The Do's & Don'ts Of Face Exfoliation

Skin care can be overwhelming with the plethora of products available to choose from and without someone to guide you through that choice.

We are often asked by our clients how to exfoliate face skin, so we've decided to help you by answering the most common questions we hear about exfoliation.

Let Kiana Beauty guide you through this process.

What is exfoliation?

Exfoliation is a process where a face scrub is used to remove dead skin cells from the top layer of your skin and gives you a brighter and smoother complexion.

Exfoliating also helps with a variety of skin concerns such as sun damage and dull skin.

It also lets your skin care products penetrate deeper into the skin, so that they will work better and you will see better results.

As we get older, cell turnover slows down, so exfoliation is really helpful in keeping our skin looking its best. 

However, it's important not to fall into the trap of over exfoliating as too much can damage your skin.

How often should you exfoliate?

Another question we are commonly asked is 'can you scrub your face every day?'

In short no, as you don't want to irritate your skin and cause it to sting or peel, you just want to gently help a natural process along so that your skin looks its best.

How often should you exfoliate your face depends on the type of product that you're using and your skin type.

For Sensitive Skin -  Exfoliate once or twice a week.

For Oily Skin - Wondering how often to exfoliate oily skin? Oily skin has a higher tolerance to products and can be exfoliated several times a week, for example, every second day.

For Normal to Combination Skin- Expoliate up to three times a week.

For Acne Prone Skin: If you have chronic acne, your skin is already inflamed, so avoid exfoliating as it will irritate your skin further.

How to exfoliate face

Using your favourite face scrub and a light touch, move in small, circular motions around your face.

Be sure to follow the directions on the packaging, paying attention to how long the face scrub should be left on your skin.

Rinse the face scrub off with warm water, not hot water - as hot water will irritate your exfoliated face.

Gently dry your face with a clean towel or wash cloth and apply your favourite toner and hydrating moisturiser. Don't skip these steps, as exfoliators can be a bit drying, so you need to put moisture back into your skin.

Do you exfoliate before or after washing your face?

Always gently wash and cleanse your face first, then apply your exfoliator or face scrub on damp skin.

Do you exfoliate before or after toner?

Toner should be applied after you exfoliate. A toner will remove any dirt or oil left behind after you cleanse and exfoliate your face.

Do you exfoliate on wet or dry skin?

There are many ways to exfoliate your skin, and it comes down to the product that you're using

If you are using an oil-based face scrub, you should apply it to dry skin for maximum skin-softening benefits, because oil and water don't play well together.

For all other exfoliators, begin your skin care routine with a gentle wash and cleanse of the skin for best results.