Let us first understand what does “Skin Exfoliation” means? It’s a process of eliminating dead skin cells from the outer layer of your skin and plays a very important role in your skin care routine.
Our skin keeps shedding old damaged skin cells and new skin cells replace them. This process is known as skin cell regeneration. This process slows down and slackens as we age, impeding the shedding of dead skin cells and production of new healthy cells for replacing them. Dead skin cells start building up on the surface of your skin, affecting the skin’s health and appearance. Your skin complexion then looks dull and rough. Moreover, it can lead to accumulation of excess oil, clogged pores, and result in to acne and blemishes.
Oily Skin Exfoliation
Managing oily skin is like a continuing fight. When you’re upset about your oily skin, just think that your skin type has an incredible plus point – that it ages slowly. The profuse oils may lead to shininess but then on the other hand hydrate, condition and guard your skin too. This is something you can take as a pricy possession. Still, we do understand that you may want to minimize the shine of your oily or combination skin type … and to do this, best solution is exfoliation.
Why Oily And Combination Skins Need Exfoliation?
Oily skin tends to turn over more slowly as compared to other types of skin, and this can cause unsightly spots. The dead skin cells don’t shed off but instead get trapped inside pores, where they accumulate and are likely to breed blackheads and pimples. Moreover, the repressed exfoliation rate of an oily skin enhances the oily appearance too. Think of dead skin like a sponge that pulls and holds sebum.
That’s where exfoliation can help. It helps speed up the oily skin cells turn over to the naturally predetermined rate at which the typical normal skin cells usually turn over.
By including exfoliation into your skincare regime, you can control spots, blackheads and pimples.
Exfoliators For Oily Skin And/Or Acne Prone Skin
If you use a wrong product, it can cause more damage than good. You should look for a product, which suits oily skin and don’t harm the skin or result in to enhanced redness or acne breakouts.
Broadly following are the two methods to exfoliate skin:
(i) Physically, using scrubs, facial brushes, or muslin cloths.
(ii) Chemically, using gentle skincare acids like glycolic and salicylic.
Whereas all methods can get rid of dead skin, the one optimum performer for oily skin is Salicylic Acid.
Don’t get scared by the term ‘acid’. Chemical exfoliators are very gentle, generally milder than physical exfoliators. While physical exfoliants uses abrasion technique, chemical exfoliants slowly dissolve the glue that binds dead skin cells together.
Let me explain you why chemical exfoliants are good for oily skin. They:
(i) involve no scrubbing, which can harm and aggravate skin issues.
(ii) work on more layers of skin.
(iii) have longer-lasting effects as compared to physical exfoliaters.
(iv) provide extra benefits by exterminating bacteria & stimulating collagen.
If the above are not convincing enough, the following are bonus points that make Glycolic and Salicylic Acid ideal candidates for exfoliating oily skin:
(a) Stimulate collagen, helping to fade acne scars
(b) Antibacterial, helps to control acne
(c) Oil-soluble, so helpful in penetrating pores
(d) Anti-inflammatory, provide relief from acne
You can incorporate Glycolic or Salicylic Acid in your skincare routine in many ways. They are found in skin caring products such as cleansers, toners, and even moisturizers.
To reap the full benefits of Glycolic and Salicylic Acid, you need to include a leave-on product into your regimen. You might like to try one of our recommended exfoliators for oily and/or acne prone skin:
(a) Nip + Fab Glycolic
(b) Glycolic Acid Intensive Exfoliating Serum
(c) Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Cleanser
(d) Paula’s Choice-CLEAR Anti-Redness Exfoliating Solution
(e) Humane BHA Pore Minimizer
(f) Paulas Choice–SKIN PERFECTING 2% BHA Salicylic Acid Exfoliant
See more on - Which Products Should You Use For Exfoliating Oily Skin?
(g) Salicylic Deep Gel Exfoliator