Are you having skin trouble? Is the occasional pampering session just not cutting it?

I hear you. It’s hard to prioritize a complex skin routine with so many other things going on in the world. The coronavirus, the pandemic, etc. It can all be overwhelming.

But that just means we deserve some self-care now more than ever!

When it comes to establishing a sustainable and effective skincare routine, the most important step is identifying how much time you can dedicate a day or each week to your skin’s care. There is no point in investing serious dough in skin care products you won’t actually use!

While part of keeping skin supple in winter is dependent on the maintenance you do year-round, know that it is never too late to start a skincare routine that can revolutionize your skin’s texture, pores, and overall appearance.

However, some aspects of a skincare routine are best left to the summer months, when the air tends to be moister and more forgiving on the dewiness of our skin. Knowing when to use products is just as important as knowing WHAT products to use!

But exfoliation is a year-round necessity, not a luxury. The best thing about exfoliation is that you can do it every day, or once a week, and still see results depending on your products and your goals!

Here are my tips for using exfoliation to get and keep supple skin in the harsh winter months!

Exfoliating for your Skin Type

Exfoliation is non-negotiable. All skin needs exfoliation, but the degree to which your skin needs it depends on your skin type and your goals. Exfoliation tends to irritate skin initially. However, it works by turning over cells and revealing the new, fresh cells beneath.

By prompting cell turnover at an increased rate, your skin will start to look “fresher” and less congested. This does strip your skin of moisture, however, so it should come at the beginning of your skincare routine.

If you have dry skin and notice that you look dull in the winter, you should probably introduce more instances of exfoliation throughout the week.

Starting any new exfoliation method tends to exacerbate the appearance of problems for a short while until your skin adjusts. I encourage you to wait this out! This is likely your skin purging, and it is essential to adopting any new aspect of a routine.

Of course, the exacerbation of skin conditions should only last a day or two at most. You shouldn’t see these problems continuing for weeks.

If you have normal, oily, or combination skin, you can probably maintain your same exfoliation routine from the summer months without issue. If you are experiencing increased dryness in the winter, you can increase exfoliation in trouble spots.

Exfoliating BOTH Ways: Chemical and Physical

Not all exfoliants are created equally. Chemical and physical exfoliants are both considered exfoliants because they prompt cell turnover, but they do so in very different ways.

However, the results from each both leave you dewy and fresh-faced.

Chemical exfoliants like glycolic acid and salicylic acid use chemicals to prompt cells to turn over. Different chemicals target different layers of skin. For example, if your primary skin concern is large pores, you will want to purchase skincare products that target the top layer of skin.

If you suffer from acne or blackheads, however, you need something strong and penetrative like benzoyl peroxide to get the job done.

Chemical exfoliants do make your skin more susceptible to UV rays and sun damage, however, so always use SPF. Everyone knows these days that you need to wear SPF in winter, too, but did you know you should also be wearing SPF indoors?

Physical exfoliants are exactly what they sound like. They use larger particles of an abrasive substance to slough the dead skin cells and other nasty debris off your skin. If the particles are too large or too abrasive, you run the risk of actually causing microdermabrasions in your skin. However, most brands no longer use particles that run this risk.

While they have been demonized in the beauty community in recent years as detrimental to skin’s appearance, the right physical exfoliant can actually provide a host of benefits that chemical exfoliants do not.

For example, physical exfoliants will do a better job of relieving users of flakiness caused by dry skin. Chemical exfoliants will take care of this problem, too, but their results tend to become more apparent over time, whereas you can see the results of physical exfoliation immediately.

If your skin is extremely dry in winter, you want to balance your use of exfoliation with a strong moisturizing routine. And when you are first introducing exfoliation into your larger skincare routine, start small: try a chemical exfoliant once a week and moisturize HEAVILY afterwards.

Even though the name is scarier, chemical exfoliants are actually gentler and easier to control than a lot of physical exfoliants. It’s easier to get a high-quality chemical exfoliant for a great price than it is to get a high-quality physical exfoliant on a budget.

 

Published: 2021-01-30 09:05:58