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Exfoliating – it’s one of the golden six steps to skincare – double cleanse, tone, moisturise, exfoliate and boost/masque. But how much do we really understand about exfoliants? How do you choose the right one for your unique skin? And what can exfoliating help with?

Dermalogica have a wide range of exfoliants for different skin concerns. So we asked a Dermalogica skin therapist to answer your questions on exfoliation and to give us the lowdown on the most popular Dermalogica exfoliating products.

Do you exfoliate?

At Jersey beauty Company, we don’t judge! We aren’t here to tell you what you should or shouldn’t be doing to care for your skin. We are here to give you ideas and tips and help you to choose the right skin care routine for your unique skin concerns.

So, do you exfoliate? Maybe you do. Maybe you used or had a bad experience with an exfoliator that irritated your skin or felt like it made no difference. We want you to take a second look at exfoliating, the benefits to your skin and what type of exfoliator might be great for your skin.

Why do you need to exfoliate?

Your skin has its own exfoliating process, which is called desquamation, where it gets rid of dead cells to make space for new ones. That process slows down as your skin ages – which affects how your skin functions and can cause a loss of oil or water in your skin leading to dry skin and dehydration.

What age should you exfoliate?

The process of desquamation starts to slow down on average in your mid twenties, so after that it is recommended that basically all skin types benefit from exfoliation. Earlier on if you have particularly oily skin you may want to exfoliate earlier.

Can you over exfoliate?

Yes, but it’s important to remember every skin is different. There isn’t a magic answer to when you should exfoliate. Some of it comes down to your unique skin concerns and also personal preference. Different exfoliators are designed to be used daily, like Dermalogica’s Daily Resurfacer or less often, like chemical exfoliants which are designed to be used two or three times a week. But it all depends on your unique skin. So the best way to get a skin routine that suits you is to learn to understand your skin – Dermalogica do face mapping and Jersey Beauty Company have a skin profile too.

What is a physical exfoliant?

Physical exfoliants are the stuff you can feel physically working away at your skin to remove dead skin cells. It’s those textures – the lumps and bumps – in an exfoliator that you can feel scrubbing away at those dead skin cells and helping with the process of desquamation.

What is a chemical exfoliant?

Chemical exfoliants are things like lactic acid, hyaluronic acid and salicylic acid – although that can all sound a bit daunting, the acids are naturally occurring in your skin anyway. Chemical exfoliants give a boost for some skin concerns, like dehydration.

Can I use exfoliants if I have sensitive skin?

If you have truly sensitive skin, your whole skin care routine will be geared towards stabilising your sensitivity by rebuilding the lipid barrier. This is an oily barrier on top of the skin, sensitivity comes when that barrier is impaired and damage can get through to deeper layers of skin. So if an exfoliator is irritating your sensitive skin then it is best to wait until you have stabilised your sensitivity before you start using exfoliants. If your skin is sensitised, so may flare up in the wind or at certain times, you can use an exfoliator but it’s about choosing the right one for your skin.

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant is a great place to start, as it is customisable. You can mix it with water and it’s less harsh on the skin.

Daily Microfoliant Exfoliatorgentle, brightening polisherView All74g: £65.00

Can people with fine lines and wrinkles exfoliate?

Yes! It depends on your individual skin, but more mature skin, maybe in your fifties and sixties, can massively benefit from a combined physical and chemical exfoliant like Dermalogica Multivitamin Thermofoliant:

Why Is Dermalogica Daily Superfoliant a good choice?

Dermalogica Daily Superfoliant is a great choice for those who work in the city or are exposed daily to pollutants. It’s a great defence against the damage done to skin by UV rays, free radicals and pollution of fumes and dust.

AGE Smart® Daily Superfoliant Exfoliatorresurfacing, anti-pollution powder exfoliantView All57g: £65.00

If I had adult acne, could I exfoliate?

The first thing to say is there are different types of adult acne. If you have open sores on your face, then exfoliating Is not recommended, particularly physical exfoliators as you can spread the bacteria further and it can be quite painful and not great for healing skin.

If it’s closed and healing, then exfoliating can be great to help speed up that process. You need to choose the right type of exfoliator. You might want to look at Dermalogica’s Skin Prep Scrub if you have oily skin as it will purify your skin, but gently exfoliate. It’s a chemical and physical exfoliator.

Dermalogica’s Gentle Cream Exfoliant is great and is actually one of the more potent exfoliators. It works really deep down as a chemical exfoliator.

Can you use an exfoliating brush?

Dermalogica make an exfoliating brush but it isn’t designed to replace product. It is there to help you to apply the exfoliator and to make sure you don’t miss bits. Some people like to use a brush, some people prefer their finger

Age Defense Kitfight premature skin ageingSkinEach: £47.20

Can men use exfoliants?

Absolutely. Like us at Jersey Beauty Company, Dermalogica are completely universal. There is no such thing as Dermalogica men’s products or Dermalogica women’s products. It’s all about your individual skin needs and finding the right exfoliator for you.

Should you exfoliate your body?

Definitely. The skin on your body is exactly the same as the skin on your face and so deserves the same attention!

Would an exfoliating masque replace the need for an exfoliant?

Dermalogica’s Charcoal Rescue Masque has exfoliating qualities. It is designed to be used on specific areas of concern, two to three times a week. It has a lot of active ingredients so Dermalogica do recommend you don’t use an exfoliator on the same day, as it might be too much for your skin. And it’s not needed when using the charcoal masque.

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Can I get a cleanser and exfoliator in one?

Dermalogica’s Age Smart Skin Resurfacing Cleanser has a chemical exfoliant in it and is ideal if you want to exfoliate daily but haven’t got the extra time to fit it in.