Is there anything better than that squeaky clean feeling? Whether it's in our teeth, hair or face - we just can't get enough of that fresh feeling!
Which is why many of us ensure that we exfoliate our skin on a regular basis. But is there such thing as over exfoliation?
Yes, there is!
Your skin actually knows how to exfoliate and renew itself. There is nothing wrong with giving your skin a helping hand every now and then, and there will be times throughout the year when your skin accumulates more dead skin cells. But you definitely don't want to overdo it.
So, how much is too much?
Every skin is different. If you have sensitive skin, we would recommend exfoliating once a week to avoid irritation, and no more than 3 days per week if your skin is normal to combination.
What happens when you over exfoliate?
The exact opposite of what you want.
If your skin barrier is working well, it will retain water effectively for a good hydration balance, and be resilient, yet flexible. That means your skin contains the right amount of lipids and Natural Moisturising Factors. If your skin's barrier is impaired, your skin will look dry, dull and scaly.
Exfoliating too harshly or too often is a practice that can damage the protective outer layer of your skin, leading to further dryness and inflammation, yikes!
So, what's next?
The first step is to adapt your regime according to your skin. If your skin needs it, do it - if not, leave it! You will know if it is dull, dry and flaky by the way it feels.
Also, think about your skin type. If you have oily skin, go for a Physical type of Exfoliation as this break up impurities and washes them away.
Sensitive skin types should go for a really gentle Enzyme Exfoliation.
Dry skin types should stick to Chemical type of Exfoliation as this will be less harsh than the physical exfoliators.
