Exfoliators: What Do They Do?

The earlier you consistently include these items in your skin care routine the more effective your moisturizer will be. This translates to your skin looking healthier and smoother as well as looking younger than you actually are. If you're fifteen, that may not be such an encouraging thought, but if you're thirty, forty or fifty...
Also called scrubs, exfoliators are designed to "scrub" away dry or dead skin cells. Made of dried fruits, nuts, sugars, salts, and/or grains (i.e. oats, wheat, etc.), grasses and flowers, these items are finely ground for the face and coarsely ground for the body. These ground particles are added to creams, lotions, oils as well as liquid and compressed (bar) soaps.
Why Do I Need an Exfoliator?
Many people are not aware of the fact that their skin renews itself every 25 days and that ashy, flaky feeling skin is just dead skin cells that haven't been removed. The body is able to withstand larger particles and although they're not designed to be abrasive or scratch the skin, if exfoliators are used with excessive pressure - they will.
Exfoliating is necessary for polishing and allowing the skins natural oils to surface from beneath those dead cells; thereby keeping the skin soft and smooth. Exfoliators should be used by men and women. Most men regularly remove or exfoliate the dead skin on the lower halves of their faces - while shaving. So, the top half could benefit from weekly exfoliating.
What do they do?
The scrubbing granules are much smaller for the face, so they won't irritate or enlarge the pores. When exfoliators are used properly, the tiny granules polish the skin by lifting and removing the dead skin cells that prevent natural oils from surfacing. When your natural oils are blocked from the surface, you get clogged pores which can develop into white heads and if the pore becomesinfected with bacteria it can develop into acne, particularly on your back or shoulders where your skin is dryer.
How Do I Use Exfoliators?
If your skin is oily, you should use a gel based scrub, combination skin needs a lotion type, dry skin responds best to oil based or cream products and the baking soda based exfoliator is the mildest and is best for sensitive skin. Immediately after cleansing, apply a teaspoon full of your exfoliator to a clean face cloth; both cloth and face should be wet.
Gently scrub your face and neck for about 30 seconds, using circular motions. Thoroughly rinse to remove granules and use a clean towel to pat the area dry. Follow with your toner, eye cream or gel and moisturizers.
Women often believe that scrubbing longer or more often than recommended will result in better looking skin; it doesn't and it could make your skin extremely dry. Companies formulate their products to respond to the recommended time that will give the best resultsExfoliator directions usually recommend a twice weekly use, so if you follow the directions, you'll enjoy the benefits of your home facial.

About The Author:

Andi Bradshaw is licensed as an esthetician and as a makeup artist in the state of Maryland. She has worked to beautify more than 15,000 women. The information in this piece was taken from the book "Skin Care for Moms & Other Working Women". Check out Andi's bookstore for this and 17 additional age appropriate, stroke by stroke, illustrated skin care and makeup books. Affordable skin care and makeup books.

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