Exfoliation Guide

Exfoliation is known to be an equally important step in our skincare routines as cleansing, applying a serum and moisturising, but what exactly is exfoliation and how does it benefit our skin? Here's all you need to know...
 

What is exfoliation?

Exfoliation is the process of removing dead, dull skin cells from the skin's surface.
You may choose to use a physical exfoliator, containing small grains or particles which gently brush away dead skin cells such as our Micro Exfoliating Balm.
Or a chemical exfoliator (BHA's, AHA's and enzymes), such as our Liquid Mask or Renaissance Mask which are acids and enzymes that work to unbind the 'glue' holding dead skin cells together.

Why is exfoliation important?

From around the age of 25, the process of cell regeneration becomes increasingly slower. This means that our skin takes longer to shed dead skin cells sitting on the surface. A build-up of dead skin cells can lead to clogged pores, in turn causing breakouts and acne.
Exfoliating also aids the absorption of your skincare products, through deeply cleansing and unclogging pores, thus allowing products to penetrate deeper into the skin for optimum performance. However, this layer of surface dead skin cells also plays a vital role in skin protection and over-exfoliation can cause damage to the skin's barrier. It is therefore vital to choose the right exfoliator for your skin type and concern, but also be mindful not to over use it. 
 

OVERALL BENEFITS

• Stimulate cell regeneration
• Helps even skin tone
• Helps brighten
• Smoother skin
• Stimulates hydration processes

How often should I exfoliate?

Keep skin glowing, soft and healthy by gently exfoliating once a week, or twice a week for drier, blemish-prone or more mature skin types. However it is absolutely vital to not over-exfoliate, which leads to damaged barrier function, skin damage and inflammation.

What about the body?

It's a common mistake to only focus on exfoliating your face and neck, when your body will also benefit from weekly exfoliation. Try our Renaissance Body Scrub, which combines both physical and chemical exfoliators, to banish winter skin and reveal summer-ready limbs.