How to Exfoliate Your Face

By mildly abrading your skin with exfoliating agents, you will remove the surface layer of dead cells. Afterward, fine lines will be less visible and your complexion will glow. Here are a few easy steps to exfoliating your face and improve your complexion.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Toners
• Papayas
• Exfoliating Gloves
• Exfoliating Masks
• Exfoliating Sponges
• Moisturizers
• Moisturizers

1. Moisten your face with water before exfoliating.

2. Use a loofah, exfoliating gloves or a synthetic scrubbing sponge designed for the face.

3. Apply an exfoliating cleanser specially designed for faces to the loofah or sponge. Some exfoliating cleansers contain up to 25 percent pumice, and these should never be used on the face.

4. Rub your face with the loofah or sponge using circular motions. Avoid scrubbing under the eyes, because the skin there is thin and easily damaged by abrasive cleansers and exfoliating sponges.

5. Rinse thoroughly with tepid water. Hot water is harsh on skin, especially delicate face skin.

6. Apply a moisturizer containing alpha or beta hydroxy acids. These acids will continue the exfoliating process, because acids cause additional dead skin cells to slough off.

7. Try an exfoliating mask. Make one by mashing up a papaya and smearing it on your face. The enzymes help exfoliate the skin. Rinse off thoroughly after 15 minutes.

Tips & Warnings

• Use products designed for the face only. Those meant for the rest of your body may be too abrasive and irritating for your face.
• Your skin may tingle after using alpha or beta hydroxy acids. This is normal and should go away after 15 minutes.
• Be diligent in keeping moisturizer on your face at all times if you exfoliate regularly. Exfoliating causes the skin to dry out, and dry skin is an invitation for skin to wrinkle.
• Never overexfoliate with excessively abrasive exfoliating cleansers, or you run the risk of bursting the delicate blood vessels under the skin. If the vessels burst, your skin may appear permanently flushed. This condition, known as telangiectasia, must then be treated using laser surgery.

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[moviestarshow]

on 6/21/2009 I love to pamper my skin esp face, Molasses is the best to put in face for at least 1 hr. it has a complete vitamins, and you can eat this also.

[ProphetessB]

on 8/14/2008 This was good

[fanuppa]

on 3/15/2008 Once a week I exfoliate with natural goat milk soap. Goat milk is great for your skin. I use one that does not contain any fragrance. www.handmadecatalog.com/Fanuppa-Soaps-LLC-mid-200.html

[SkinExpert]

on 12/13/2007 This is a rudimentary beginning for exfoliation, some very good comments though. Love the toothbrush idea, have done that for years though now Clairisonic has a fabulous new facial brush which makes the skin glow!

[iblqqin]

on 10/9/2007 I've used a couple of the above with some good results but I recently found a new mitt that hit the market to be the best and most convenient for me. All I have to do is add warm water to my microfiber mitt and I make sure I don't press to hard since it works so well. It leaves my face super smooth and clean. I also use it to remove my makeup everyday during the evening. It's called the HydraMitt, just do a Google search. I got mine from a local spa. I hope this helps.

P.S. I like the no chemical/ingredient mess, nothing to clean up afterwards. Also, I just use soap to clean the mitt when I'm done and then hang dry, that's it! The mitt is supposed to last me at least 6 months with daily use.