The ins and outs of exfoliation and why it’s so good for your skin.

1. Exfoliation helps increase skin cell turnover.

Healthy skin completely renews itself every 25 to 30 days, but as you age, this period of cellular regeneration gradually increases. When your skin-cell turnover rate slows, your complexion appears dull, wan and aged.

Exfoliation speeds up the turnover rate to reveal newer, fresher, and healthier skin that's radiant instead of dull.

2. Exfoliation improves skin's texture and appearance.

Have you ever suffered from a sunburn that later left you with a blotchy tan and perhaps peeling skin? This is a vivid example of uneven texture and tone.

Without exfoliation, the same effect is occurring with your complexion, just on a smaller scale. Exfoliation helps smooth different areas of the skin for a more even look and feel.

3. Exfoliation can improve hyperpigmentation.

Whether you're addressing age spots, sun blemishes or a generally uneven skin tone, exfoliation is your go-to treatment. Exfoliation naturally increases your skin cell turnover rate, which helps to shed areas of darkened skin more quickly, resulting in visibly brightened skin.

4. Exfoliation helps hydrators and serums to absorb deeply.

If you want to get the most effective results from your hydrator or serum, then exfoliation is an absolute must. Without exfoliation, the active ingredients in these products have to penetrate through an increased thickness of dead skin cells before they reach the cells they can affect. Instead, once you remove this layer of dead skin cells, your serum can absorb easily, with all its benefits!

5. Exfoliation helps to fight signs of premature aging.

An exfoliant can help to reduce signs of premature aging by:

• Increasing the turnover rate of skin cells
• Fading and blending areas of uneven skin tone
• Smoothing skin's texture

However, only chemical exfoliants are also able to stimulate your skin's manufacture of important skin proteins such as collagen. These proteins help to support skin, and a lack of them allows fine lines and wrinkles to form.

Which takes us to our next topic: Chemical exfoliant vs. Physical exfoliant.

What is a physical exfoliant?

Pretty straightforward exfoliation with the use of tiny particles, a brush or cloth, or a scalpel. But not all physical exfoliants are created equally. You don’t want any of the exfoliating agents to be too large, for example, large sugar granules, or fragments of nuts. These can leave micro-tears in your skin, which can lead to bacteria and other nasties invading the epidermis layer. Scrubs do work, but they need to be handled gently. 

What is a chemical exfoliant?

Chemical exfoliants remove dead skin cells with the use of - you guessed it! - chemicals to aid in cell turnover. 

Active ingredients in chemical exfoliants include AHAs, BHAs and TCAs. Here at Posh Skin Essentials, we prefer something a little more gentle on your skin, but just as potent: Fruit enzymes: like those found in pineapple. People with sensitive skin might have a hard time with AHAs, BHAs, and TCAs, but luckily, fruit enzymes work more in their favor by providing a gentler exfoliation. The enzymes break down the keratin proteins that are within those upper, old skin cells, revealing fresh, new, and brighter cells from beneath the surface. 

Our recommendation? 

Exfoliate at least three times a week!

So the bottom line? Exfoliating is one of our favorite skin tricks, and it really works. 

One of the easiest ways to boost your natural glow, help clear up your skin, minimize the appearance of sun damage, and maintain a beautiful complexion is to exfoliate regularly. 

Not only does sweeping away dead skin cells, grime, pollution, and makeup residue have the instant benefit of deep-cleaning your pores to make your skin look brighter and feel silkier; it also allows any serums, treatments, and hydrators that you apply afterwards to penetrate deeper and work more effectively.