Exfoliation is an important part of any skincare routine, and while it does happen naturally, giving your skin a helping hand can leave you glowing.
The outermost layer of our skin, called the epidermis, comprises healthy cells and cells that are no longer functioning. Exfoliation is the process of removing these dead skin cells, either physically or through gentle acids to dissolve them. Let’s explore physical exfoliation and how you can make at-home scrubs.
WHY EXFOLIATE?
Whether you’re preparing to apply self-tanner, you want glowing skin, or you’re aiming to give your skin a fresh start, exfoliation is key. In addition to removing dead skin cells as discussed earlier, it also unclogs pores and improves circulation, making your skin appear smooth, glowing, and even-toned. It can also help provide a blank canvas for the application of makeup and other beauty products.
Dry, flaky skin will absorb most of the moisture and active ingredients from your skincare products, so gently exfoliating will ensure that these ingredients are making their way into healthy skin and that you are receiving the most benefit.
HOW OFTEN?
Frequent or harsh exfoliation can lead to a disruption of the acid mantle and skin barrier, creating dryness and irritation in the skin, so go gentle and exfoliate one to two times per week.
If you’ve over exfoliated, your skin is likely going to be red, dry, and irritated. It’s best to stay away from all exfoliants if this occurs. You can help rebuild your skin’s barrier by applying rich, moisturizing creams containing ceramides.
BEST NATURAL EXFOLIANTS
Natural is the way to go! You can use homemade scrubs, a gentle dry brush, or even a damp washcloth to exfoliate your skin. If you’re crafting an at-home DIY scrub, you can use ingredients you already have in your pantry.
Effective DIY scrubs can be made with:
- White sugar
- Chunky sea salt
- Coffee grounds
- Oats
To create a paste, mix one or more of the above ingredients with one or more of the following:
- Honey
- Olive oil
- Coconut oil
- Water
Coffee and sea salt are going to be the most abrasive of the scrubbing ingredients and should only be used on the body with a gentle hand. If your skin is sensitive or extremely dry, white sugar and oats will provide a more gentle, less abrasive body and face exfoliation. Oats have the added benefit of reducing sensitivity in the skin and can be ground into a fine flour-like texture for gentle, yet efficient exfoliation.
Oils like olive or coconut can leave the skin feeling smooth, moisturized, and refreshed. These ingredients can also help to restore the barrier of damaged skin—such as post-sunburn or after too much exfoliation. Honey and water are also very gentle, with honey having the added benefit of being antimicrobial, which is great for acne-prone skin.
Homemade scrubs are beneficial because they are fresh and preservative-free. Most commercially available skin and body care items contain some amount of preservative. This is understandable, as consumers want to purchase a product that doesn’t contain mould, bacteria, and other microorganisms. Many commercial preservatives, however, can lead to sensitivity of the skin over time and can cause more dryness, irritation, and flaking that then leads to more exfoliation—and the process is ongoing.
DRY BRUSHING
If scrubs aren’t your thing, a great way to exfoliate the skin, improve texture, support the immune system, and improve lymphatic flow is dry brushing. The lymphatic system is a network of vessels, nodes, and organs that transport lymph throughout the body, so regular dry brushing is a great pre-shower activity that can improve the overall look and feel of your skin while also providing your body with a significant healing boost.
Here's How!
To dry brush, you’ll need to find a soft, natural-hair body brush that you can comfortably press onto the skin. You can find one at most online retailers or in the shower/bath section of most major stores. It’s important to always brush towards your heart to receive the most benefit. This means that if you start at your feet, you should be using long, gentle strokes moving from your toes to your knees, from your knees to hips, and hips to your chest. You want to brush approximately three times on each area of your skin, ensuring that you are doing the front, back, and both sides of each body part you’re working on. When you get to your heart level, you can then start brushing in downward motions.
NOTE: Dry brushing of the face is not recommended, but you can use a damp washcloth and long, gentle strokes to exfoliate and promote lymphatic drainage in the face and neck.
AVOID CHEMICAL-LADEN OPTIONS
There are plenty of commercially made scrubs and exfoliants available at most retailers, but these should be avoided for the overall health of your skin and body. Most retail scrubs smell amazing—and are unfortunately full of fragrances. Labels containing ingredients such as “fragrance,” “parfum,” and “natural fragrance” are often misleading and can cause issues with your skin and body. These types of ingredients reside in a grey zone within labelling rules and regulations and are most often hiding chemicals that can negatively influence hormones, promote respiratory issues, and sensitise the skin. Having a scrub that smells like freshly baked cookies is great, but at what cost?
Essential Oils
Essential oils are more commonly being used to “naturally” fragrance products, but they come with their own set of issues. Essential oils can sensitise the skin to sunlight, leading to minor burns and general sensitivity over time. It is best to avoid artificial and natural fragrances in body and facial care products.
Choosing natural and DIY exfoliation is a great way to support healthy skin, promote a glowing complexion, and improve the overall appearance of facial and body skin. Creating these scrubs can be a fun and exciting learning experiment that allows you to practice stress-relieving self-care and develop a customized skincare routine.
