Exfoliation to the Next Level
By now you should probably be familiar with the benefits of cleansing, but does the cleansing method really stop there? Perhaps not, exfoliation is one more routine you should also look into if you are interested in keeping your pores clear. đ
Many people are familiar with exfoliation; the typical one is called physical exfoliation. Those are the products that involve some sort of facial "scrubbing". The best part of physical exfoliation is the satisfying feeling when you see dead skin cells coming off during the scrub. Some may argue this method could be too rough for sensitive skin, and the answer is yes and no. Unless your skin is super super sensitive, many of the physical exfoliation products these days are great for sensitive skin! As long as you don't over scrub the product onto your skin too hard or for too long (which you should avoid), you should see that instant polished/smooth look after a fine wash. This method usually gives the quickest results due to the "physical" work involved.
The second type of exfoliation could be daunting to newcomers; have you heard of chemical exfoliation?đ Scary at first, but we can ensure you the chemical (acid) level is safe for your skin. This method is great for those who have very sensitive skin and are easily irritated due to the physical scrub. The wonderful part of these liquids? They basically melt away the unwanted "gunk" while you are applying a cleanser, toner (most popular), or serum. That's right, there are quite a few categories of products which can chemically exfoliate within your normal routine. The most popular ones are in the toner stage, and there are two types of acids we usually refer to, AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acids) or BHA (Beta Hydroxy Acids).Â
AHA's main purpose is to get rid of those dead skin cells in order to allow new cells to grow/recover. In return, it will give you brighter and healthier skin over time. Two most popular acids used in this formula are Glycolic and Lactic. Do note that AHA will increase the photosensitivity level of your skin so sunscreen is a must when using AHA based exfoliation. If you are new to AHA, try using it every 3rd night and slowly build up your skin's tolerance. We find that AHA is even better for dry skin types.Â
BHA works differently than AHA, as its job mainly focuses on the insides of your pores by melting away any unwanted leftovers. The most popular acid used in this formula is salicylic acid, so look for salicylic acid if you are choosing BHA exfoliation. As well, the photosensitivity level is not likely to change when using BHA. However, we do recommend starting BHA slowly (like AHA) until your skin's tolerance is high enough. BHA is usually best suited for oily and acne-prone skin types.
Both AHA & BHA exfoliation can be incorporated into your routine as well, but we always recommend slowly adding these products in one by one. This allows your skin to tolerate these new products if you've never used them before, and will ensure you glowing results at the end! đ
Below are the links for different types of exfoliation we offer.
Physical Exfoliation:COSRX - Blackhead Silk Finger Ball
MIZON - Apple Smoothie Peeling Gel
SECRET KEY - Black Out Pore Minimizing Pack
SECRET KEY - Lemon Sparkling Peeling Gel
Chemical Exfoliation: