What type of exfoliation is right for you?
Most skin care consumers understand the importance of skin exfoliation and the great results that exfoliation can bring to the skin. However, many of us are unsure about the different types of exfoliating products, how they work, the many ingredients contained in them and how to use them effectively.
Dermalogica have a choice of different targeted exfoliating products for your home care routine. With all of this choice, it can become a little confusing!
We want to take the guesswork and confusion out of exfoliation to make it simple and easy for you choose the right type of exfoliation for your best skin ever!
What is exfoliation?
In simple terms it’s the removal of dead skin cells from the uppermost layer of the skin to deliver a smoother look and a firmer feel.
In a healthy young normal skin, the process of cell renewal or cell turnover occurs about every 28 days. As we age, this process slows down to around 40 days in mid-age and around 80 days in our fifties and beyond!
Exfoliation is great for skins that are prone to breakouts and/or congestion, hyper-pigmented, dry, dehydrated and of course for ageing skins, it’s a must. By exfoliating regularly, cell renewal is stimulated helping to reduce the signs of ageing, improving skin texture, decongesting clogged follicles and brightening the skin.
When it comes to active exfoliating ingredients and how they work, Dermalogica use chemical ingredients like Salicylic and Lactic Acid, which stimulate the exfoliation of skin cells and leave a smoother skin surface. Retinol or Vitamin A, is a highly active skin re-surfacer. It helps to induce collagen synthesis and reduces the appearance of skin ageing. Dermalogica use Retinol in an encapsulated form to ensure its purity and efficacy.
Enyzmes, like Papain from papaya and Bromelin from pineapple help “digest” excess skin cells while physical exfoliating ingredients like corn cob meal remove dulling surface debris. Rice bran is a great ingredient that Dermalogica chooses to use to buff and polish and brighten the surface of the skin.
As exfoliation delivers great benefits to the skin, we can become over-zealous and over exfoliate. This can lead to:
- Increased sensitivity/sensitisation
- Dehydration
- Tautness
- Redness
- Patchy dry areas
- Irritation
These conditions have an effect in accelerating ageing due to the inflammatory response and its knock on effects within the skin. So more is not necessarily the best in the case of exfoliation!
We recommend pairing your exfoliation products for best results. This includes once a week intense exfoliation alongside gentle exfoliation on other days. There is a Dermalogica exfoliant for every skin type and condition;
Gentle Cream Exfoliant
Perfect for all skins.
Use 1 – 2 times a week for intense exfoliation.
Prodermal Tips:Use Daily Microfoliant every other day and/or Daily Superfoliant alternative days.
Perfect Partner: Daily Microfoliant and/or Daily Superfoliant.
Skin Prep Scrub
All skins but especially Oily skins.
Use 2 – 3 times a week for de-congesting and to remove surface cells.
Prodermal Tips: Avoid using on pustular breakouts. Power cleanse and mix with your cleanser.
Perfect Partner: Exfoliating Face Brush for deeper exfoliation.
Daily Microfoliant®
All skins.
Use daily for skin brightening, polishing and buffing.
Prodermal Tips:Use Daily Superfoliant on an alternate day. Can use over eyes and lips.
Perfect Partner: Daily Superfoliant.
Daily Superfoliant™
Normal - mature or prematurely ageing skins.
Use daily to resurface, smooth and fight pollutants.
Prodermal Tip:Use Daily Microfoliant on alternate days.
Perfect Partner: Daily Microfoliant.
Daily Resurfacer
All skin conditions and especially good for hyper-pigmented skins.
Use daily as a leave on exfoliating treatment.
Prodermal Tips:Provides a great “make up” base. Use before toner and moisturiser.
Perfect Partner: Daily Microfoliant.
Exfoliating Face Brush
All skins.
Use daily to gently exfoliate and enhance the effect of your cleanser.
Prodermal Tips:Quick drying, gentle to use. Avoid areas of sensitivity.
Perfect Partner:Dermalogica Cleanser, Skin Prep Scrub.
Multivitamin Thermafoliant®
Great for mature or prematurely ageing skin.
Use 2 – 3 times per week.
Prodermal Tips:For a more intense result use on dry skin. Part of the AGE Smart range.
Perfect Partner: Antioxidant Hydramist and Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF50.
Overnight Retinol Repair
Perfect for mature or prematurely ageing skin.
Use Nightly.
Prodermal Tips:Start using with included buffer cream first to acclimatise, then use alone as skin adjusts. Use sunscreen daily.
Perfect Partner: Super Rich Repair, Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF50, Antioxidant Hydramist. Part of the AGE Smart range.
Of course, not all skins can be exfoliated and there are some skins that need to take extra care with exfoliation. Exfoliation is not recommended for users of any topical or orally prescribed acne, Vitamin A derived, skin exfoliation medications. If you are sunburned, irritated, sensitive or have skin that has been recently resurfaced, then avoid exfoliation. This goes for recently waxed facial hair too!
Remember that any exfoliation can increase the skins sensitivity to the sun, so use a sunscreen and limit your sun exposure after skin exfoliation.
Yours in skin,
The Prodermal Team X
