Chemical vs Physical Skincare Exfoliants

Whenever you research skin care routines and remedies, exfoliating is almost always a part of the conversation. People live by and praise the exfoliating trend to no end...and they have good reason to! 

There are SO many benefits to making it a part of your skin care regime from removing dead skin, unclogging pores, evening skin tone, preventing acne, boosting circulation, reducing wrinkles, and so many more! 

 Now did you know there are different types of exfoliants? 
Do your skin a favour and know the difference between chemical and physical exfoliants so you know what will actually benefit you. Trust me...you don’t want to end up with irritated skin or scars because you picked up the wrong type! 

 Physical Exfoliants 
 These types can fall under three categories: scrubs with small grains of things like sugar, oatmeal, etc., using a brush to rub product into your skin, or going to a licensed professional and getting a treatment like microdermabrasion done. Lately, scrubs have really been getting a bad rep because of the concern that physical exfoliating causes micro-tears in the skin. Sounds scary, right? It’s basically when a product causes little tears in the skin because it's too sharp or has jagged edges. To prevent this, try looking for face scrubs that use an exfoliating agent that isn’t large or something that is more gentle on the skin, like a dissolving sugar scrub. Also, whether you're using a scrub or a brush...ALWAYS remember to be gentle and light when rubbing your skin! 

 While physical exfoliants often garner immediate results, they don’t usually last long and are not as effective as chemical exfoliants. So if you’re looking for a long term solution that’s less controversial, you may want to consider chemical exfoliants instead. 

 Chemical Exfoliants 
 These exfoliants involve putting acids on your face- and no it's not nearly as bad as it sounds! They are gentle acids at low percentages and can come in a variety of forms like cleansers, serums, toners, and sometimes even moisturizers. They come in varying percentages too so you can choose the right amount of potency for your skin. Plus, since there aren’t any grains like physical scrubs you can't really over-exfoliate. When shopping for one, you should definitely be knowledgeable about the types of acids: AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acids) This is best for normal/sensitive skin types and it helps treat the uppermost layer of skin. If you want to unclog your pores from the dirt that sits on your skin and treat sun damage, uneven texture, and pigmentation-then this may be the right type for you! Common types are lactic acid and glycolic acid. BHA (Beta Hydroxy Acid) If you want a more penetrating treatment for your acne-prone skin, consider this! Its powerful properties are often used to unclog pores and treat issues like blackheads and large pores. A common type is Salicylic acid. 

 If you decide to add exfoliating into your regime, the benefits to your skin's health are endless. Just make sure you're informed as much as possible so you don’t end up causing damage instead! 
 Which type of exfoliant do you prefer- physical or chemical?

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