Summer is exfoliation season as we're flashing so much more skin. The best way to prep skin for summer? Exfoliation! Seems like every body talks about exfoliating, but what's the best way to do it? The benefits of exfoliation are plentiful, and there's a plethora of products available. From manual scrubs, chemical peels to loofahs and fruit enzyme exfoliation... the list is endless. We're purveyors of the good stuff - botanical, natural scrubs created with the most pure and natural exfoliants we can find.
Whether your want a salty, sandy, olive stone, rice or coconut one... they are all available here and are the main stay of any bathroom. Using an exfoliating body scrub is an easy, natural way to remove dry and flaky skin and smooth dimples. It leaves skin feeling softer and altogether less dirty! Here's our top tips on the benefits of exfoliating.
1) EXFOLIATION HELPS WITH HEALTHY, GLOWING SKIN
The answer to glowing, radiant skin is, it turns out, fairly simple: a good exfoliating product. It will help to even out the skin tone. This is essential if you wear make up - flaky, patchy, rough areas can look cakey if make up is applied to them. A speedy, effective way to re-surface skin and even texture is a good facial exfoliator.
Skin will appear smoother and refreshed - old, rough and flaky skin has been discarded, and plump, hydrated new skin cells are revealed. This will soothe and even the skin tone over all.
FACIAL EXFOLIATING: HOW TO EXFOLIATE THE FACE
Once a week, after cleansing, select a facial polish or face scrub that best suits your skin type. Simply apply to moistened skin, massage very gently in circles, and rinse away. Here's our top picks of face polish for different skin types:
Superfruit Active Exfoliation: For dull, dry skin - Bursting with cranberry pulp and cranberry seeds to deliver a bright radiant and glowing skin tone.
Illuminate Facial Polish: To solve oily, pigmented skin - To balance oil production, lighten blemishes and leave skin tone radiant.
2) EXFOLIATING HELPS TO MINIMISE PORES
We all have lots of pores! They are openings in the skin at the top of our hair follicles. Pores are also where the sebum (our body’s natural oils) is released to the surface to help our skin naturally moisturise itself.
Furthermore, when there is a build up of dead skin, grime, dirt and pollution, pores will expand to accommodate the build up and get blocked. Exfoliating is a great first step to removing dirt from pores, minimising their appearance.
3) EXFOLIATING HELPS TO REDUCE BREAKOUTS AND ACNE
Exfoliating is essential skincare maintenance to manage acne and breakouts. Firstly, cleansing is essential, but the importance of exfoliating isn't always recognised. A good exfoliation will get rid of excess oil, unclog pores and get rid of dirt and pollutants - often the root cause of breakouts.
We must add - without seeing an image of an individual case of acne, it can be hard to tell if it's an issue for a medical professional. If you are struggling with regular breakouts and acne, it's always best to consult your doctor.
4) EXFOLIATING WILL IMPROVE YOUR TAN
A well-loved pre-holiday tip is to indulge in a full body exfoliation before going on holiday. Removing dead skins will reveal fresh, newer skin and the sun will tan your newer cells - ensuring that the tan will last longer. If you don't exfoliate before tanning, the dead skin will tan, and these cells will shed faster.
Please ensure that you always use a good quality sun tan lotion with an SPF, or a sun block such as zinc. Sun damage is really bad for your skin and over all health.
If you're thinking of applying fake tan, or getting a spray tan, ensure you exfoliate first to ensure an even, streak free finish. When applying straight on to skin that hasn't had a good exfoliation, it will cling to the drier, older skin cells, leaving a patchy finish. Most of all, make sure to focus on dry areas - such as hands, feet, elbows and knees.
Seems like we all love a spa for a good body scrub and pamper day! But if you haven't got time, try exfoliating at home. We have an abundance of natural body polishes using salt, olive stone, coffee, pearl and fruit pulp to feed skin. Experience one of our summer favourite body scrubs:
HOW TO EXFOLIATE THE BODY
- When in a bath or shower (making sure you're steadied and not balancing on one leg!) start your skin care exfoliation from the feet and work up. Choose a scrub to suit your mood or skin type. In a circular motion, massage gently on to the skin, working towards the heart.
- Ensure that any open cuts, wounds or grazes are left alone - and best to do prior to shaving legs to ensure that skin isn't too sensitive. It's great to exfoliate a couple of days after shaving, too, to help stop ingrown hairs. A naturally antibacterial scrub, such as the Lime & Lemongrass Body Scrub, will help this - the essential oils are great for cleansing pores and stopping them from being blocked.
- Give bums and thighs a vigorous scrubbing - the stimulation will encourage circulation, helping to tone skin. Choose a scrub with natural caffeine to tighten further - such as the Colombian Rush Coffee Scrub
- Pay special attention to knees, elbows, hands and feet. A favourite scrub for feet is the super refreshing and cooling Bladderwrack & Peppermint Body Scrub. The bladderwrack seaweed will help detox, whilst the cooling and deep cleansing peppermint oil will leave feet feeling amazing.
- Not to forget arms and decollete. If the neck and chest area is showing early signs of ageing, use a healthy ageing body scrub such as the Gold & Caviar Body Polish. Packed with vitamins and skin loving caviar to help skin cell regeneration.
