Are you dealing with dry, flaky skin? Is your makeup sitting atop your skin? If so, then you need to experience the miracle-like results exfoliators give your skin. But not so fast”just like moisturizers, not all exfoliators can be used on every kind of skin type.
Whether you have dry skin, sensitive skin, acne-prone skin or oily skin, there is an exfoliator tailored just for you that will yield a refreshed, luminous and glow-y complexion.
Sensitive Skin: You know all too well that the slightest irritation can cause your face to become a red, inflamed mess. The key with exfoliating your skin is to select products that contain soothing ingredients, which will be gentle on your delicate skin. Fresh’s Soy Face Exfoliant ($42) contains jojoba, rose hip and cucumber seeds that delicately remove dead skin, while cucumber extract soothes and calms and vitamin E protects and softens.
Oily Skin: Having oily skin means dealing with excess sebum production everyday, which sometimes results in clogged pores and can lead to blackheads or blemishes. If you feel like you must exfoliate every other day to counter the excessive oily-ness that builds on your face, opt for cream-based formulations that will be gentle enough for everyday use. Products like Clinique’s 7 Day Scrub Cream Rinse-Off Formula ($22) and Dermalogica Microfoliant can both be used daily, or, you may like to try a liquid formula like Aveda’s Botanical Kinetics Exfoliant ($19), which contains a small percentage of salicylic acid to combat daily sebum production.
Dry Skin: Dry skin is constantly thirsting for heavy-duty moisture, and although you may think that exfoliating will further exacerbate your dry skin, sloughing away dead cells will promote more moisture filled cells to replace the dead ones and will allow moisturizer to penetrate more deeply. A beauty industry favourite, Zia’s Fresh Papaya Enzyme Mask ($25) is a paraben-free product that brightens skin and provides tons of moisture with the inclusion of natural honey.
Acne-Prone Skin: Skin that is prone to breakouts still requires exfoliation, but ultra-gentle products that are specially formulated for acneic skin are best suited. Try and avoid grainy scrubs that can irritate delicate skin and cause inflammation or further breakouts. Exfoliators like La Roche Posay’s Effaclar Astringent Lotion Micro-Exfoliating ($22) is a gentle liquid-based product that aims to tighten pores and fight against pore blockage. Available at your local drugstore, Neutrogena’s Oil-Free Acne Stress Control Power-Clear Scrub ($8) is a creamy formula with microbeads that remove dead cells, while cucumber and green tea help soothe and minimize redness.
