How to Be Swell (Beauty): Exfoliation & Your Face

Beloved readers, along with using fruit acids and the like to aid in fading dark marks, good ‘ol mechanical exfoliation is another useful tool in speeding up the lightening process.

In fact, exfoliation is an essential part of fading dark marks.

You must apply your treatment to fresh skin -not dead skin cells that dull your complexion and upon which your treatments will have no effect.

There are many ways to utilize mechanical exfoliation (which is basically the act of physically rubbing dead skin cells off):

Pore Strips

Facial Scrubs

Wash Cloths

Face “Brushes”/scrub pads

“Peel-off” masks

The most important thing is finding a method that is effective, but gentle enough to not irritate your skin, while being simple enough that you will use it CONSISTENTLY. How frequently you must use it depends on the method you use, your skin, and your skin’s needs.

It sounds a tad bit complicated (and a bit vague), but it really is not.

For example:

You have oily skin, that is not sensitive, or easily irritated. You have a multitude of dark marks. You have found a moisturizing toner and cleanser that you use in conjunction with a treatment containing Kojic acid (fades scars) and a good moisturizer with high SPF. You want to step up your exfoliation. You find a facial scrub that exfoliates well, but doesn’t create more marks in its wake. You find you can use it up to three times a week without negative effects. Your dark marks fade in 3-4 months.

You begin skipping randomly and singing to yourself while running errands. ^_^

…

It happens!

Another example:

You have dry, easily irritated skin. You find a mild AHA based cleanser, use your own AVC toner, and moisturizer work well for you. You find a high SPF sunscreen that moisturizes. You want to add a bit of mechanical exfoliation, but know your skin is sensitive. You start off using a wash cloth in the morning, using firm, circular motions over your face for 60 seconds. You find doing this 3 times a week works without causing your face to redden or flush. Your dark marks fade in 5-7 months.

You begin breaking out into song and dance spontaneously while food shopping.

…

Don’t laugh, beloved readers.

It’s always funny, until it’s you. I suggest if any of you beloved readers manage to catch me doing this, just sing along. I’m harmless. Really!

Back to topic:

The key components of the above scenarios:

1. A good cleanser, toner and moisturizer geared solely towards moisture or fading dark marks with AHAs depending on your skin type.

2. SUNSCREEN

3. Knowing your skin type and level of sensitivity (or lack there of)

4. A product meant to fade dark marks

5. A set regimen

6. A form of mechanical exfoliation (you could swap out the scrub and replace it with a vigorous wash-cloth-scrubbing twice a day, or a Clarisonic brush however often your skin can tolerate it).

A have a couple of special notes about pore strips and Peel-off masks.

In terms of Peel-off masks, I’ve only used one strong enough to actually do what a scrub or my Clarisonic (Yes, I have one and will never be without it) can do. It was from Japan and was EXCRUCIATING to remove, but it worked.

The old beauty-staple Biore Pore Strips DO work. However, wouldn’t it be better to attack the source of your blackheads or develop a regimen that keeps them from gaining a foot hold? Or that mitigates them significantly enough where you don’t have to rely upon pricey strips for skin Shangri La?

I certainly think so.

They can help get things looking ship-shape quickly, in the meantime, however.

Sensitive skinned ladies, I’d avoid Peel-off masks and pore strips. Dry-skinned ladies may want to avoid them also.

As a final note, as I did mention it, I DO have a Clarisonic, beloved readers.

I bought mine while I still had cystic acne and it made a significant impact in my being able to get ahead of nodules caused by excess sebum, left over make-up (I couldn’t bare to leave the house without a full face of it, people were just too cruel), and dead skin cells. My acne was too severe for this wonder-brush to “cure” but, I did notice a great increase in the effectiveness of what I was using topically to combat it.

Alas, only Accutane could save my skin.

Now my Clarisonic keeps my skin exfoliated, glowing, soft, even, my pores as small as possible, and anything I apply after using it sinks right into my skin.

I was surprised by the difference, when I first used my Clarisonic, in how much more quickly my products of choice absorbed into my skin after a cleaning, in comparison to my wash cloth days. I’m still presently surprised by that as I try new products.

So am I saying you should all run out and buy one?

Absolutely N-O-T, not!

NO, beloved readers, you don’t have to have one to have great skin.

Do I love mine in a way that is a little, golden bit scary? Yes, yes, I do. Shamelessly. ^_^

It works for me, find what works for you, beloved readers.

Whatever you choose, please don’t over look the benefits of mechanical exfoliation.

Those dead skin cells and hyperpigmented cells have to go, one way or another! Whether it be by a AHA toner-soaked cotton ball, a dutiful wash cloth (replace them regularly, wash in HOT water after each use, and HANG TO DRY COMPLETELY), or a humming Clarisonic.

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