In part 1 of this blog I have outlined some of the commonly used exfoliation methods that would be helpful in the context of pre-wedding bridal skincare and makeup preparation. In particular, the difference between physical and chemical exfoliation, when and how to use them. As a general rule, exfoliation should not be used more than 3 times a week to avoid damaging the skin.
In this part 2, I will explore some of the exfoliants specifically designed for daily use.
This blog is part of our pre-wedding skincare crash course.
What are the different types of exfoliants that can be used daily?
In this blog post I will briefly set out
- Intensive exfoliating treatments / peels used as a course
- Exfoliants designed for long term daily use
- exfoliants in the form of serum or moisturiser
Intensive exfoliating treatments/peels
Intensive exfoliating treatments (or sometimes called "at-home peels") are designed to deliver salon quality results, and they are very popular for brides who want to amp up their skincare game before the wedding (we all know that better skin = better makeup). Usually a course of treatment would last for approximately 1 month, and is designed to be used daily in that duration.
Typically, these treatments combine the use of both physical and chemical (AHA and/or BHA) exfoliation to provide maximum impact. They may also contain other ingredients to hydrate and nourish skin.
As these exfoliants are designed to give a significant result over a short period of time, they can be quite strong. If you decide to try them, you should proceed with caution. Always do a patch test. If your skin is not particularly tolerant, consider trial the treatment just 1-2 times a week initially, and build up to daily use gradually. You may also consider using the treatment every second day instead of every day if this suits your skin better. Ideally, allow long breaks (e.g.3 months) between courses of treatments.
If you would like to use this prior to the wedding day, make sure you plan well ahead. If you are trying out a new treatment, the first course should start approximately 6 months beforehand to ensure that your skin can tolerate the full course of treatment with no adverse reaction, with the second course to be started at least a month before your wedding.
Some examples are:
Dermalogica Daily Resurfacer (pictured), Philosophy Microdelivery Peel Kit, Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel
Pictured from left to right (top row): Dermalogica Daily Resurfacer, Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant, Dermalogica Daily Superfoliant (bottom row) Alpha-H Liquid Gold with Glycolic Acid (note: this product contains alcohol denat.), Alpha-H Balancing Moisturiser and Gentle Exfoliant.
Exfoliants designed for long term daily use
Some exfoliants are designed for long term daily use. Most of these products make use of enzymatic exfoliating action because it is the gentlest form of exfoliation. They may be formulated with or without AHA/BHA, and with or without granules. If a daily exfoliant is granular, the granules should feel very fine and non-abrasive.
Again, even though they are designed for daily use, some skin types may experience over-exfoliation (e.g. dryness and/or redness) if an exfoliant is used daily. You should proceed with caution whenever trying out a new exfoliant, especially on sensitive skin or dry skin. On the other hand, oily skin and combination skin would probably find this type of exfoliation beneficial and effective.
Pictured here are Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant and Dermalogica Daily Superfoliant.
Exfoliants in the form of serum or moisturiser
It is very common for a serum or moisturiser to contain AHAs or BHA (or both). They are not labelled as "exfoliants" per se, but they contain exfoliating properties and can deliver very effective results if used correctly. AHAs are very effective in removing dull and dry skin, and to improve the overall texture and clarity of the skin, whereas BHA is more suitable in clearing up congestion. Therefore, it is important to choose the type of exfoliant based on your needs. If you do decide to use both, consider using them on alternate days.
One thing to note is that AHAs and BHAs work at a low pH (AHAs work best between pH 3-4 and BHA, specifically salicylic acid, has an optimal pH of <3). If you are layering other skincare products with a different pH, make sure you allow enough time for the exfoliants to work effectively before applying the other products.
Pictured here are Alpha-H Liquid Gold with Glycolic Acid (note: this product contains alcohol denat.) and Alpha-H Balancing Moisturiser and Gentle Exfoliant.
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