Hello everyoneđź‘‹ I hope everyone is doing amazing❤ I am back and will be updating the blogs more regularly now. I was busy with exams so I had no choice but to take a break from updating here :( Today I am going to explain to you newbies out there what you need to keep in mind while you are considering to include an exfoliating serum in your skincare routine. In this blog I will be explaining what exfoliating your skin means, types of exfoliating methods, which serum to select according to your skin type and product recommendations and the products I have used and my experience.
Let us start with the basic meaning of the term exfoliation with respect to skincare. Exfoliation means the process of removing the dead skin cells from the outer layer of the skin. It helps improve the skin texture and helps reduce clogging of pores and helps keep your skin healthy and nourished. Our skin usually renews itself every 30 days and this turnover along with regular careful exfoliation will keep the dryness and clogged pores away. Long-term exfoliating can increase collagen production. Collagen is key to glowing, vibrant skin. The protein also promotes skin elasticity, minimizing the appearance of fine lines and related sagging.
How to exfoliate?
People either use physical scrubs or serums for the purpose of exfoliating their skin.
Physical exfoliating is a method where people use manual scrubs on their face. These scrubs usually contain substance like coffee powder, walnut shell powder, apricot based scrubs, etc. These products are usually in a cream form and the person using it usually rubs the product on their face in order to scrub or exfoliate their face to get rid of dead cells. While physical scrubs could make your skin feel soft for the time being but these ingredients could ruin your skins barrier which could result in unwanted infections and skin issues. These physical scrubs could be amazing for your body but not for your face.
Whereas, chemical based exfoliation products are much gentle on your skin and by now we should understand that the word 'natural' doesn't mean good or the word 'chemical' doesn't mean its bad. Most chemical based products are made in a clean environment with only those ingredients which are safe for your skin and won't cause any harm or disrupt your skin barrier. There are three main types of chemical exfoliants which are available in the market which are: AHA, BHA and PHA. These three cater to various skintypes and are used for different skin issues.
We shall now see what each of these ingredients are and how they work on your skin and who will it suit the best.
Alpha Hydroxy Acid or AHA as it is commonly known amongst people are water soluble acids which are derived from sugary fruits. These acids work on the top layer of skin which help the new skin cells form in a more evenly pigmented manner. The most common types of AHAs available in the Indian market are glycolic acid, lactic acid, mandelic acid, etc. of which glycolic acid is the strongest AHA while lactic acid on the other hand is a more gentle form of AHA.
AHAs usually help with:
- mild pigmentations like age spots, melasma, scars;
- enlarged pores;
- fine lines and wrinkles;
- uneven skintone.
AHAs are more suitable for dry skin type and it is advised to use sunscreen with spf 50 the next morning after you use an AHA serum in your night time routine.
Beta Hydroxy Acid or BHA as it is commonly known is an oil soluble acid which works by penetrating into your hair follicles which dry out the excess oil in your skin and dead cells which help unclog your pores. It usually contains salicylic acid which due to its oil and sebum reduction properties are mostly used by people who suffer from acne or have an oily skin in general.
BHAs help with:
- Unclogs pores;
- reduces oil and sebum;
- used as spot treatment for acne;
- reduces congestion.
Poly Hydroxy Acid or PHA is the newest super star in the exfoliating trends and it suits sensitive skin type the best as it works on the surface level of the skin and is hydrating and soothing to your skin. It is also very good for oily acne prone people and if you feel BHA is sensitizing your skin give PHA a go. PHA has a comparatively bigger size molecules which means it does not penetrate into your skin which makes it lot less irritating while comparing it to other exfoliants while still giving you a desired result.
PHA helps with:
- Repairs skin;
- exfoliates dead skin;
- reduces the appearance of skin damage.
How to include a chemical exfoliator in your skincare routine?
Don't worry I won't leave you with all this information and leave you to your own while you decide to use a chemical exfoliator for the first time. Before you decide to buy an exfoliator first get to know your skin type and your skin's needs and accordingly get a product which caters to it. Firstly, on getting your hands on the product don't just jump straight and apply it all over your face instead while you do your night time routine just take a drop of the serum and apply it behind your ear to make sure that you do not face any allergic reaction with the product. Once the patch test is over and you haven't reacted badly to the product the next morning you can start using the product on your face. Start slow by introducing the product once a week and then use it twice a week once your skin has adapted to the product and you feel like your skin is capable of handling the product more than once a week. According to me you do not need to use an exfoliant more than two times a week as that can result to over exfoliation and over here we don't want disrupted skin barrier and always follow up with a moisturizer after applying your exfoliating serum.
Secondly, NEVER SKIP SPF. The next day after using the serum our skin can be sensitive so even if you are at home do not skip sun protection. We do not want to damage all the goodness of these products which if you are regular and use spf can get.
Thirdly, after applying these serums let them sit for 5-10 minutes before you move on to the next step of your routine.
Now Indian market has a few products available and even though I have not tested all I will post all the products available in the market which are raved about by people in the skincare community and I will put a * sign next to the products I have used.
Minimalist:
- 2% Salicylic acid*
- PHA 3% toner*
- Lactic acid 10%
- 25% AHA 5%PHA 2%BHA *(not recommended for beginners
2% BHA by Paula's choice is a cult favorite which is available on Amazon. It is a bit pricey but if you are able to afford it then GET IT.
CosRx have AHA and BHA based toners as well which are hyped a lot. So again if you have the budget then definitely check them out. They are available on nykaa.
AND of course if you able to import products then definitely get the Ordinary or Inkeylist because they have amazing products which are raved by many throughout the world.
I hope this blog was helpful. Thank you for reading.
Do subscribe to my blog and leave a comment regarding any topic you want me to discuss or your feedbacks. Love you all.
Bye❤đź‘‹
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