Face Exfoliation Benefits for Your Skin

Exfoliating your face might seem like an intimidating task. Too much, and you risk stripping your skin of essential oils and damaging its protective barrier; too little, and you might feel like your efforts are wasted. 

But what if we told you that, when done correctly, face exfoliation is a powerful technique that can leave your skin clearer, smoother, and more radiant? 

In this guide, we’ll deep dive into the benefits of face exfoliation, explore the different types, and help you find the most suitable and effective methods for your skin type. Let’s get started!

If you’re new to skincare and admittedly don’t know much about exfoliation or are a self-proclaimed skincare fanatic but have found yourself skipping this vital step now and then, you’re certainly not alone. Face exfoliation is a misunderstood and undervalued tool that doesn’t get enough time in the spotlight. So, what is it?

Simply put, face exfoliation involves removing dead skin cells from the surface of your skin to reveal a healthier, smoother, and brighter complexion. 

Why is this so important? Our skin naturally sheds and renews itself, but without proper exfoliation, dead skin cells can build up, leading to a dull appearance and clogged pores. Exfoliating your face helps clear this build-up, along with makeup, skincare products, sunscreen, dirt, and grime (more on why this is important soon).

There are various methods to exfoliate your skin, and the best one for you depends on your skin type and unique needs. We’ll dive into the differences between physical and chemical exfoliation further below.

[Read More: Your Go-to Guide to Facial Exfoliation: When, How, and What To Do]

Did you think facial exfoliation was just an archaic extra step in your morning or evening skincare ritual that didn’t really make a difference? Think again! Face exfoliation is a powerful tool and process that gently reveals fresh, healthy, glowing skin.

From enhancing your complexion and minimising acne breakouts to improving skincare efficacy and more, here are our four favourite reasons to get serious about your face exfoliation ritual: 

As mentioned, your skin undergoes a renewal process each day, where outer layer cells die, and fresh ones replace them. Without regular exfoliation, these dead cells accumulate on the skin’s surface, leading to clogged pores and a lacklustre complexion.

Face exfoliation removes dead skin cells in two ways. Firstly, physical exfoliation manually removes dead skin cells through motion, using products or tools that are gently massaged into the skin.

The second option is chemical exfoliation, which dissolves the bonds between dead skin cells, easily releasing them from the skin’s surface to be rinsed off. Common ingredients include AHAs — glycolic acid, lactic acid, and citric acid — and BHAs like salicylic acid, and enzymes . 

By physically or chemically removing built up dead skin cells as well as other built up products and bacteria, exfoliation helps to clear and unclog your pores. 

Still trying to figure out why this matters? When we don’t regularly remove built-up dead skin cells, they can accumulate on your skin, mix with sebum — the oil naturally found in your skin — and clog your pores. 

When your pores are clogged, it can create the perfect conditions for acne-causing bacteria to grow, causing unwanted acne breakouts. This same bacteria can also trigger an immune response, resulting in inflammation characterised by redness, irritation, and acne. 

When we regularly exfoliate our face and remove dead skin from the surface, it gives the appearance of smoother skin free of rough patches and flakiness. 

Additionally, exfoliation can help reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation. Regularly engaging in exfoliation can help reduce dark spots and age spots as it encourages skin cell turnover, which may help fade and reduce their appearance. 

The manual act of exfoliating also improves circulation, helping to stimulate blood flow, which can result in a more even, glowing complexion.  

[Read More: What Causes Skin Pigmentation and How Can You Correct It?]

When pores are clogged, there are fewer access points for skincare products to penetrate the skin and work deep beneath the surface.

Alternatively, when your pores are clear, it improves the absorption and efficacy of your skincare routine. Not only will this improve your overall skincare results, but it’ll ensure the money you’re investing into your skincare ritual isn’t wasted on results you’re unlikely to see or feel. 

Skincare aside, working with a fresh canvas also improves makeup application and finish. 

[Read More: The Dos and Don’ts of Exfoliation]

Gone are the days when harsh, gritty scrubs and skin-tearing brushes are the only forms of face exfoliation. Thankfully, we now know that less is sometimes more, and skin will thrive when we nurture and nourish it gently. 

If you’ve found yourself lost in the never-ending list of face exfoliators, here’s our quick guide to better understand your options:

Also known as mechanical exfoliation, physical exfoliation gently removes dead skin through physical motion. 

This exfoliation refers to treatments and products such as a scrub, cleansing brush, sponge, gloves, or a face exfoliator tool like Dr Tanya’s NuSonic 2.0. It also includes microdermabrasion and dermaplaning. 

This exfoliation refers to treatments and products like face peels, cleansers, toners, masks, serums, and moisturisers. These products contain acids and enzymes that work by loosening the bonds between dead skin cells to help remove them. 

What do acids and enzymes do? We’ve listed a few of the most common ones below:

• Glycolic Acid: An Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) that is derived from sugarcane and is widely adored in skincare owing to its small molecular size that can deeply penetrate the skin to improve exfoliation, skin texture, complexion, and clear pores. 
• Lactic Acid: An Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) best known for its gentle exfoliating benefits. Lactic acid is particularly beneficial for skin exfoliation, hydration, brightening, and collagen stimulation.
• Salicylic Acid: A Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA) beneficial for acne treatment. This acid penetrates oil to help exfoliate deeper beneath the skin to unclog pores and dissolve sebum build-up. 
• Fruit Enzymes: Natural exfoliating properties that gently break down the keratin protein in the skin’s outer layer to smooth and clear skin. The most common fruit enzymes in skincare are papain sourced from paw paw, bromelain from pineapple, and other enzymes found in pumpkin and pomegranate. This option is generally best suited to sensitive skin types. 

If you’ve found yourself asking, “How often should I exfoliate my face?” You’re in the right place!

When building a skincare ritual — especially considering your exfoliation game — it’s essential to let your skin type dictate your decisions. The truth is that all skin is unique and thus requires a personalised approach to achieving radiance. 

[Read More: Determining Your Skin Type: The Ultimate Guide]

Wondering why you can’t just exfoliate when you feel like it? While listening to your skin and adapting your routine based on what you think it needs is crucial, over-exfoliating your skin can do far more harm than good.

If your skin is unusually red and irritated, or you’re experiencing uncommon breakouts, you may want to cut back on your face exfoliation routine.

Find yourself stuck on how regularly you should be partaking in face exfoliation? Let us guide you! 

An important note: The above is merely a guide to help indicate each skin type’s general tolerance of facial exfoliation. However, several factors influence how frequently you should exfoliate, including weather, season, environmental factors, etc. 

We recommend always seeking professional skin advice to receive a more tailored skincare routine.

As aforementioned, all skin is unique, so your face exfoliation skincare regime should be primarily influenced by your skin type, not what your best friend has had great success with.

As you know, various exfoliation methods exist — from scrubs and mitts to acids and enzymes. Let’s take a closer look at what methods are most effective for each skin type:

An important note on over-exfoliating:

While the above guidelines may work for other people with your skin type, there is no guarantee that your experience will be the same. 

While skin falls into specific categories, there are always nuances that make everyone’s skin unique. Thus, it is important to listen to your skin and gauge its response to your skincare ritual as you go.

It is extremely easy to over-exfoliate and damage your skin. If you’re experiencing unusual redness, flaking skin, or dry patches, cease use immediately and allow your skin time to repair. We recommend seeking professional skin advice when unsure what your skin needs.

Why exactly does it matter? If you’re using products that are too harsh for your skin, it will impair and weaken the skin barrier, allow pathways for bacteria to enter, and cause further irritation. 

Over time, this can make your skin more susceptible to sensitivities caused by other skincare products, where previously you had no concerns or reactions. 

When creating a sustainable yet effective face exfoliation ritual that won’t compromise your skin barrier, we love the versatility of a gentle face exfoliation device. Not only is this suitable for all skin types, but it also allows you to exfoliate more frequently without the risk of overdoing it. 

We recommend Dr Tanya’s NuSonic 2.0 face exfoliation device, which uses patented technology to buff away dead skin, fluff, daily dirt, grime, sunscreen, and more. 

This gentle form of exfoliation is designed to improve skin texture and tone, exfoliate your skin to remove dead skin and avoid build-up, and is much gentler than other forms of exfoliation, reducing potential damage to your skin. 

The ultrasonic vibrations of the NuSonic 2.0 device gently massage the skin, stimulate collagen, and reduce fine lines and wrinkles for a smoother, brighter, and healthier look. 

When choosing an exfoliating tool, we recommend considering the following:

1. Assess the product’s material — Generally speaking, silicone and soft-bristled brushes are more gentle and less irritating on the skin than other alternatives.  
2. Patch test — Like all new products, we recommend constantly assessing your skin’s tolerance by trialling the product on a small patch of skin to see how you react. If successful, carry out the technique or product on your face. 
3. Check reviews — The best way to assess a product’s quality and whether it truly does what it says it will is to read what other customers have said about it. While a company can easily sell the advantages, the most accurate reviews will be the pros and cons of those who’ve used the product. Sift through the product reviews and weigh up others’ experiences first!