Does your skin feel dry, flaky, and rough? There could be one very important step you’re missing in your skin care routine: exfoliating!

You may have heard that you don't need to exfoliate in the winter, but that’s not true – you should be exfoliating all times of the year!

Read on as we discuss everything you need to know: why exfoliating is important for your skin, how often to exfoliate, the best exfoliating ingredients, how to choose an exfoliator, and how to use an exfoliator.

Why Exfoliate?

Exfoliating helps get rid of dead skin cells to reveal new, fresh and healthy skin cells. When you have too much dead skin cell build up, your skin is left flaky and dull-looking. 

This makes it super important to prep your skin for makeup application. Exfoliating can also help to improve skin texture and elasticity.

And although our skin does naturally shed every 28 days, that is not enough. For the following skin types, exfoliation is especially important:

• Aging skin – With age, the natural exfoliation process slows which causes dull, tired looking skin.
• Oily and Problem skin – Tends to saturate dead skin cells and makes it difficult for these dead cells to fall off naturally.
• Dry skin – Tends to let dead skin cells accumulate too quickly which can make skin look dry and dull.

How Often to Exfoliate?

One of the most important things to understand about exfoliating is that you shouldn’t overdo it.

Over exfoliating can cause more damage to the skin than good. Your skin is your protective barrier – don’t tear it down! Plus, over exfoliating can cause you to strip your skin, making it more sensitive and thin.

To determine how often to exfoliate you should always follow the directions of your skin care products. Here’s a general guideline that you can follow, based on types of exfoliators:

• Face Scrubs and Exfoliating Masks: You can use facial exfoliators, face scrubs, exfoliating masks, and body scrubs with granular ingredients at home 2-3 times a week.
• Chemical Peels: Unless the peel is a chemical peel for at home use (like our Rapidex® Marine Exfoliator) leave professional chemical peel treatments to the professionals! If you’re interested in visiting a salon or spa for a chemical peel treatment, visit our spa locator

The Best Exfoliating Ingredients

From AHA’s to BHA’s to granular exfoliants, there are many different kinds of exfoliating ingredients. Here's a breakdown:

AHAs (Alpha Hydroxy Acids)

There are many different types of AHAs, which are derived from natural sources.

• Glycolic Acid comes from sugar cane.
• Lactic Acid is derived from sour milk.
• Fruit Acids
• Malic Acid is from apples.
• Citric Acid is from lemons and oranges.
• Tartaric Acid is from grapes.

BHAs (Best Hydroxy Acids)

Another type of acid is Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) or Salicylic Acid which is derived from willow bark. Salicylic Acid is best for treating problem and oily skin types, as it helps reduce oily build up.

Granular Exfoliants

Oatmeal, Almond Meal and Rice Bran Wax are all examples of granular exfoliants.

Sugar is another great granular ingredient for exfoliating. It is gentle, and it's small particles make it an excellent topical exfoliator. Sugar also has natural humectant properties, drawing in moisture and making it suitable for more delicate areas of the body, including the arms and décolleté.

All of these granular exfoliants help to remove dead skin cells and are biodegradable.

How to Choose an Exfoliator?

There are many different types of exfoliating ingredients and products to choose from, but we’re here to help you find the right exfoliator for your skin.

FUSION Chocolate Espresso Invigorate Face & Body Sugar Scrub

• Who’s it for? Dry skin, All skin types
• What is it? This chocolate facial scrub is awakens your senses and your skin with Sugar, Cocoa, Coffee, a Multi-Fruit AHA Complex, Madagascar Vanilla and Seaweed extracts to help exfoliate and reveal glowing skin.

FUSION Matcha Lemongrass Deep Cleanse Face & Body Sugar Scrub

• Who’s it for? Oily skin, All skin types
• What is it? This natural facial scrub deep cleanses, smooths and exfoliates with Sugar, Matcha Green Tea, Lemongrass, Aloe, a Multi-Fruit AHA Complex and Seaweed extracts to reveal skin that looks and feels rejuvenated and refreshed.

Rapidex Marine Exfoliator

• Who’s it for? All skin types
• What is it? Rapidex is an at-home chemical peel that contains a combination of AHA’s and Marine Hydroxy Acids. Rapidex contains 14 individual ampules to ensure you’re not over exfoliating, and is a great spring training program for your skin!

Honey and Almond Scrub

• Who’s it for? Combination skin, Sensitive skin, All skin types
• What is it? This natural face scrub is a granular scrub that combines Pure Honey, Oatmeal and Almond Meal to help purify and deep cleanse, and leaves skin super clean and smooth.

One-Minute Exfoliating Mask 

• Who’s it for? Normal to oily skin
• What is it? This fast exfoliating mask uses rice bran wax and the lactic acid, a very mild AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acid). It also contains other natural ingredients that help reduce the appearance of oiliness.

How to Exfoliate?

The exfoliation technique you’ll use also depends on the type of exfoliator you’re using.

Face Scrubs and Exfoliating Masks

Exfoliation Technique: On cleansed skin, apply with moistened fingertips and massage gently but firmly. You can also leave for 10-15 minutes for added benefits.

Rapidex Marine Exfoliator

Exfoliation Technique: Simply break open package and swipe. After nightly cleansing apply evenly over skin on the face, throat and/or back of hands. Not to be used on/or around eye area. Discard each applicator after single usage.

Now choose an exfoliator for your skin, and get on track to healthy and beautiful skin for 2019!