How to properly exfoliate your face

If you're like me, exfoliating your skin brings you so much satisfaction because the results are almost instant. Therefore if you’re also as impatient as I am, your exfoliator ranks quite highly on the skincare favourites scale! But did you know, if done incorrectly, exfoliation can do more harm than good?

Visions of granular scrubs are generally what spring to mind when we first think of exfoliators. The granules are usually formed by some kind of crushed nut shell and these irregularly shaped, scrubby particles are designed to be massaged into your skin, removing the dead skin cells as they go.

Now I’m not saying these physical scrubs don’t work, because they absolutely do. However, they create a lot of unwanted irritation in the process and cause tiny micro tears to the skin. These tears then disrupt your skin barrier and when your skin barrier is impaired, your whole complexion becomes unbalanced.

This leads to redness, sensitivity and either too much oil production or not enough. All in all, not quite the radiant glow you were going for!

So, what's the alternative?

Let’s talk about chemical exfoliation. Initially the word ‘chemical’ sounds far more aggressive, but please be assured that this is THE most gentle way to buff away your dead skin cells. The acids used in chemical exfoliation are usually naturally derived, for example Glycolic Acid comes from sugarcane.

There are 2 main types of exfoliating acids called AHAs and BHAs. AHA stands for Alpha Hydroxy Acids and they are defined by being water-soluble. This makes them best suited to a normal/dry skin type concerned with signs of ageing, pigmentation and clogged pores. BHA stands for Beta Hydroxy Acids which are defined by being oil-soluble. This means they’re best suited to excessively oily skin with concerns such as breakouts and blemishes.

Both work by breaking down the bonds, or glue if you like, that hold dead skin cells together, so that they can slough away without any need for scrubbing. The whole process is incredibly gentle and highly effective, leaving your skin barrier intact for completely balanced and radiant skin.

If you hadn’t already guessed, I’m a huge advocate of chemical exfoliation and that’s why creating our Exfoliating Cell Renewal Serum was one of the biggest joys when starting BASE. I was truly like a kid in a sweet shop!

The formulation contains no less than 5 AHAs including Glycolic and Lactic Acid and 3 fruit enzymes that work a little like Pac-Man across the surface of your skin, eating away the dead layer.

I specifically designed it as a luxurious serum so that you can gently pat a few drops into your skin before you go to bed and wake up with smooth, glowing skin every morning. It's the ultimate way to exfoliate and I couldn’t be without it.

So when it comes to exfoliating, think serum over scrub! 

Amy x