Exfoliating: Everything you need to know

Everyday you shed millions of dead skin cells, so they can build up very quickly.

This can clog your pores, leading to spots as well as causing flaky patches on your skin.

This makes exfoliating a vital part of your skin care routine. But it’s not just about using a scrub every now and again.

There are several different types of exfoliations, which all have different benefits:

Chemical Exfoliants

Chemical exfoliants come in many different forms. They work by removing the top layer of dead skin cells, without damaging it. But they can also penetrate deeper into your pores than scrubs, to remove debris and sebum from deep within your pores. There are 3 main types of chemical exfoliants:

AHA’s (better for more sensitive skin types and works more on the skins surface)
BHA’s (penetrate deep into the skin but can be irritating)
PHA’s (less penetrating but can have antioxidant/ hydrating effects)

Scrubs

This is a more traditional idea of exfoliation. While it can feel refreshing, be careful as if you choose a scrub that’s too harsh, it can cause micro-tears on your skin, opening up your skin to further infection and breakouts.

If you want to exfoliate in this way, choose a scrub with small microbeads and ensure you are gentle.

What can exfoliation do for your skin?

Exfoliating removes dead skin cells, unclogs pores and helps to refresh and soften your skin. These are just some of the benefits you might see from regular exfoliation:

Smoother, softer skin
Less blackheads
Reduction in breakouts
Less bumps under the skin
A brighter complexion
Less visible pores and fine lines

How often should you exfoliate?

We wouldn’t recommend exfoliating more than 2 – 3 times a week (once a week if you have more sensitive skin), especially if you’re using a scrub/ cleansing tool.

Make sure you follow the instructions on any products you’re using.

Always follow with your serum. When your skin is free from dead skin cells and debris, your serum will be even more effective, as it can penetrate deep into your pores to regenerate your skin cells, kill bacteria, and repair your skin.

How can exfoliating fit into your 47 Skin routine?

You should not need to exfoliate every day, especially as your serum helps to boost skin cell turnover. We would recommend exfoliating 2-3 times a week (but always follow the instructions of any products you use).

First cleanse to remove make-up and surface level dirt with your Everyday Cleanser, then use a gentle scrub (with small microbeads) or a cleansing brush in circular motions to buff away any dead skin cells/ dirt. Do this for 1-2 minutes before rinsing thoroughly.

We would recommend then using a chemical exfoliant treatment (containing AHA or BHA) which you wash off. This way you can follow immediately with your 47 Skin Serum.

You might want to avoid doing both a chemical exfoliant and scrub at the same time, especially if your skin is more sensitive.

You can also do your Silver Mask after your exfoliating treatment and then follow with serum.

When your pores are clear from debris, the Silver Chitoderm can penetrate deeper into your pores, to help consistently prevent breakouts and brighten your skin.