Did you know that your first wrinkles will start to form at age 25? Every year after that, your skin cells will continue to break down until those wrinkles become more and more noticeable. However, there is a way to keep your skin youthful and fresh: exfoliation. 

Skincare is more than just washing your face and using fancy moisturizers. Learning how to exfoliate your skin is also very important. If you ignore regular exfoliation, you will find that your skin will look dull and unhealthy. Keep reading and learn why exfoliating your skin is so important and how to do it the right way. 

 

Why Is Exfoliating Your Skin So Important?

The first thing you should know about exfoliating your face is that the act of exfoliating can unclog your skin's pores. Your pores naturally produce an oil called sebum. Normally, this oil helps to keep your face moisturized and youthful, but if your skin produces too much oil, it can become a problem. 

At some point, your pores will become clogged with sebum. When this happens, whiteheads and blackheads can form. Blackheads are especially unsightly because they make it look like your skin is covered in tiny black dots.

When your pores become clogged, they may also become inflamed. When this happens, acne may form and ruin your complexion even more. When you exfoliate, however, you can give your skin a seriously deep clean. 

Using an exfoliating rag can not only clean off excess dead skin cells but also remove the sebum clogging your pores. Once you do that, you will find that your skin will be clearer and brighter than ever before. But the benefits of exfoliation don't stop there.

It can also help to make your skin tone appear more even. If you don't exfoliate, you are allowing dead skin to pile up on your face. Some skin cells will pile up on some places rather than others.

When this happens, your skin will eventually start to look uneven. More than anything, your skin will start to look dull and it may even start to flake. This, of course, is not ideal. 

By exfoliating your face a few times a week, you can rejuvenate your skin like never before. The great thing about exfoliating is that it is easy and doesn't take very long to do. But you should know that there is a right and wrong way to exfoliate. 

 

How to Exfoliate the Right Way

Instead of asking, "Should I exfoliate?" you should be asking "how often should I exfoliate?" Ideally, you should exfoliate your face between two and three times per week. If you do it more often, you risk irritating your skin. 

You may even end up scratching and stretching your skin if you exfoliate too often and your skin will likely end up being too dry. You will also want to learn how to choose an exfoliator for the best results. That's because not all exfoliators are made equal and some might even end up damaging your skin. 

A simple rag is actually one of the best exfoliators that money can buy. Make sure that it is a gentle rag that is not made out of any rough materials. You can choose to exfoliate your skin either in the morning or evening. 

Whatever the case, make sure the rag is soaked in warm water. You can choose to exfoliate with or without a facial cleanser. When using a rag, be sure that you don't scrub your skin as this can end up stretching your skin. 

Instead, you will want to move the rag in small circles across your face. This will help to dislodge the sebum in any clogged pores you may have. It will also help to remove any excess dead skin from your face. 

A circular motion will be able to catch more dirt and oil than when moving the rag up and down or side to side. You should aim to exfoliate for a couple of minutes. Don't forget to use the rag on your neck since your neck can also develop plenty of excess dead skin. 

You can also use chemical peels on your face. However, make sure that the chemicals aren't too harsh

 

What to Avoid When Exfoliating Your Face

There are certain things you should avoid when exfoliating your face, otherwise, you will miss out on all the benefits of exfoliation. For example, you should avoid cleansers that have little beads or granules in them. While these granules claim to be able to exfoliate your skin, they may actually do more harm than good. 

That's because these little cleansing beads are actually very hard on your skin. Instead of properly removing the dirt and dead skin from your face, the beads will actually scratch the surface of your skin. Over time, this can make your skin look uneven and dull.

You will also want to remember to use a moisturizer every time after exfoliating. If you ignore a good moisturizer, you will find that exfoliating will leave your skin dry. That's because, as mentioned before, cleaning your skin in this way will remove oils from your skin. 

However, leaving your skin without any oil is a bad thing because your skin will be without moisture. For that reason, always be sure to use a soothing moisturizer afterward to replenish your skin's hydration.

 

How to Exfoliate Your Skin

How to exfoliate your skin doesn't have to be a difficult task. As long as you are gentle with your skin and don't do anything to irritate it, you can enjoy all the benefits of exfoliating your face.

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