How to Exfoliate Without Damaging Your Skin

How to Exfoliate Without Damaging Your Skin

Skin Exfoliation is important

We hear about exfoliation quite a bit as a means of keeping our skin smooth, moisturized, and healthy. After all, how can we get a glowing, healthy-looking complexion if we’re constantly dealing with dead skin cells that pile up?

But knowing that exfoliation is a good idea and knowing how to exfoliate are two entirely different things. Here, we break down exactly what exfoliation is, and how to exfoliate without damaging your skin.

What is exfoliation?

According to Cosmetic Dermatologist Dr. Michele Green, the purpose of exfoliation is to get rid of dead skin cells on the surface of the skin and clear out congested pores to reveal a brighter, smoother complexion.

“Exfoliation plays into the life cycle of skin cells which is about 3 months in children and about 28 days in adults,” she explains. “With age, the dead skin cells that accumulate tend to take longer to shed from the surface of the skin. Dead skin cells build up and clog pores and lead to a dry and dull complexion and rough texture.”

Benefits of exfoliating

The main benefit of exfoliation, according to Dr. Green, is to help speed up cell turnover rate. “Exfoliation also allows serums, treatments, and moisturizers applied afterward to penetrate deeper into the skin and deliver the best benefits,” she explains.

Skin types that are suitable for exfoliation

All skin types are suitable for exfoliation, but you might have to make some tweaks in terms of how you exfoliate based on your skin type. For example, chemical exfoliants, which typically contain beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs) and alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) can be great for sensitive or dry skin, according to Dr. Green. AHAs are great for dry skin because they don’t cause irritation, while BHAs are great for oily or acne-prone skin. With normal skin, you should feel comfortable going with a physical or chemical exfoliant.

How to exfoliate without damaging your skin

If you want to exfoliate without damaging your skin, there are a few key components to keep in mind, according to Dr. Green.

“Exfoliating too often or scrubbing too hard can strip the skin’s natural protective barrier and remove the essential oils present that provide hydration and healthy skin,” she explains. “This can lead to redness, inflammation, hyperpigmentation, dryness, infection, or acne breakouts. Stripping the skin of essential moisturizing oils can cause the skin to respond by overproducing sebum, which can then become trapped in the pores and lead to the formation of acne breakouts.”

It’s best to start slowly and gradually increase frequency of exfoliant use if you want to avoid irritated skin. “There is nothing wrong with decreasing the frequency if your skin shows any signs of irritation,” Dr. Green says. “It is highly recommended that you discuss with a board-certified dermatologist to determine which exfoliant and skincare regimen would be best for your specific skin type. If you’re experiencing redness, itchiness, or irritation, avoid using any exfoliants until your skin is healed.”

How to exfoliate the face

Before trying an exfoliating cleanser on the face, Dr. Green recommends applying it to your inner arm first.

“If you are trying a new exfoliating product, perform a patch test on your inner arm before applying to the face to ensure that the product will not cause skin irritation or an allergic reaction,” she says. “To perform a patch test, place a small amount of the product on clean skin and leave the area be for at least 24 hours. If there is no skin irritation after use such as redness, swelling, itching, burning, or rash, then the product should be safe to use on the face.”

Exfoliation on the face should be performed two to three times a week, and always remember to use a moisturizer afterward.

How to exfoliate the body

Since the skin on the body tends to be less sensitive than skin on the face, it’s easier to exfoliate it without damaging the skin, but you should still perform Dr. Green’s patch test before exfoliating your entire body. With a really high-quality body scrub, you can exfoliate your body two to three times a week, and be sure to use a moisturizer afterward.

How to exfoliate the legs

With a body scrub and a brush or sponge, exfoliate your legs by using short, gentle strokes on the skin. Just make sure to avoid any areas that have cuts, as an exfoliating scrub can further irritate those areas and slow down the healing process.

How to exfoliate the feet

Exfoliating the feet is different from exfoliating other parts of the body. You’ll want to soak your feet a few times a week, then use a pumice stone to slough off dead skin cells. Be sure to moisturize afterward, just as you would when exfoliating other parts of the body.

How often should you exfoliate?

You should not exfoliate every day, as doing so can cause dryness or irritation. Two to three times per week is the ideal amount.

Exfoliation is an important part of any skincare routine. With the proper attention, care, and the right products, you can say goodbye to dead skin cells and easily exfoliate your skin without irritating it. Enjoy!

*All referenced results are based on an 8-week U.S. clinical and consumer study.

Learn more about Rodan + Fields  and how you can get your most radiant skin ever. Trust your skin’s glow to the Doctors and to your consultant who know how to help you get your skin glowing.

Results may vary depending on multiple factors: age, gender, skin type and condition, concomitant products used, health history, location, lifestyle, and diet.

Share this with friends or family members. It will save their skin — and boost their confidence.

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*information is taken from The Skincare Source.

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What Do You See When You Look In The Mirror?

When we look in the mirror, we’re either hypercritical OR we are so used to seeing what we’ve always seen that we don’t even notice anymore.

Over the years the sun does indescribable damage to our skin, and it creeps up on us before we realize what’s happening.

The sun is an excellent source of vitamin D, however, overdoing your exposure wreaks havoc on your face, making you look much older than you are.

Daily consistent care of your skin with good products that work makes everyday life so much cleaner and easier…imagine not having to worry about what you look like or having to take that extra 15 minutes to cover up your true beauty!

pm me…let’s reconnect to your true beautiful self, today!

You'll be glad you did!

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What If There Were Only Happily Ever Afters?

Life changes. And skin changes.

What if?

But WHAT IF you could control your skin’s destiny?  You can.  You control 80% of your skin’s future (only 20% is genetic).  And that’s great news! The choices you make today will affect the way you look and feel tomorrow, next year and well into the future.

WHAT IF you could always be a few steps ahead, anticipating your skin’s biological needs?  You can.  With the right care, your skin can visibly improve with age so you can look even better tomorrow than you do today.

WHAT IF you had two world-renowned doctors, a bio-scientist, a private consultant (everyone should) and an entire regimen devoted to your skin’s every whim 24/7?

You do.  With 30 years of combined research and experience, Dr. Katie Rodan and Dr. Kathy Fields developed their philosophy of Multi-Med® Therapy. This regimen-based approach treats specific skin concerns by combining the most effective ingredients within an optimized formulation, applied in the right order. Stick to the Regimen that’s right for your skin and you, too, can experience transformative results.

WHAT IF you felt good about your neck?

redefine2016A steady diet of intelligent skincare is the foundation of skin that looks young and healthy. The Rodan and Fields REDEFINE Regimen is a comprehensive skincare solution that layers cosmetic ingredients and potent peptide technology. This formula helps to defend against and reduce the visible signs of aging for noticeably firmer, smoother, flawless-looking skin.

 WHAT IF having flawless skin wasn’t an accident?

reverse2016REVERSE Regimen is an effective, full-face solution that tackles dullness and uneven skin tone. REVERSE provides a long-term solution for a radiant, more even complexion. It exfoliates dulling dead skin, helps even and brighten discolored skin, reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and protects against further UV damage.

 WHAT IF you could break the vicious acne cycle?

unblemish2016UNBLEMISH Regimen was created as a continuous solution that addresses the acne cycle—clogged pores, trapped oil, bacterial attacks and inflammation. This daily, full-face system combines cosmetic and active over-the-counter ingredients that unclog pores to eliminate most acne blemishes before they are visible on the skin’s surface.

WHAT IF your skin wasn’t so sensitive?

soothe2016SOOTHE Regimen combines clinically tested active over-the-counter ingredients with our exclusive, patent-pending RFp3 peptide technology to shield against the environmental aggressors associated with dry, chapped, sensitive skin. So effective, the SOOTHE Regimen can decrease visible redness, peeling and dryness. The result? A healthy-looking, even-toned complexion every day.

 WHAT IF THERE WERE ONLY HAPPILY EVER AFTERS?

Click Here To Find Your Formula

Contact me,  your Rodan + Fields personal go-to skincare consultant to find the right Regimen for you. Stick to it. And remember, nothing is more beautiful than confidence.

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Manning Up To Skincare

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Ever get the sense that today’s men are more forthright than ever about swapping skincare tips and manicure hotspots? You’re not imagining it. From “manscaping” to “manscara,” research shows that men are increasingly taking cues from women in the grooming department as they become more invested (and invest more money!) in their overall appearance.

Marketing company JWT Intelligence recently surveyed 1,000 men in the U.S. and U.K. and found that many are shedding old stereotypes about gender roles and expectations.

So just how far will men go to stay competitive in the looks department? Much depends on a man’s age. Millennials are definitely taking the lead in terms of image-conscious self-styling, with more young men embracing the must-have “man bag” and “man bun.” And according to the JWT study, 22 percent of the 18 – 34 generation think eyebrow waxing is perfectly acceptable for a man to use versus a mere 4 percent among Baby Boomers.

Men are also becoming more receptive to new skincare habits that can improve their appearance. JWT reports that, according to the most recent data, U.S. men underwent 1.25 million cosmetic procedures, reflecting a 5% year-over‐year increase. For skincare, while a quarter of men still prefer to skip out altogether, there are 54 percent that use moisturizer, eye cream and other skincare products.

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Mancare is on the rise…if your man needs some help, find me below 😉

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Fact Or Fiction? Sun Damage Only Occurs When Skin Is Exposed To UV Radiation

FactFiction_071515_DermRFfire flyFiction:  While the source of sun damage is UV radiation, the actual damage occurs for several hours following exposure. So just because you stepped out of the sun’s rays, doesn’t mean you’re in the clear when it comes to protecting your skin.

A 2015 study at Yale University found that sunlight continues to damage people’s skin and increase the risk of cancer for four hours after they leave the beach and head indoors. The Yale team showed in the journal Science that the melanin in our skin absorbs the UV radiation and then sets off a series of chemical reactions, which release the energy—similar to what happens with fireflies when they produce light and glow with their energy.photo_woman_applying_sunscreen

The result is ongoing damage to the skin’s DNA for over four hours after the UV exposure. “Half or more of this kind of DNA damage is not happening on the beach,” says the lead researcher, “It’s in the car on the way home.”

Even though sun exposure may be inevitable some days, arm yourself against the harmful UV radiation by applying a broad spectrum sunscreen throughout the day, wearing protective clothing and avoiding peak UV exposure hours.

689ESSENTIALS Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Body Sunscreen
Water-resistant broad spectrum UV protection for the body. Perfect for the whole family.

 

 

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