How to Properly Exfoliate Your Skin for a Glowing Complexion

We all know that there are certain steps everybody needs to take in order to have a healthy skincare routine. The essentials: cleansing, moisturizing, and using SPF, are beneficial for all skin types, but there's one crucial step that tends to be avoided: exfoliation. There's a false belief that doing so damages the skin barrier, and while that may be true if done incorrectly or when using a product that's too harsh for your skin type, learning how to exfoliate your face properly can be the ultimate game-changer, which can unlock your glowiest, clearest complexion yet.

There are two types of exfoliants: physical and chemical. Physical exfoliants use grains (such as sugar and salt) that physically buff away dead skin cells and any other build-up on the skin. Chemical exfoliants, on the other hand, use skincare acids like alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs) that delve deep into the pores to remove dirt and oil. Some people prefer one over the other, but the truth is that both can be beneficial for most skin types as long as they're used correctly.

To best understand how to exfoliate the right way, we tapped four skincare experts. Below, they explain why exfoliation is such an important part of every routine, how to best exfoliate your face and body, plus tips for achieving your glowing skin dreams.

Why Is It Important to Exfoliate?

While you might already know that exfoliating your skin gives it that fresh glow, helping it look better, you might not know that it also improves the health of your skin. “On a daily basis, our skin cells renew, and the cells that form the outer layers of our skin die as the new cells replace them. Exfoliating ensures that the dead cells are completely removed,” explains physician assistant, Rachael Burns. “If we don’t remove the dead cells, our skin can appear dull and, in time, our pores can become blocked, which often leads to a breakout of acne or oily skin."

The Benefits of Exfoliating

Exfoliating helps stimulate collagen synthesis to improve the skin's texture and keep your complexion looking plump, tight, and young, says board-certified dermatologist Michelle Henry, MD. When it comes to how often you should be exfoliating, she says to listen to your skin. Some people prefer chemical exfoliants over physical ones and vice versa, but it's up to your specific needs.

Nurse practitioner, Christine McMackin, adds that essentially, the younger, healthier skin that we want is right under the skin we have. “With chemical or physical exfoliation, we can remove the dead, dull skin that houses most of our skin damage [to] reveal our brighter, healthier, undamaged skin and expose a smoother, brighter complexion.” Plus, it helps keep pores clean, therefore preventing breakouts.

How to Exfoliate Safety

With those benefits in mind, you might feel enticed to start exfoliating right away with any old tools and products you have on hand. But, McMackin shares a word of caution before doing so: “If a product that is incorrect for your skin type is used, it may cause micro-tears on the surface of your skin. These tears allow for bacteria to enter the skin, potentially causing inflammation, clogged pores, broken capillaries, and scarring," she says. "However, there is no risk of exfoliating if it is done correctly with the correct product for your skin type."

How Often Should You Exfoliate?

"For people starting off with exfoliants, it’s best to use a gentler product once or twice a week. Although, it is possible to work up to daily exfoliation," says dermatologist, Michele Farber, MD. She recommends one exfoliation product per day, but once your skin is tolerating products, it can be useful to alternate between different exfoliants. When in doubt, consult a dermatologist to learn about your skin type and the products best suited for your skincare needs and goals.

Another reason not to overdo it: It's counterproductive. "As much as exfoliating is good for our skin, over-exfoliating—either by doing it too often or by using an exfoliant that’s too harsh or doesn’t agree with our skin—can lead to adverse reactions such as redness, peeling, and flaking," says Burns. She also says to be careful when leaving your exfoliant on, because the time will vary between products. "Chemical exfoliants should only be left on for as long as the packaging recommends. Physical exfoliants should be used for no longer than a couple of minutes."

The Best Tools for Exfoliation

"If you’re looking for something natural to exfoliate with, you don’t have to look any further than your own kitchen. You can make up a natural exfoliant by using coconut oil mixed with used coffee grounds or granulated sugar," says Burns. "Mix to the consistency that you like, and apply to the skin using small circular movements. Then rinse and moisturize as normal." Other natural ingredients, such as oatmeal and baking powder, may also work well for face and body scrubs, but you can't go wrong with a few exfoliating tools—as long as you have the right ones. 

For physical exfoliation, consider the basic washcloth your best friend when it comes to exfoliating both your face and your body. “People often choose to exfoliate with a sponge, but it’s rougher on the skin and can, at times, be uncomfortable,” notes Burns. “A rough washcloth provides a more gentle experience and is a suitable alternative.” Additionally, a dry brush like the Joanna Vargas Ritual Brush ($30) and exfoliating gloves are fantastic for scrubbing your skin in a circular motion.

For chemical exfoliation, you don't need any specific tools. All you need to do is have your go-to product, a clean and dry face, the instructions for proper use in hand, and lukewarm water for when it's time to rinse it off.

How to Exfoliate the Face

Without proper exfoliation, your skin can be covered in dead skin cells, causing your face to look older and duller. Plus, if there's a bunch of gunk on your face it'll be harder for makeup to look smooth, and skincare won't be able to penetrate the skin as well as it's supposed to. So, with that in mind, here are some tips our experts shared for exfoliating your face.

1. Find the right products: "Anyone with sensitive skin should choose gentler options for exfoliation, like a wash with a low percentage of an AHA or BHA, or a chemical exfoliant pad," says Farber. She typically recommends chemical over physical exfoliation, particularly in those with dry skin. And remember, not all skin on your own body is even the same. “It’s important to keep in mind that our face and neck skin is much more fragile than the skin on the rest of our bodies, [so] most people need two different exfoliants,” says McMackin.
2. Use them correctly: Even the right products can deliver poor results if you apply them incorrectly. As a general rule, use a small amount of product and apply it to cleansed skin with clean fingers, using small, gentle circular movements. “If you’re using an exfoliating wash, you can rinse it off the skin after a minute or two," says Burns. "For chemical peel products, follow the instructions and don’t be tempted to leave it on for longer than recommended. Rather than doing the skin some good, it may cause the skin to become red and sensitive, possibly with some peeling or flaking.”
3. Exfoliate in the morning: Though any time of day will work, exfoliating in the morning is ideal because the skin repairs itself at night, potentially leaving a layer of dead skin cells just begging to be sloughed off. Plus, it's great for ensuring your best and brightest face forward.
4. Use face scrubs in the shower: The warmth of a shower softens the skin and releases the body’s natural oils while opening your pores. “Make sure you have a running supply of hot water to wash away dead skin cells once you’ve scrubbed them off,” Burns advises. “If you’re exfoliating in the bath, opt for a fragrance-free gel and soak for 10 minutes before you begin exfoliating to allow the skin to soften. If you’re in the shower, run the water over your skin for five minutes before exfoliating.”
5. Apply a little pressure: While you certainly don’t want to hurt yourself when using physical exfoliants, you also don’t want to be too dainty when exfoliating, or you won’t actually remove the dead skin.
6. Don't forget your lips: Chapped lips? We don't know her. Scrub away flakes with a DIY paste of sugar and water, but most importantly slather with an emollient like Vaseline or Aquaphor afterwards to promote hydration and smoothness.
7. Follow up with moisturizer: Some exfoliants can leave skin feeling dry, so using moisturizer after helps ensure the skin is replenished.

How to Physically Exfoliate the Face

Using a face scrub can feel intimidating since old formulas have given the category a bad rep. Newer products on the market are designed specifically to give your skin the gentle buff it needs without causing irritation—it's all about the right technique. Below, McMackin walks us through the best way to use physical exfoliant on your face:

1. Wash your face: Use a gentle cleanser and lukewarm water.
2. Use a small amount: After gently washing off your cleanser and while your skin is still damp, take a pea-sized amount of exfoliant, placing a small dot on your forehead, both cheeks, and chin. We like fresh's Sugar Face Polish Exfoliator ($67) and Tula's Exfoliating Sugar Scrub ($34).
3. Work it in: In gentle, circular motions spread the exfoliant across your face.
4. Rinse: Once you have softly rubbed the exfoliant around your face for about 30 seconds, use warm water to rinse it off.
5. Moisturize: Exfoliating can dry out the skin, so apply a hydrating cream and serum.
   

How to Physically Exfoliate the Body

As with most things beauty-related, it's all about technique. While a straight-forward scrub may work for most of your body, the elbows and feet require a little extra attention. McMackin says our elbows, knees, and feet have thicker skin, so they can withstand more aggressive exfoliation, and that a loofah scrub or even your everyday washcloth can be used to further the exfoliating effects on your thicker skin. If you prefer a good body care product, we recommend exfoliants that have thicker grit to really get the job done—like Sol de Janeiro's Bum Bum Body Scrub ($42) and Nopalera's Cactus Flower Exfoliant ($32).

“Similar to when exfoliating your facial skin, using warm water is the best way to begin the exfoliation process,” notes McMackin. “This allows the dead skin to be removed with ease, leaving no room for potential skin damage or micro-tears.”