Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate: I recently went a full month without exfoliating my face, lips, or body and it totally inspired me to write this entry. My skin became very dull, flaky, and dry. This definitely wasn’t an intentional experiment to show the importance of exfoliating but it certainly did give me the urgent need to share my knowledge about the importance of exfoliating. Although we always hear that this is a very important part of one’s skincare regimen, we often don’t exfoliate as often as we should or we use harsh exfoliants that leave our skin worse off than it was before. Here are three reasons why we should all wash, rinse, and exfoliate.
Reasons why:
- Helps to reduce the occurrence of breakouts: People with acne-prone skin shed more skin cells than those with other skin types, but the cells do not fall away. Instead, they stick to the skin, stacking up to clog pores and hair follicles. As this skin debris builds, the skin produces excess follicle oils—which leads to blackheads and blemishes. Regular exfoliation speeds the process of skin cell turnover so that cell buildup and clogged pores are less likely to occur.
- Look younger and more radiant: Exfoliation induces the reproduction of new skin cells and migration of these new skin cells on the top layer of the skin. Therefore, with regular exfoliation, younger skin cells move from the lower layer to upper layer which produces a younger appearance. Also, exfoliation allows you to achieve a more radiant-looking skin so if you want to look healthier and have that photo finish glow, start exfoliating now.
- Maximize the benefits of your moisturizer and the appearance of makeup: Makeup goes on smoother and lasts longer on smooth skin. Lotions and other products will be better absorbed into the healthy skin underneath. This does not happen as easily when the surface is blocked by dead or dry skin.
And now that you know the reasons why you should exfoliate , here are some of B.W.A.C’s favorite facial exfoliators that will give you that flawless finish. Â Tell us what your favorite exfoliation products are for face, body, and lips!!
Clarins- Gentle Peeling Smooth Away Cream:Â This gentle “peel” smooths away impurities with natural clay, delivering immediate radiance to all skin types, even the most sensitive. Soothing primrose extract helps maintain an ideal pH balance to ensure clean, comfortable, radiant skin.
Khiel’s – Pineapple Papaya Facial Scrub: This unique scrub and natural exfoliator is suitable for all skin types and utilizes small pieces of actual pineapple and papaya fruit as well as finely ground scrub grains to exfoliate the skin gently and naturally.
Burt’s Bees – Citrus Face Scrub:Â Infused with refreshing Sweet Orange and Grapefruit Oils, this facial scrub removes dirt, oil and makeup. Formulated with Ground Almonds, Oats and Pecans to gently exfoliate while Sweet Almond Oil and Glycerin help moisturize your skin.
**Extra tip: Don’t forget your lips… exfoliating lips can also help lipstick application to stay longer while keeping them kissably soft.  Even if you already have perfectly smooth lips, it’s still a good idea to apply the lip exfoliator once to twice a week as your lips could darken overtime due to lipstick application. Hence, in order to maintain the original color of your lips, never skimp on applying the lip exfoliator in the mornings or at night once to twice a week. You don’t want to overdo it and apply the product everyday as constant usage of the lip exfoliator will cause your lips to become very tender. We love the Sugar Lip Polish by Fresh- this unique formula is enriched with real brown sugar crystals to gently buff away dry flakes, meadowfoam seed, jojoba seed, and grapeseed oils to nourish the lips, and shea butter for long-lasting moisture. 