New Year, New skin: Exfoliation for Beginners

Why Exfoliation Matters

With New Years – we reset our lives with resolutions, cleaning the house, etc, so why not reset your skin? Think of exfoliation as your skin’s reset. Exfoliation can help you reset, refresh, and revitalize your skin for the New Year - and it can become a good metaphor for a fresh start!

How it helps:

• Smooth Skin Texture: Exfoliating reveals a fresh new layer of your skin, leaving it soft and smooth.
• Boost Radiance: With that dead layer of skin, your natural glow shines through!
• Unclog Pores: If you’ve been dealing with breakouts, exfoliating helps unclog your pores!
• Improve Product Absorption: When your skin is freshly exfoliating, it absorbs your other skincare products, like serums, way better.

Two Types of Exfoliation: Pick Your Fighter

1. Physical Exfoliation: This involves using physical tools to buff out your dead skin cells such as sponges, loofah materials, or those small beads/salt that you might’ve felt in some skincare products. It’s best for people who don’t have super sensitive skin.
2. Chemical Exfoliation: This sounds intense, but it’s actually great for beginners as it is less intense on the skin. Ingredients like AHAs and BHAs work to dissolve dead skin without the intense physical scrubbing, making them great for sensitive or acne-prone skin types.

Top Picks for Beginners

1. Haruharu Wonder: Black Rice Soft Peeling Gel

This product is mild for beginners and is a gentle physical exfoliator if you want a soft but a scrubby experience. 

2. Cosrx AHA/BHA Toner or Serum

This is a low-concentration option to ease into chemical exfoliants. 

3. Innisfree Volcanic PHA refining toner 

This is a PHA-Based Exfoliant – PHAs are like the gentler version of AHA. This product is a mild exfoliant, ideal if you’re a little nervous about the intensity of exfoliating. 

4. MISSHA Super Aqua Ultra Hyalron Mild Peel

This is a mild peeling product - a physical exfoliator but also provides great hydration with 10 types of hyaluronic acids.

How to Exfoliate 

1. Start Slow: Less is more when you’re starting out. Exfoliate just once or twice a week until your skin adjusts.
2. Wear Sunscreen: Exfoliation can make skin more sensitive to the sun, so always protect with SPF.
3. Patch-Test New Products: This is a good habit to have for any new product you’re trying out. Test a small amount on your wrist or jawline first.

Exfoliation can be a game-changer in your skincare routine, giving you that fresh-faced glow. Try one of these tips or products, and let us know how it works for you. Remember, new year = new skin!