A common term in skincare is exfoliation (interchangeable with scrubbing). Some experts tell you it’s important to exfoliate your skin, but do you know why they say so?

Exfoliation is the cleaning, or removal, of dead skin cells on the surface of the skin. When left alone, these dead skin cells are capable of building up and wreaking havoc in the form of clogged pores and dry, peeling skin. The skin also starts to appear dull and lackluster overtime. With exfoliation, you’re cleaning house and allowing your skin to breathe after ridding it of the dead skin cells, dirt, and makeup (if you wear any). Exfoliation also promotes circulation, which gives your skin a nice glow. When getting a facial, the same process takes place but on a higher level through the use of advanced processes such as microdermabrasion, laser therapy, and peels.

Facials aside, there are a few different types of exfoliation that for most of us are easy to do at home.

The first and most common one is Physical Exfoliation. Even as children we’ve done it, using a wet cloth to wipe our faces off in the sink while getting ready for bed. Other types of physical exfoliants include sugar, salt, oatmeal, ground rice or nuts and buffing beads (found in skincare). As the name implies, physical exfoliation is the literal, physical “scrub” we apply on our faces.

(Do It Yourself: Choose between my Lemon Juice and Sugar Exfoliant and Natural Skin Care Scrub with Lemon and Aloe for a physical exfoliation that you can get your hands on!)

The second type is Chemical Exfoliation, which incorporates the use of enzymes that help to break down the rough and dirty surface of your skin and keep it clean. It also helps to lighten dark spots and acne scars, smooth fine lines, and give your skin a smooth, youthful glow. A chemical exfoliant can be done either chemically (which is very intense) or naturally (which tends to be a lot safer and gentler). Personally, I find natural exfoliants to be a lot more effective compared to the harsh ones you get at a salon (these are normally called peels). However, everyone’s different, so do what you think is best for your skin!

(Do It Yourself: Make my Pumpkin Enzyme Facial Peel and save yourself the expense from booking an appointment at the salon!)

No matter the type of exfoliation you do, be sure to do a patch test on a small section of your skin to check for any insensitivities. We all have different needs and types of skin, from dry to oily to sensitive and otherwise normal, so it’s always good to ‘test the waters’ when it comes to what we put on our body.

Another thing to keep in mind with exfoliation is the level of intensity at which you scrub (or exfoliate). Obviously you don’t want to keep rubbing away at your skin like sandpaper; that can seriously mess up and damage your skin. A slight pressure is fine, but be gentle with your skin. Some physical exfoliants can be too rough for sensitive types, invest in or make a scrub that is finely ground and mud-like when mixed with water and use soothing ingredients like aloe vera that are known for calming inflammation. Speaking of sensitive types, the alternative is to use a gentle chemical peel, preferably a natural one derived from fruit-based enzymes. The processed, salon-quality ones tend to be a lot harsher. On the other hand, if your skin is on the oilier side and can tolerate harsher treatments feel free to experiment with different scrubs and exfoliants.

As for the amount of times you should exfoliate, the rule of thumb is to do so at least a couple of times a week. Some people claim they can get away with doing it everyday, but unless your scrub or exfoliant is really gentle, it would not be wise to always be stripping your skin away. One of the best times to exfoliate is at night, since the exfoliation temporarily thins the skin and can leave it more susceptible to damage from sunlight. If you do decide to exfoliate during the day, be sure to apply plenty of sunscreen for protection and avoid the sun as much as possible.

Do you exfoliate? Got any home recipes or go-to products? Let me know what you think!