This may sound counter intuitive if you are looking for a radiant youthful skin, but exfoliating can sometimes cause more harm than good to your complexion.<\/p>\n
Most of us are well aware that cleansing, exfoliating and hydrating make the three main steps of a good skincare routine. The benefits of these three pillars have been explained to us since we were children (or almost), and we have been religiously following the rules.<\/p>\n
But it seems like one step of the sacrosanct routine could actually be detrimental to your skin. \u201cWhen you exfoliate, you get rid of a layer of protection, the microbiome, whose role is to maintain the hydrolipidic film”, explains Jo\u00eblle Ciocco, celebrity epidermologist based in Paris. “If you exfoliate intensively, you devitalise the skin and weaken it. It gives way to the first thing responsible for skin aging, which is sunlight\u201d, says the skin expert, whose famous client list includes the likes of Monica Bellucci, Catherine Deneuve, Carine Roitfeld and Carla Bruni-Sarkozy.<\/p>\n
“You need to respect your skin\u2019s microbiome, as it is its first natural and most essential protection.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
While she warns about the danger of excessive exfoliation, which is the removal of dead skin cells from the surface of the skin, Madame Ciocco firmly believes in double-cleansing to prevent skin aging, first to wash away any make-up or sunscreen, then to get down deep into the pores: “This needs to be done using a product that is efficient but doesn\u2019t strip the skin of its natural oils – don\u2019t even think about using wipes.”<\/p>\n
For Jo\u00eblle Ciocco, we shouldn\u2019t exfoliate in the summer or if we have sensitive skin in general. \u201cYou need to consider chemical exfoliation depending on your skin and what product you need to use. If you suffer from rosacea or acne, you shouldn\u2019t do it. You need to respect your skin\u2019s microbiome, as it is its first natural and most essential protection.\u201d<\/p>\n
Elena Arboleda, Head Aesthetician at Mario Badescu, agrees that exfoliation shouldn\u2019t be taken lightly. \u201cProper exfoliation has always been a part of our philosophy, but it is important, however, not to over-exfoliate\u201d, she says, \u201cOver-exfoliation combined with sun exposure is a recipe for disaster!\u201d While it is safe for a normal skin to exfoliate regularly, the skin expert warns that extremely sensitive and delicate skin types should always consult a dermatologist when selecting their skincare products.<\/p>\n
anyone with sensitive or reactive skin should potentially abstain from exfoliation<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
According to Laure Bouscharain, responsible for Research & Development at Biologique Recherche, it’s all about the formula – a good quality exfoliator respects the skin and therefore can be used on a daily basis if you feel the need to. \u201cSome dermatologists think that deep peels aren\u2019t good for the skin because they are too harsh. It\u2019s not the case at all with over-the-counter products which are less concentrated in acids than those used by dermatologists, and are perfectly adapted for daily use\u201d, she says. Whereas for chemical exfoliators (namely acids): \u201cIt\u2019s a matter of dosage – for example, lactic acid can be irritating, exfoliating or hydrating depending on the concentration in a product.\u201d While getting rid of dead cells and impurities, these chemical exfoliators are said to also help regulate sebum production, promote skin renewal and boost the effectiveness of the skincare applied later in the routine, like your serum and moisturiser.<\/p>\n
The skin expert however believes that the mechanical exfoliation induced by scrubs isn’t ideal for the face. \u201cTheir action depends on the intensity and the duration of the scrubbing. I think they are more suitable to the body since the skin is thicker and stronger than on the face.\u201d Remember that daily scrub rule from the 2000s?<\/p>\n
What is important to keep in mind, according to our specialists, is that moderation is key. \u201cIf you really want to exfoliate manually, keep a light hand and don\u2019t do it more than once a week\u201d, says Jo\u00eblle Ciocco, who also insists that exfoliation should be followed by a face mask to restore the skin\u2019s balance.<\/p>\n
So although anyone with sensitive or reactive skin should potentially abstain from exfoliation, for most normal skin types chemical exfoliators can be used on the regular – check for gentle formulas and hydrate the skin afterwards. Meanwhile, manual scrubs should be used in moderation, and be sure to choose products that are not harsh on the skin, such as Liz Earle’s Gentle Face Exfoliator<\/a> or the Elemis Gentle Rose Exfoliator<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
This may sound counter intuitive if you are looking for a radiant youthful skin, but exfoliating can sometimes cause more harm than good to your complexion. Most of us are well aware that cleansing, exfoliating and hydrating make the three main steps of a good skincare routine. The benefits of these three pillars have been […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":37,"featured_media":5453,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[201],"tags":[198],"yoast_head":"\n
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