painful or expensive. A natural scrub with mildly gritty ingredients like poppyseeds, sugar or crushed nut shells works well. Helpful tip, for facial scrubs, always choose a product with smaller and less jagged exfoliating grains to avoid skin damage. A muslin face cloth is another effective option. If you haven't tried it, there are also chemical exfoliants which can help turn over skin cells. We recommend rotating different exfoliation methods so the skin doesn't acclimate and doing your best to find more natural and less harsh options.
The best thing you can do is experiment. Start slow and always, always be gentle. Figure out what your skin can handle before going full-speed by doing test patches. Be patient and discover what works best for your skin over time. Consult your dermatologist. The benefits are worth it. Skin cells will turn over quicker to give the face a more radiant, softer and clearer appearance. You'll get more bang for your buck too because exfoliated skin is primed to better absorb skincare goodies you apply afterwards.
What's your favorite way to exfoliate?