What is Exfoliation? A Complete Guide

How do you unlock smooth, glowing skin? The secret lies in one of the most essential steps in your skincare routine: exfoliation.

Skin exfoliation gives you the chance to do some much-needed deep cleaning—out with the old (skin cells) and in with the new. In fact, a great exfoliator can help with anything from blemishes and redness to dullness and hyperpigmentation. 

In this guide, we’re covering how to exfoliate skin so that you can uncover a brightened and refreshed complexion.

Exfoliation 101 From Our Experts

So just what is exfoliation? And why is it so beneficial for improving the health of your skin?

To understand exfoliating, you’ll need to first understand your skin. Interestingly, your skin is made up of way more than what’s visible to you. In fact, there are three layers to your skin [1]:

• Epidermis – The epidermis is the outermost layer of the skin, which you can see and touch. It consists of skin cells that are made up of a protein called keratin, and it’s your body’s first line of defense against things like bacteria, UV radiation, contaminants—anything that might potentially harm you [2]. 
• Dermis – The dermis is the middle part of the skin underneath the epidermis. This layer is where you’ll find things like nerve receptors that help you feel touch and sensation, blood vessels, hair follicles, connective tissues, and oil and sweat glands [3]. 
• Hypodermis – The deepest layer of your skin is known as the hypodermis. Also referred to as subcutaneous tissue, this layer is made up of fat and blood vessels. Its purpose is to insulate your body, provide shock absorption for your vital organs, and store energy [4].

The epidermis’s main job is to produce new skin cells. Our skin sheds anywhere between 30,000 to 40,000 dead skin cells per day, with skin cell turnover happening about every thirty days or so [5]. These dead skin cells take up significant real estate on your skin’s surface, making up anywhere between the first 18 to 23 layers of your epidermis.

Exfoliation refers to the process by which dead skin cells are manually removed to reveal fresh, new skin underneath. Exfoliation isn’t technically necessary to shed dead skin, it quickens the process so that you don’t wait as long for your body to slough off old, flaky cells to get glowing skin.

What Are The Benefits of Exfoliation?

Even though your skin does shed tens of thousands of skin cells per day, there are still countless more left hanging around. While your body will shed these dead skin cells eventually, the waiting period can be a little rough on your acne-prone skin. 

In fact, too much dead skin can lead to unwanted side effects, including [6]:

• Dullness
• Dryness
• Itchiness
• Scaly, rough, or uneven skin texture
• Redness or blotchiness
• Irritation
• Breakouts
• Dehydration

When you introduce regular exfoliation into your routine, you might notice a difference right away—think of it as your shortcut from your normal skin to unlocking glowy skin. However, there are even more benefits that can be observed with regular, diligent exfoliation:

• Brighter, more even-toned skin – Since your dead skin cells have been around longer than your new skin cells, they’ve accumulated the most environmental damage and stress. Too many of these stressed-out cells can leave your skin tone looking dull and blotchy. Sweeping them away with an exfoliant can help restore your radiant complexion.
• Clearer pores and fewer breakouts – Exfoliant formulations that include ingredients like AHAs or BHAs, which can be formulated into your personalized facial cleanser, can help gently clean out clogged pores, reducing the amount of acne-causing bacteria on your face and saving you from your next breakout.
• Fading dark spots and hyperpigmentation – The only thing worse than blemishes are the dark marks and scarring they can leave behind. Because exfoliants help you turn over your skin cells faster, they can act like a fast-forward button on dark spots, bringing fresh, clean skin to the forefront.
• Plumping and tightening – Collagen is what keeps our skin bouncy and supple [7]. However, as we age, the body’s production of collagen slows, which can be one of the major factors behind the signs of skin aging. While getting older is inevitable, regular exfoliation can help to encourage your body to produce more collagen, keeping your skin looking plump and fresh longer. Learn how to increase collagen production through your diet and skincare products to restore some bounce.

Chemical vs. Physical Exfoliation

When you hear the word exfoliation, the first thing that may come to mind is a rough, gritty scrub that makes your skin get red and irritated or a harsh astringent that leaves your face feeling stripped of its natural oils. 

Luckily, you can leave those astringents and scrubs in the past. There’s a whole new world of exfoliating products designed with the comfort and health of your skin in mind.

Today, exfoliants come in two different forms: physical exfoliants and chemical exfoliants. Though these products both work to achieve the same end results, their methods of doing so couldn’t be more different.

Physical Exfoliants

A physical exfoliant might look like:

• A scrub containing microbeads or lightly polishing ingredients, like sugar or salt
• An ultrasonic facial cleansing brush
• Exfoliating gloves (save these for your body and skip the sensitive skin of your face!)
• Professional esthetician services, like microdermabrasion or dermaplaning
• A washcloth (if used with the right amount of pressure)

Physical exfoliants can be great when you’re looking for a good, deep scrub that leaves you feeling fresh and glowy. However, it’s important to be careful when using physical scrubs. It’s best to scrub gently and not overdo it, as it’s very easy to cause microtears in the skin with overeager scrubbing.

While microtears are bad enough on their own, they can also be the start of serious problems down the line because they open up the skin to bacteria that can drive future breakouts. Make sure to take your physical exfoliating carefully and slowly to avoid any accidental damage.

Chemical Exfoliants

• Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs): Alpha-hydroxy acids are among the most popular chemical exfoliating ingredients—and for good reason. These acids dissolve the bonds that hold dead skin cells together, speeding cell turnover while also smoothing skin texture and reducing the appearance of aging [8]. Some examples of AHAs include:
• Mandelic acid
• Glycolic acid
• Lactic acid
• Beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs): Beta-hydroxy acids, such as known as salicylic acid or willowbark extract exfoliate by softening dead skin cells, as well as cleaning out clogged pores or follicles that can lead to blackheads or whiteheads [9].

While the word acid might sound scary, AHAs and BHAs are actually one of the most skin-friendly ways to exfoliate. 

If you’re interested in trying exfoliation for yourself, take the guesswork out of the process with PROVEN Skincare’s personalized facial cleanser. It’s a cleanser, toner, and exfoliant all in one, and it’s expertly formulated exclusively for you thanks to our advanced skincare quiz. Tailored to your skin’s unique needs, the Personalized Cleanser is crafted with advanced technology and high-quality ingredients so that you can unlock your best skin yet. 

Exfoliating Dos and Don’ts

Although exfoliating is a powerful and effective tool to add to your skincare arsenal, using it can also feel like a tricky balancing act. This is because over-exfoliating can disrupt your skin barrier and leave your skin feeling stripped and dehydrated. This, in turn, can lead to [10]:

• Dryness
• Redness
• Irritation or itching
• Breakouts and clogged pores
• Roughness
• Bumpy or uneven texture

To keep your skin happy and healthy while harnessing the power of exfoliation, keep these exfoliating dos and don’ts in mind:

• Do always remember to moisturize after exfoliating to give your skin the hydration and nourishment it needs. Consider an intensive, elasticity-restoring moisturizer like a personalized night cream that targets gentle exfoliation and hydration throughout the night.
• Don’t stress your skin out by combining multiple exfoliants. Using a scrub and an AHA on the same night won’t leave your skin feeling extra clean. Instead, it’ll leave your skin uncomfortable, irritated, and breakout-prone. We recommend only using one exfoliant at a time and only exfoliating 2 to 3 days a week. 
• Do always remember your SPF. While sun protection is always important, it’s especially necessary if you’re exfoliating frequently—those new skin cells need extra protection and TLC! Make it easy on yourself by opting for a lightly hydrating daily moisturizer with SPF.

Go Past the Skincare Surface with PROVEN

The secret to bright, glowing skin is right at your fingertips. Exfoliating is an easy way to boost your skin’s natural radiance, smooth out uneven texture, and even prevent breakouts. And at PROVEN, we offer a range of products that feature exfoliation alongside cleansing, toning, and moisturizing to deliver beautiful results.

PROVEN uses the power of AI and the efficacy of expertly-designed formulas to create personalized skincare products that will help you achieve your best skin yet. 

Visit PROVEN today to discover unique solutions tailored to your unique skin.