Any skin care lover will tell you that exfoliation is a crucial step of any everyday skin care routine. Just like cleansing and moisturising, exfoliation is a skin care step that can do wonders for your overall skin health, and leave you with a glowing, radiant complexion.
Still, between exfoliating scrubs, chemical exfoliants, and exfoliating wipes, it can be hard to pick the best face exfoliator for your skin. To help simplify the process, we’ve broken down everything you need to know about exfoliation in the form of a handy guide below. From what exactly exfoliation is to our take on the common “physical vs chemical exfoliation” debate, read on to learn everything there is to know about this skin care technique.
What is exfoliation?
Skin naturally regenerates every 28-30 days, but plenty of factors can slow down that process, including age, dirt, oil, and pollution. Add dehydration, poor circulation, and an incomplete skin care routine to the mix and you've got a recipe for a lacklustre or dull complexion. If this sounds like your skin and you want to know how to improve skin texture and complexion, exfoliation could be perfect for you.
Exfoliating products like scrubs, cleansers, masks, and peels work by removing dead skin cells and other surface build up from your skin. In doing so, they don’t just reveal glowing skin beneath this: They also encourage skin to produce new, healthy skin cells and collagen. The result? A fresher, healthier-looking complexion.
There are two types of face exfoliators and exfoliating methods:
- Physical exfoliation is the classic method. Also known as mechanical exfoliation, it involves using scrubs or brushes to physically buff away that dead layer of skin. While scrubs are effective, they can irritate sensitive skin if they are overused.
- Chemical exfoliation relies on gentle acids to dissolve dead skin cells and surface debris, rather than physically sloughing them off. For this reason, they tend to cause less irritation than some physical exfoliants, making them the best gentle exfoliator for sensitive skin.
To maximise the benefits of exfoliation in your skin care regime we have combined both physical and chemical exfoliants in the Phytofuse Renew Caviar Lime Exfoliator. Using micronised natural Bamboo Stem + Pumice to provide physical exfoliation and the natural Fruit Acids (AHA) of the native Australian Caviar Lime plant our exfoliator has been clinically proven to improve skin brightness and clarity by over 19% in just 28 days. With regular use the subjects also experienced an 18% reduction in skin roughness with 97% of them reporting they had an increase in skin firmness and elasticity.
The 5 major benefits of exfoliating
In addition to refining the tone and texture of your skin and prompting faster cell turnover and collagen production, exfoliation benefits your skin in a number of other ways.
1. It evens out the surface of your skin
A buildup of dead skin cells and surface debris can cause more than just dullness: It can also make your skin feel rough and bumpy in certain areas, like the sides of your nose or the area around your mouth. Regular exfoliation can improve your skin’s texture naturally by smoothing out this roughness, and revealing softer, fresh skin beneath it.
During clinical trials 100% of subjects felt their skin was smooth & soft to the touch after use with all of them agreeing that the exfoliator was gentle on their skin.
2. It reduces dark spots and scars
In the process of whisking away surface debris and pollutants, exfoliation also removes any pigmented skin cells that cause imperfections like age spots, sun spots, and other discolouration. What’s more, regular exfoliation can even help minimise the appearance of superficial scars over time.
With use over a 28 day period the Phytofuse Renew Caviar Lime Exfoliator was clinically proven to brighten skin by 19% with all subjects reporting improvements to their skin clarity and skin tone.
3. It unblocks your pores
Dealing with congestion or breakouts? Surface buildup of grime, oil, makeup, and sweat can all block your pores and trap impurities within them, leading to breakouts and blemishes. Regular exfoliation can remove this buildup and prevent it from reforming, leaving you with calm, decongested skin.
4. It increases skin circulation
If you’re wondering how to stimulate collagen production in the skin, exfoliation is the answer. By boosting blood flow, it speeds up your skin cell regeneration and slows down natural signs of ageing like fine lines, wrinkles, and dull skin. Regardless of whether you choose a physical or chemical exfoliator, you can be sure that regular use will help you get the glowing, radiant complexion we all desire.
5. It helps your skin care products absorb better
Exfoliating gently buffs away any dead, dry or flaky skin, so any skin care products you apply afterwards can penetrate better and work their magic. If you choose not to exfoliate, you’ll be applying your serums, moisturisers, masks, and other skin care products on top of dead skin cells - meaning they’re not going to work as well.
Top Tip: Exfoliation is also a great way to prep your skin for makeup, especially if you’re wearing a cream, liquid, or powder foundation.
How to exfoliate your face
If you have normal, oily, or combination skin, aim to exfoliate at least 2-3 times a week as part of your night time skin care routine. If you have sensitive, dry, or irritated skin, aim for once a week instead.
Here’s the best way to exfoliate:
- Cleanse your skin, or double cleanse with an oil cleanser first if you’ve been sweating or wearing makeup.
- Massage a small amount of the Phytofuse Renew Caviar Lime Exfoliator into your skin. The formula is packed with Bamboo Stem and natural fruit AHAs to purify your pores, renew your skin, and brighten your complexion.
- Follow up with your usual serum, moisturiser, or face oil. These are our picks for each skin type.
- If you have dry skin, the Phyto-Active Botanical Face Oil is bursting with Evening Primrose Oil to hydrate and rejuvenate the skin.
- If you have mature skin, the Phytofuse Renew Resveratrol Serum helps to fight free radicals, boost collagen production, and reduce fine lines.
- If you have rough or textured skin, the Phytofuse Renew Resveratrol Rich Night Cream will deeply hydrate and heal the skin and infuse it with nutrients.
Discover the best gentle exfoliators
In the quest for smooth, glowing skin, regular exfoliation is unbeatable when it comes to achieving noticeable, fast results. Our Phytofuse Renew Caviar Lime Exfoliator is the perfect option for anyone seeking a natural exfoliant that will dramatically refine skin texture and encourage cell renewal without irritating or drying out your skin.
Ready to reveal your most radiant skin yet? Shop our natural exfoliants now.