Exfoliating your skin has great benefits . By exfoliating your skin, we remove impurities, thereby improving its health and also its aesthetics . In this post we are going to stop and explain why it is important to exfoliate your skin and how you can do it using natural products , which will benefit you and also the planet .
WHY EXFOLIATE
We start with the reasons related to improving health :
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Eliminates dead cells
The skin is the largest organ in our body. It protects us from external agents and is the vehicle for expelling toxins from our body. It works all day long. That is why it wears out so much and is constantly being renewed. As a result, skin cells die every day. Thanks to exfoliation, you help remove these cells and allow the new ones to do their job better.
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Frees the skin from impurities
As I mentioned in the previous point, the skin expels toxins from the inside of our body. By exfoliating it, we help eliminate all those impurities. In this way, we free up the pores so they can continue to perform their function.
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Prevents spots and acne
By keeping the skin pores free of toxins, we can prevent inflammation, infections and other skin ailments. This makes it harder for acne to develop and gives us a more even-toned skin.
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Activates circulation
Exfoliation processes require that we massage the skin. This activates the circulation and the epidermis is better oxygenated and puts it to work more intensely. This prevents premature skin aging.
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Activates the lymphatic system
This massage also activates the lymphatic system, which has benefits for our overall health, not just that of our skin. An active lymphatic system prevents fluid retention and better protects us against different types of infections.
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Hair removal ally
Exfoliation lifts the hair and prevents it from becoming ingrown.
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Prepares the skin for treatments
Exfoliated skin is clean skin, with pores free of toxins. This way, they will be able to absorb moisturizing creams or any other product you use to treat your skin.
As a consequence of all the above, thanks to the health benefits of exfoliation, we find a collateral aesthetic benefit. Skin that we exfoliate regularly looks more beautiful . It is smoother, more uniformly elastic, has a better color and is more pleasant to the touch because it is softer.
WHEN TO EXFOLIATE
Exfoliation is a process that we should do periodically . But carefully, without overdoing it . In short, it is an intense wash that requires rubbing with varying intensity. If we overdo it, we can irritate the skin.
Observe your skin , feel it, communicate with it. Little by little you will understand when it is asking for an exfoliation.
Generally, it's fine to exfoliate your face once a week (for oily skin, maybe twice). For the rest of your body, you can allow yourself to increase the frequency to a couple of times a week .
Summer care . The skin is more exposed and, on the one hand, requires more care and help to eliminate toxins and dead cells; but, on the other hand, excessive exfoliation could cause irritation more easily.
As we have already seen, it is ideal to exfoliate the skin before applying other products . Sometimes we will do it at the same time as we clean it and other times after a first gentle cleansing. That will depend on the product we use. We will focus on this below.
WHAT TO EXFOLIATE WITH
The product or products you use to exfoliate will depend a lot on your skin type and, as we have seen, also on the time of year. But, of course, we will always recommend that you do it with natural products and materials . Of course, these will be better for your body because they do not contain chemical products that can cause irritation, allergies and even endocrine disorders.
But, in addition, doing without conventional cosmetic exfoliants can be a tremendous benefit for the planet . Not only because these products are usually packaged in plastic, but also because many of them contain microplastics inside. Precisely these small particles are responsible for dragging impurities and removing them from the pores. When rinsing the product, these microplastics go down the drain, the treatment plants cannot filter them and they end up contaminating river and ocean waters.
Let's see the different options for the face and the body.
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To exfoliate the face
It is a delicate skin, so we will use products that exfoliate in a less intense way. For this reason, we recommend, first of all, the konjac facial sponge , made with the root of a plant, it has a very striking exfoliating power considering how soft it is. But it has a very porous surface that makes it drag toxins very well. In addition, its rounded shape makes it adapt very well to the shape of the face and reaches well to areas such as the sides of the nose.
Pair this sponge with the detox soap and you'll have the perfect combination. This soap contains activated charcoal, which also helps to remove toxins and unclog pores.
Another option is to use another combination that gives great results: makeup remover pads + cleansing lotion . The pads have two sides, one smoother and one rougher. You can choose which side to use depending on the condition of your skin at any given time.
Finally, clays are also a great exfoliating option. You can use them to make a mask, as we show you in this video . They will help expel toxins and leave you with very smooth skin. It is very important to apply moisturiser afterwards because their astringent action is very powerful.
- To exfoliate the body
Shower sponges and mitts . All of the ones we have have a good exfoliating power. You will find loofah ,jute and also konjac , which is softer and can be great for summer. The soap scum bag , made from sisal (a type of agave), is sewn in such a way that it also acts as an exfoliant.
As for soaps, we admit that we are divided. We love two: the coconut oil with coffee beans (which allows for a very intense exfoliation) and thedetox body scrub bar , which is gentler and may be better for more sensitive skin or in summer.
For areas with calluses, such as heels or elbows, that require a deeper treatment, we recommend volcanic lava stone .
Finally, to exfoliate after showering, a great option is Matarrania's exfoliating cream , which contains cane sugar and coffee beans. This product can also be used on the face, after washing it with soapy water, but only if you don't have sensitive skin.
Do you already exfoliate your skin? What do you use? Do you dare to try any of these options? We would love to know what works for you. And if you have any questions, we are here for you.
