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

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.