Exfoliation is a critical step in the Korean beauty skincare routine. It’s the process that removes the dead skin cells from your face to promote cell turnover and enhance the health of your skin. It can refine pores, improve skin tone and texture, give you a healthy glow and help you achieve the Korean beauty standard.
There are so many different types of exfoliators that it can be challenging to know which is right for you. If done with the wrong kind or too often, exfoliation can do more harm than good. This quick guide will help you choose the best exfoliator for your skin type.
What are the Types of Exfoliators?
There are two ways to exfoliate your skin: a chemical or a physical exfoliator. Before you decide which exfoliator is best for you, you should understand the difference between them.
Chemical Exfoliators – Chemical exfoliators work by breaking the bonds of dead skin cells allowing them to loosen to be easily removed. Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) are two of the most common types of chemical exfoliators on the market. Many ingredients contain the words chemical or acid but don’t let these terms fool you. They are actually a gentler type of exfoliation.
Physical Exfoliators – Physical exfoliators use an abrasive ingredient to physically remove the dead skin cells by rubbing the product on your skin. Many scrubs or peels can be mild to intense, and you’d have to make that choice based on your preferences. Examples of physical exfoliation include sugar, ground nuts, a dry brush, and more.
How to Choose the Best Exfoliator
Although there are two main types of exfoliators, the number of ingredients and formulas of different strengths and methods can be vast. You want to consider your skin type before you choose an exfoliator. Here are some of the best types of exfoliators based on your skin type.
Normal Skin – When you have a normal skin type, you can actually choose any type of exfoliator between physical and chemical to maintain healthy skin. You want to be sure to only exfoliate one to two times a week so that you don’t overdo it. Give a nice sugar scrub a try at least once a week to reveal glowing skin.
Dry Skin – If you have dry skin, physical exfoliators are not going to be your friend. A chemical exfoliator will gently remove dead skin cells while keeping your moisture barrier intact and allowing it to absorb moisture better. Glycolic acid and lactic acid-based exfoliators can easily exfoliate dry, flaky skin leaving it open to receive moisturizers and serums better.
Oily Skin – Oily skin is another type of skin that can benefit from both types of exfoliators. However, oily skin is generally thicker, and physical exfoliation may work best. Chemical exfoliation can purify your skin and remove any excess oil. Using any chemical exfoliator with AHA, BHA, or PHA can be a good option.
Sensitive Skin – If you have sensitive skin, you want to use a chemical exfoliator because it will be gentler on your skin, and you can avoid irritation and redness. Using a Polyhydroxy acid (PHA) is even more gentle than the AHAs and BHAs and is perfect for sensitive skin.
Stick to acids and chemical-based exfoliators for more sensitive skin types. If you need a good surface scrub, a physical exfoliator will do the trick as long as you have normal or oily skin. Exfoliators are a great step to add to your skincare routine to refresh your skin, unclog your pores, and make you look and feel great.