How To Exfoliate – Getting Your Skin Soft and Smooth All Over
We all understand we need to exfoliate the dead skin cells off of our body. However, not all areas of the body should be treated the same. Your face cannot be exfoliated with the very same product as your feet, and vice-versa. Here we break down the body into 6 parts and talk about what is needed and how to exfoliate each area of our body safely and effectively.
1. How To Exfoliate Your Scalp
Even if you are on top of exfoliating your body, you might not have ever thought about your scalp. Also if you do have dry skin issues going on up there. If you have dandruff or dry scalp, exfoliating your scalp can help reduce those embarrassing flakes and also make you feel more comfortable too.
We all have dry scalp problems sometimes, and dry scalp is not dandruff, its just dead skin cells. There are no reasons to be embarrassed by dry scalp. Our scalp is just an extension of our skin. Exfoliating also will help to get rid of dirt and oil that build upon our scalp.
You can go the DIY route if it comes to exfoliating your scalp or buying a product which can do the same job for you like Epsom salts. There are lots of products that can help you exfoliate your scalp effectively. Also look for shampoos with salicylic acid or urea in them like Neutrogena T/Sal Shampoo or Sebamed Extreme DRY Skin Relief Shampoo 5% Urea.
2. How To Exfoliate Your Face
Your skin type is not essential when it comes to your face; exfoliating is key to good skin. In case you have a dry skin, exfoliating will help get rid of the flaky dry skin and in doing so, can help the anti-aging products work better. This is because they do not have to work their way through dead skin cells. If you have oily skin, exfoliating can reduce the breakouts by removing away dead skin cells and also excess oil which can build up in skin cells which causes acne. Every time you exfoliate, you help to bring fresh new skin cells to the surface. This way your skin will be softer and smoother.
The product you use for exfoliating your face varies according to the skin type. Below are some product suggestions you can find on Amazon:
- Normal skin: Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
- Oily skin: Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Salicylic Acid Exfoliant
- Mature Skin: Avon ANEW CLINICAL Advanced Retexturizing Peel
- Dry Skin: ELEMIS Papaya Enzyme Peel
3. How To Exfoliate Lips
If you’re constantly finding your lipstick flaking off or you just can’t seem to keep your lips from peeling, there’s one way to get those kissable lips back in order – exfoliating! (Step-by-step instructions). Our lips easily dry out which makes exfoliating them a must.
There are products you can buy, or you can use a soft toothbrush with vaseline on it to gently scrub your lips. Gentle is key on those sensitive lips. One added bonus from exfoliating is the natural color that will show from stimulating the blood flow to your lips. You can also make your lip scrub.
Like every area of the body, make sure to moisturize your lips after you exfoliate.
Check out a couple of our favorite lip scrubs on Amazon:
- Lush Bubble Gum Lip Scrub
- The Lip Scrub by Sara Happ
4. How To Exfoliate Hands
If there is one anti-aging tip, you take away from this website it would be that your hands won’t keep your age a secret in case you don’t begin treating them the same way you handle your skin on your face. You could use all the anti-aging products you want on your face, but if you don’t want to include your hands, you won’t be tricking anyone about your real age.
Exfoliate your hands just like you would your body, repeat this a few times a week. It will be better if you do this in the shower with your body scrub. Also, you can also use a hand scrub and keep it at your sink for a little bit of pampering.
Check out a couple of my favorite hand scrubs on Amazon.com:
- L’Occitane Shea Oil One Minute Hand Scrub
- Shea Moisture Olive & Green Tea Hand and Body Scrub
5. How To Exfoliate Body
Exfoliating your body is very important and is a must. Your body sheds dead skin cells and just washing your body with soap will not even make a dent in the extraction of dead skin cells. To get a soft and a smooth skin, you will need to exfoliate your body at least once a week.
When you exfoliate your body concentrate longer on areas such as your knees and elbows which are prone to dry skin.
Check out my favorite body scrubs available on Amazon.com:
- Alba Botanica Hawaiian Sea Salt Body Scrub
- Philosophy Amazon Grace Hot Salt Body Scrub
6. How To Exfoliate Your Feet
Exfoliating your feet is also a must-do job! Your feet take a beating every day, and they deserve to be pampered. Exfoliate your feet by giving yourself an at-home pedicure or do it in the shower with your body scrub.
Remember that your feet are more laborious to exfoliate than your body. Because of that, you can use a scrub on them three to four times a week. You can get better results if you soak your feet for about 15-minutes in Epsom Salts. To exfoliate, you can try our preferred foot scrub. You could also use an exfoliating foot lotion such as Theraplex Exfoliating Emollient Cream. You can use it every day after showering to keep your feet looking and feeling great. There are also foot peels that remove all the dead skin on your feet. It is a bit gross but efficient.
Remember to apply a thick, hydrating foot cream, like Curel’s Deep Penetrating Foot Cream to your feet after exfoliating to keep your feet as smooth as possible and for as long as possible. Buy on Amazon.com.
How to Exfoliate Your Body Properly YouTube Video
Exfoliation is important not just for your face but your entire body. This video from About.com will go over the proper technique for exfoliating your body.
