The best exfoliators reveal smooth, supple, silky skin. And, while most skin care enthusiasts have perfected the cleanse-serum-moisturise routine, they often overlook exfoliating treatments – be it physical or chemical exfoliation – in their quest for complexion perfection. However, its benefits definitely highlight the importance of including this step in your skin care routine.
Why are exfoliators actually important, anyway?
With our skin care routines already requiring so many products, is it really worth adding exfoliation into the mix? According to Mardi Johnson, owner of The Skin Club Bowral, the simple answer is yes!
“If your skin care regime doesn’t include regular exfoliation you may end up with clogged pores and a build-up of bacteria which can cause lifeless looking skin,” she says.
Regular exfoliating (up to two to three times a week) will leave your skin looking and feeling fresh and healthy – with the kind of glow generally gleaned after a relaxing overseas getaway. “The best exfoliators help slough away dull, dead, dehydrated skin build-up to solve a multitude of skin concerns. Including rough texture, breakouts, wrinkles, crows feet, enlarged pores, uneven skin tone, flaky skin. And, reveal a fresher face underneath,” says Mardi.
Just as importantly, the exfoliation process also opens the way for products that follow to absorb more deeply into the skin. Which improves their effectiveness. To get the most value out of your pricey serums, consider a good exfoliator an investment in your overall beauty routine.
Exfoliation: It’s Spring Cleaning For Your Face (Summer and Winter too)
It’s time to welcome warmer weather. And, with it, showcase all the skin that’s been hidden under thick jumpers for the past few months. Exfoliation is particularly beneficial if your skin feels sandpaper-dry following months of freezing outside temperatures and indoor heating (hello, lockdown!)
However, while the need to exfoliate will feel obvious to Winter skin, it’s actually an important addition to your skin care routine all year round. Because, although cold weather certainly tests your skin in its quest to look its best, Spring and Summer bring with them their own challenges. One of the primary reasons being that we use more sunscreen during the sunnier months. Making a proper exfoliation routine vital to remove product build-up effectively.
Note: This isn’t a hall pass to skip your SPF! Sunscreen is a vital, non-negotiable, do-not-pass-go without-applying product. To protect our skin against UVA and UVB rays, prevent us from burning, wrinkles and other ageing signs and reduce our risk of skin cancers. But it can also damage our skin if not thoroughly cleansed. Enter exfoliation.
“Whether you use a physical sunscreen (containing one of two active ingredients, zinc oxide or titanium). Or a chemical one (typically made with aminobenzoic acid, avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, and oxybenzone which absorbs the sun’s UV rays), it’s especially important to add a good exfoliator to your nightly skin care routine. This is to remove leftover product on your skin, which would otherwise prevent product absorption,” says Mardi.
Which type of exfoliator is best?
Not all exfoliating ingredients are created equal. Some are stronger than others and should only be used on certain skin types. So it’s vital to research and find the exfoliation ingredients best suited for your skin
Exfoliators have definitely upgraded from the old-school apricot kernel formulas of your high school days. Today, we categorise exfoliators as physical and chemical. Physical exfoliators are traditional formulas that require you to manually—yet gently—buff them into the skin. Chemical exfoliators, on the other hand, use acids or enzymes to dissolve the glue that binds dead skin cells together, removing the buildup.
Let’s get physical … or chemical
If you have sensitive skin look for physical exfoliation products featuring jojoba beads. This natural, non-abrasive ingredient is often used in exfoliating products designed specifically for delicate skin. But, can be used with all skin types. At a microscopic level, jojoba beads are polished, round and smooth to avoid causing irritation to the skin. It is also environmentally friendly.
Another form of physical exfoliation is mechanical exfoliation – which leverages tech-savvy devices to buff the complexion. For example, Laser Clinics Australia offers Microdermabrasion – an entry-level professional skin treatment that provides gentle exfoliation to remove dead skin cells and encourage cell turnover. By buffing away the uppermost layer, you can break down the barrier that often prevents your current skincare products from properly absorbing into the lower dermis.
For skin that is super congested, chemical exfoliation may be a better option. “While the term may sound negative, in this instance chemical simply describes how the ingredients perform the job. In fact, there are plenty of chemical exfoliants actually made with natural ingredients!” says Mardi.
Chemical exfoliation works by dissolving the intercellular glue that holds dead skin cells together. Instead of physically removing the dead cells away. As a result, chemical exfoliants generally penetrate deeper into the skin and can be a great option for skin that is more resistive or can’t tolerate physically scrubbing their face. Chemical exfoliation examples include products made with a range of acids. These include alpha hydroxy acid, beta hydroxy acid, lactic acid, glycolic acid, multi-fruit acids, citric and malic acids.
Alternatively, try scrubs made with enzymes. While granular or beaded scrubbing can lead to red, sensitive and irritated skin, enzyme exfoliants are changing the skin care game. Enzymes are bio-active ingredients often derived from fruits like pineapple and papaya. Enzyme exfoliants suit all skin types, particularly sensitive ones that react to granular or acidic exfoliators.
Exfoliation with the experts
In-salon treatments, such as those offered by The Skin Club, can elevate your exfoliation experience to another level. You can enjoy at-home treatments several times a week, but you should reserve expert exfoliation for more selective occasions
Some of the most popular examples include microdermabrasion. A minimally invasive skin treatment that buffs away the outermost layer of the skin. After a session, skin usually appears smoother, clearer and more radiant-looking. This treatment suits most skin types and you can perform it safely every two weeks.
Alternatively, professional chemical peels work when a chemical solution is applied to the skin to remove the top layers safely of the skin. The skin that grows back is smoother. “We use chemical peels to treat wrinkles, discolored skin, and scars, usually on the face. You can perform them alone or combine them with other cosmetic procedures,” Mardi says.
“And depending on the products used by the clinic you can safely do a peel every two weeks for a specific skin concern.”
Ready to scrub up your skin care act? Whether you’re just after an every (second) day exfoliator or need a more targeted treatment there is a range of options available to help you out.
Products we love
Edible Beauty Radiance Enzyme Peel
This gentle yet effective exfoliating peel combines natural Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) and fruit enzymes, including papaya, bilberry, cranberry, and lemon extracts, to address a variety of skin concerns. And, showcases the power of natural ingredients to instantly transform skin – with a notable difference in skin smoothness after 15 minutes.
Pai Virtuous Circle Kukui & Jojoba Bead Eco-Bead Exfoliator
Using 100% natural and perfectly spherical Jojoba Beads, the gel formula of this physical exfoliator gently rolls across the skin to lift away dead skin cells and impurities. Leaving zero damage to the skin (or oceans).
The chemical exfoliator definitely deserves its cult status. It combines 5% Glycolic Acid with a unique low-pH delivery system to stimulate action at a deeper layer of the skin. The process accelerates the skin’s renewal process. Dramatically improves brightness and tone, supports collagen production and helps minimise the visible signs of sun damage, ageing and blemishes.
Kate Sommerville ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment
Can’t decide between a physical or chemical exfoliator? ExfoliKate combines both so you don’t have to! Formulated with a unique combination of chemical exfoliants, fruit enzymes, lactic acid and physical granules, this intensive exfoliator take a multi-skilled approach to remove dead skin build-up from the surface of the skin and debris and oil from within your pores.
Ease your way into enzymes – and the kind of skin you could only wish for – with Yo Glow’s Enzyme Scrub. This gentle yet powerful exfoliator is infused with pineapple and papaya enzymes, BHAs, and AHAs to leave your skin with a healthy glow.
These single use sachets offer the benefits of both chemical and physical exfoliation. Containing botanical brighteners and alpha and beta hydroxy acids – including sugar cane, hibiscus and apple fruit extracts – they work overnight to stimulate cell renewal and cell turnover while gently helping to slough surface cells. For best results use them in conjunction with Daily Microfoliant.
This hardworking hybrid formula combines physical (Jojoba and Silica beads) and chemical (Glycolic Acid) exfoliants to thoroughly clean and polish the skin’s surface and lower layers, leaving it decongested, hydrated and calm. Also available at Adore Beauty, Mecca and The Iconic.
Lust Minerals AHA Exfoliating Lotion
Contains 18% AHA fruit acids, Vitamin B and Hyaluronic Acid for maximum efficacy without irritation. Helps to hydrate, refine and balance tired skin affected by environmental pollutants.
Aesthetics Rx Fruit Enzyme Mask
A unique gel-type formula that gently exfoliates the skin.Transforms dull skin by exfoliating dead skin cells and other skin-clogging impurities to reveal softer, brighter, more luminous skin. There’s instant gratification when you see the enzymatic catalyst effect, balling the gel and dead skin together before a more radiant complexion is reveale
Wrinkles Schminkles Liquid Exfoliation Peel
Contains 5 single use deeply exfoliating masks for the necand decolletage.
Mesoestic Peel Cosmelan at The Skin Club Bowral
Mardi’s customised Cosemlan peel is an in-salon, tailored treatment formulated to mainly treat melisma and pigmentation of all skin types. This intense treatment is designed to deliver ultimate results quickly.
