How Often Should You Exfoliate Your Face?

Nothing feels better than shedding away the layers of dead, dry skin on your face to uncover your natural youth and radiance. It’s like a fresh start for your face! The trick to achieving smooth, supple skin that’s free of flaws is to exfoliate. To do so, you’ll need a mildly abrasive cleanser and a plan. Fortunately for our readers, we at Moody Sisters have done the heavy lifting for you. Simply follow the tips and tricks we’ve outlined below and you’ll be on your way to that gorgeous glow in no time. 

What are the benefits of exfoliating your face?

Unclogs pores and prevents breakouts

The buildup of dirt, oil, and bacteria is what ultimately leads to unwanted breakouts, so keeping your skin clean is key. Exfoliants can contain active ingredients, such as alpha hydroxy acids, that penetrate beneath the skin’s surface to draw out impurities from deep within. A more superior clean than you can achieve with your average cleanser, regular exfoliation is a must if you’re prone to blemishes.

Evens out skin’s tone and texture

Picture the process of tumbling a rough stone till it’s perfectly polished and smooth. Exfoliating is like applying the same concept to your skin, only gentler and easier to do. When your skin’s texture feels bumpy or uneven to the touch, a well-formulated exfoliant will be your best friend. A bit of gentle abrasion may be just what you need to shed some dead skin and renew your complexion.

Improves circulation

Frequent exfoliation has year-round benefits for the skin, but it can be especially useful during the winter months when the weather is drier, and your skin is duller. Scrubbing your skin well with a gently abrasive exfoliator will boost blood flow, promote lymphatic drainage, and speed up cell turnover. 

Maximizes product absorption

Applying costly skin care products to a face that needs a good scrub is basically a waste of your hard earned dollars. Your creams, serums, and oils will simply stick to old, dead skin cells and won’t penetrate past the surface of your skin. Without absorbing properly, your products can’t do their job, and you won’t see the results you’re looking for. 

When you exfoliate before following the steps of your skin care routine, you ensure that your pores are clean, open, and prepared to soak up the active ingredients in your favorite products. 

Fights early signs of aging

Plenty of skin care products and techniques promise to offset aging, but few manage to live up to the hype. However, exfoliation is one of the easiest and most effective ways to reach your skin goals. When you incorporate exfoliating into your beauty regimen, you’re speeding up the process of cell turnover which regularly reveals skin that’s fresh, flawless, and youthful. 

Choosing the best exfoliator

Best exfoliator for oily and combination skin

As usual, the lovely ladies at Moody Sisters have your back in the search for the best face scrub. You’ll notice a deeper, more invigorating clean with a single use of our multi-action Pore Refining Face Scrub. Remove built-up makeup, rid your pores of pollutants, and indulge in one of the deepest cleans you’ll ever experience. 

Fortified with all-natural ingredients like cucumber and mint, this scrub will shrink large pores, soothe and bring balance to your complexion, and ultimately leave your face feeling refreshed and revitalized. 

Best exfoliator for dry to sensitive skin

Dry and sensitive skin sufferers, worry not, we’ve got you covered! Our Moody Sisters Gentle Microderm Face Scrub is the ultimate exfoliator to have in your arsenal. Micro bamboo and jojoba fibers combine with aloe, cranberry, hibiscus, and vitamin E to create this scrub that’s gentle enough for even the most sensitive skin. 

Types of exfoliants

Chemical exfoliants

As opposed to physical exfoliants, chemical exfoliants contain active ingredients that do the work behind the scenes. Rather than tiny beads or a sugar scrub, AHA’s, BHA’s, and naturally derived enzymes combine to concoct chemical exfoliants. For a deep clean that’s more than skin deep, chemical exfoliants are your best choice. Reach for Moody Sisters Exfoliating Enzyme Face Mask when your skin needs a thorough refresh. Slough off dead skin cells and brighten your complexion with the help of aloe, papaya, and pineapple extracts. This face mask packs a healthy dose of vitamin C, leaving your skin looking lively and luminous. 

Physical / Mechanical exfoliants

Physical exfoliation may work one of two ways. Perhaps you like to wash your face with a washcloth, cleansing brush, silicone pad, or something similar. Or maybe you tend to reach for face scrubs with beads, coffee grinds, salt, or sugar. These are all examples of physical exfoliants. Depending on your skin type and specific skin care concerns, you can determine whether a physical or chemical exfoliator would be more effective. 

How often should you exfoliate your face?

The frequency with which you exfoliate will depend on your individual skin type. In most cases, you shouldn’t exfoliate your face more than 2-3 times per week. If your skin leans on the sensitive side, you can opt to exfoliate only once per week.