Exfoliators: What Do They Do?

At any age, a woman wants her skin to look as good as possible. Exfoliators and masks help your skin do just that. They are both necessary because they do two different things. Exfoliators scrub and invigorate, while facial masks calm and soothe the skin.

The earlier you consistently include these items in your skin care routine, the more effective your moisturizer will be. This translates to your skin looking healthier and smoother as well as looking younger than you actually are. If you're fifteen, that may not be such an encouraging thought, but if you're thirty, forty or fifty

Why Do I Need an Exfoliator?

Exfoliators are needed because every 25 days, your skin renews itself and without an exfoliator, any un-removed dead cells can accumulate and result in white heads or hair bumps. If either becomes infected, you have the beginning stage of acne, particularly on your shoulders or back where the skin is dryer. The body requires larger scrubbing particles, which won't harm or scratch the skin unless used with more than usual pressure.

Exfoliating is necessary for polishing and allowing the skins natural oils to surface from beneath those dead cells; thereby keeping the skin soft and smooth. Exfoliators should be used by men and women. Most men regularly remove or exfoliate the dead skin on the lower halves of their faces - while shaving. So, the top half could benefit from weekly exfoliating.

What do they do?

The scrubbing granules are much smaller for the face, so they won't irritate or enlarge the pores. When exfoliators are used properly, the tiny granules polish the skin by lifting and removing the dead skin cells that prevent natural oils from surfacing. When your natural oils are blocked from the surface, you get clogged pores which can develop into white heads and if the pore becomesinfected with bacteria it can develop into acne, particularly on your back or shoulders where your skin is dryer.

How Do I Use Exfoliators?

If your skin is oily, you should use a gel based scrub, combination skin needs a lotion type, dry skin responds best to oil based or cream products and the baking soda based exfoliator is the mildest and is best for sensitive skin. Immediately after cleansing, apply a teaspoon full of your exfoliator to a clean face cloth; both cloth and face should be wet.

For about 30 seconds, gently scrub in circular motions around your face and neck. Rinse well to remove all grains and pat dry with a clean towel. Finish with your toner, gel or cream for the eye area and facial moisturizers.

Women often believe that scrubbing longer or more often than recommended will result in better looking skin; it doesn't and it could make your skin extremely dry. Companies formulate their products to respond to the recommended time that will give the best resultsExfoliator directions usually recommend a twice weekly use, so if you follow the directions, you'll enjoy the benefits of your home facial.