Springtime is the perfect time to renew a nd refresh your skin care routine.
It’s the time of year to come out of hibernation and get glowing, beautiful healthy skin for the warmer months.
Follow these simple 3 steps:
1- Exfoliate - see below
2 -Protect with Full/Broad Spectrum Sunscreen or Sun Block
3 - Moisturize - a lighter moisturizer may be more beneficial
It’s very simple: your secret weapon for smooth skin and a radiant complexion is exfoliation!
Exfoliation means removing the dead skin cells sitting on the top layer of skin. Winter time will leave your skin dry and flaky, that can be removed by exfoliating, and during these times, it’s easy to do at home.
Benefits
Smoother skin: Since exfoliating helps to slough off dry and dead skin cells, it can result in smoother, softer skin.
Even skin tone: Many people find that exfoliation can help brighten their skin tone and remove the dullness and dark spots that are caused by a buildup of flaky patches.
Increased circulation: By massaging the skin, exfoliating can help improve blood and lymph circulation, providing an instant pick-me-up for our complexions.
Fewer ingrown hairs: If you’re prone to ingrown hairs, you may find that regular exfoliation can help prevent them
from developing in the first place. Can also lessen the appearance of dark spots and thickened skin that ingrown hairs can cause.
Rule number one when exfoliating is to be gentle on your skin. For most people, exfoliating once a week should be sufficient. If you have sensitive skin, proceed with caution, if your skin is broken or irritated, skip exfoliating altogether until your skin has cleared up, exfoliation can make it worse.
If you’re not sure if exfoliation is for you, check with a health care practitioner or dermatologist first.
Types of exfoliation
There are two main types of exfoliation: mechanical and chemical.
Mechanical
Also known as physical exfoliation, mechanical exfoliation is simply caused by friction—either by a tool such as a loofah or washcloth against the skin, or by an exfoliating scrub. Mechanical exfoliating products are meant to be massaged into skin in gentle circular motions (either with your fingers or with a tool) and then rinsed off with warm water.
Physical exfoliating products are instantly gratifying. But how do you know if you are over-exfoliation?
Ask yourself the following:
Does your skin shine even when it's not oily?
Does your skin feel tight?
Has your skin recently become sensitive or reddened?
Have you noticed new areas of dryness or dehydration?
Do you experience peeling or flaking?
If you've answered 'yes' to one of these questions, over- exfoliation may be the cause. If you've answered 'yes' to three or more, over-exfoliation is almost definitely the cause.
Always follow the directions on the label, and be patient your skin will look amazing.
Chemical
Chemical peels are cosmetic treatments that can be applied to the face, hands, and neck. They’re used to improve the appearance or feel of the skin. During this procedure, chemical solutions will be applied to the area being treated, which causes the skin to exfoliate and eventually peel off. Once this happens, the new s
kin underneath is often smoother, appears less wrinkled, and may have less damage.
Superficial peels, which use mild acids like alpha-hydroxy acid to gently exfoliate. It only penetrates the outermost layer of skin.
Medium peels, which use trichloroacetic or glycolic acid to reach the middle and outer layer of skills. This makes it more effective for removing damaged skin cells.
Deep peels, which fully penetrate the middle layer of the skin to remove damaged skin cells; these peels often use phenol or tricholoracetic acid.
Common side effects are temporary, and include redness, dryness, stinging or burning, and slight swelling. With deep peels, you may permanently lose the ability to tan.
Chemical peels can, however, have more serious risks and dangerous side effects that can be permanent.
These include:
Darkening or lightening of the skin color. These can be more common in people with darker skin.
Scarring. This can be permanent.
Infections. People with herpes simplex may experience flares following a treatment. Very rarely, chemical peels can cause fungal or bacterial infections.
Heart, liver, or kidney damage. The phenol used in deep peels can actually damage the heart muscle, kidneys, and liver, and cause irregular heartbeats.
These services should be conducted by a board-certified dermatologist, plastic surgeon, licensed healthcare provider, or trained skin care specialist.
We make two safe and effective exfoliants. Click Picture for more information!
