Exfoliate the right way for radiant skin.  When you are young, your cellular turnover rate is about 28 days.  By your 40’s, that rate is closer to 35 days.  Throw in improper cleansing, stress, and poor diet and the rate can be even longer.  As the epidermis gets thicker, the skin looks dull and products don’t penetrate as well thus reducing their effectiveness.  If you are going to go to the trouble and expense of using high quality anti-aging products, you don’t want to sabotage them before they get a chance to start.

Now that you understand how important exfoliation is, you need to understand that how you exfoliate is equally important.  I have never been a fan of the gritty scrubs and home microdermabrasion kits and constantly warn my clients of the possible negative effects they can have.  Gritty scrubs can cause problems in a number of ways. 

 
1.  Many people with acne or clogged pores tend to scrub more aggressively in the oily or breakout prone areas.  This causes irritation and uneven exfoliation. 

2.  Those with hyperpigmentation or brown sun spots tend to scrub those areas more.  The resulting inflammation can actually cause your pigment producing cells to produce more pigment.  That is the opposite effect you had hoped for and didn’t even realize you were causing it.

3.  Most scrubs are actually sharp shards which cause microscopic cuts in the epidermal layer.  This damage causes inflammation which can lead to aging.  It also leaves the body vulnerable to bacteria and infection.  As the body strives to repair these wounds, it uses up vital materials that would be better used to prevent aging in the first place.

4.  Aggressive use of scrubs can cause or amplify broken capillaries. 

A better way to exfoliate is chemically.  Acids exfoliate evenly and without wounding.  Glycolic acid which is an alpha hydroxy acid loosens the “glue” that holds your epidermal cells layers together so that when you wash you face loosened cells are gently flushed away.   The number of cells removed depends on the strength of the acid and how long it is left on.  There are a number of acids that can be applied and left on under make up or overnight.  These are usually applied 1-2 times a week but some can be used daily.  I am not a fan of cleansers that contain acids as they can easily get into your eyes causing irritation… and a bit of pain.  Plus, they are not usually on long enough to exfoliate well.  A glycolic acid with a 10% concentration can usually be used 1-2 times a week to achieve a radiant glow and help other products penetrate better.  If you do choose to use a cleanser with glycolic acid in it, make sure the concentration is around 2%.  Remember, after exfoliating it is important to hydrate with a good moisturizer.