Kicking off the mini-series this week, today I'm going to give my 2 cents on the topic of exfoliation.
- Start of serious talk *puts on serious face* -
When we remove dead skin from the surface of our face/body, we are exfoliating whether we are aware of it or not. Using a face cloth to wipe your face (or using a clarisonic if you have one) for example causes exfoliation, as well as using a loofah on your body in the shower.
Generally, we are recommended to exfoliate twice a week. If you have sensitive skin however, you might want to start with once a week just to see how your skin will react. Exfoliating on a regular basis is a good thing since it allows new skin cells to resurface, keeping the skin healthy and allowing for constant regeneration of cells.
Its important to note though, that too much exfoliation will cause irritation. Like I previously mentioned, sensitized skin will tolerate less exfoliation, while someone from a warmer climate or has naturally oilier skin will be able to tolerate it more than twice a week. Get to know your skin and see how much it would tolerate. Start slowly and build up to what your skin is comfortable with. Never go to the point where your skin turns red, gets inflamed or becomes more oily. If you did a boo-boo though and over-exfoliated, take a step back. Let your skin heal by using gentle skin care and leaving it be for a few days.
- End of serious talk *phew* -
Alright, now let's move on to the exciting stuff - how I go about with my exfoliation routine.
For my face I use the Cure Natural Aqua Gel. This is my holy grail face exfoliator. It is also the best selling exfoliator from Japan! I use this product at night after I have double cleansed with my Cleansing Oil and Foaming wash. Before applying this, I pat my face dry and with dry hands, dispense 2 pumps of the product. Spreading it evenly between both hands, I distribute the gel on my face by dabbing some on both cheeks, my nose and chin, then forehead. This is a very quick way of getting rid of dead skin cells on your face and you will see them instantly while you are rubbing in gentle circular motions. The dead skin will come off and show as small white "beads" (the closest way I can describe it). I gently wash off the beads with water and continue on.
So for those of us who needs a simple flow chart of the routine:
cleansing oil --> foaming wash -->pat skin dry --> cure natural aqua gel --> wash off with water --> the rest of your skincare
For a complete body pampering exfoliating experience, hop on the shower and follow these steps!
- You can choose to perform face exfoliaton before or after your shower. (pause on the "rest of the skincare" though if you plan to shower afterwards, this may be obvious but hey just covering all bases). I recommend doing it after however, since the steam from the shower would have softened your epidermis (a.k.a. outer skin layer)
- I like to use a body scrub once/twice a week in the shower. I have talked about what I use in a previous post that you can read here.
- Moisturize after every exfoliation, especially after exfoliation! Put back those nutrients in your skin.
- Once your body is exfoliated and moisturized, focus on facial skin care. After facial exfoliation, don't just slap on moisturizer though. Here is your chance to let your skin absorb some wonderful skincare since the newly exposed healthy skin is more able to absorb its benefits.
- I like to follow the Cure Natural Aqua Gel with my SK-II LXP Activating Massage Fluid for my toning step. This combination is magical. The Pitera, Niacinamide and Vitamin C in the massage fluid, which looks like a gel, really seeps into the skin. The next day, you will look glowy. This combo is currently one of the things I look forward to the most in my skincare routine.
- MOST IMPORTANTLY, make sure you stay relaxed, enjoy and take the time to appreciate all the good things in your life =)
In case the world of skincare is confusing you, here are more flow charts!
exfoliating done --> toner --> essence --> sheet mask --> eye cream --> serum --> moisturizer/oil --> relax
OR
exfoliating done --> wash off mask --> toner --> essence --> eye cream --> serum --> moisturizer/oil --> relax
OR
exfoliating done --> toner --> essence --> eye cream --> serum --> sleep-in mask --> relax
Awesome! All done. I go to bed right afterwards. Honestly, talking/writing about this routine takes far longer than doing it. Granted, the sheet mask/wash-off mask takes 15 to 20 mins but I tend to do last minute chores/things during that time.
I hope you find this post helpful! Please don't forget to subscribe using my Bloglovin link if you want to keep up with new posts. See you tomorrow for Deep Pore Cleanse Tuesday!
xoxo
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