Why body and face exfoliation might not be the best idea

Exfoliation can be one of the most satisfying beauty steps. You rub that gritty goodness into your skin. You enjoy the burn. Your skin feels oh, so smooth after. Ahhh, bliss.

But, in some circumstances, it might not be the best idea. Controversy over micro-beads aside, exfoliating too often or too roughly can be counter-effective.

For instance, when all you want to do is scrub yourself squeaky clean after a hard day at work or a gruelling gym session, it's best to hold back on the exfoliation. Long hot showers soothe tired muscles and helps you to relax. However, hot water can dehydrate the skin and can aggravate skin conditions like acne eczema and dandruff.

Aggressive exfoliation can also dehydrate the skin, and while it's supposed to open pores, it can also clog them, further worsening skin conditions. That's not to say you should abandon your body exfoliation routine completely. Just narrow it down to a couple of times a week, and use a gentle exfoliant. We love this one from Shiseido:

shiseido exfoliator

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When it comes to your precious money maker, exfoliating might also be doing more harm than good. While most people have a good idea of their skin type, some might not know if their skin is dehydrated or it could be more sensitive than they think. Using the right products for your skin is key to maintaining a good skin regimen, and this includes knowing how often and which specific exfoliator to use. Over-exfoliating can lead to dryness, breakouts and nasty inflammation, especially among those with sensitive skin. Remember, it's not supposed to hurt your face.

It's worth visiting an expert who can advise you on a tailored skin care routine. But, by monitoring what you use, how often you use it and how it affects your skin, you can remove or include products as you see fit.

Exfoliation should help brighten and rejuvenate skin. If your skin is red, raw and sore after, you need to change up your scrub game.

 

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