5 Benefits of Weekly Exfoliation and How to Do It Right!

Have you added exfoliation to your skincare routine yet? If not, you are missing out on so many amazing benefits that it offers for your skin. Exfoliation isn't anything new. In fact, ancient Egyptians originated the dry brushing technique and were also known to use pumice stones. American Indians used dry corn cobs to exfoliate. Growing up, I would always witness my grandmother sitting near the sea shore using sea shells and sand to help smooth her legs and remove dry patches from her feet (A practice I still enjoy doing today!).

Luckily today we can continue to exfoliate naturally with ingredients like sugar, coffee, salt, and oats. Our sugar scrubs are amazing natural exfoliators. They incorporate sugar (a natural source of glycolic acid) to gently buff away unwanted dead skin cells. By exfoliating on a consistent basis you are reducing the appearance of clogged pores and aiding in the prevention of acne breakouts.

Did you know that we shed about 600,000 particles of skin every hour? This is the equivalent of 1.5 lbs of dead skin a year! And although our skin has its own natural skin renewal process (have you ever healed from a cut?), this process takes about 28-30 days to fully shed on its own. Unfortunately, this slows down over time as we age. This means that old skin cells remain on the surface, which is why our skin can look and feel uneven, dull, and dry as we get older. Proper exfoliation ensures that the dead skin cells are completely removed. This is another reason why products that you use daily, will better penetrate the skin (giving your skin amazing results!).

Proper weekly exfoliation provides so many benefits and we invite you to begin incorporating this ritual into your self-care routine.

Ready to begin exfoliating regularly? Here are some tips to ensure that you are doing it correctly in order to enjoy all of its benefits!

Tip #1 - Ensure your skin is clean and damp.

The best time to exfoliate is after a warm steamy bath or shower. Your pores will be open, your skin will be clean and softer. This aids in the exfoliation process and the removal of dead skin cells.

Tip #2 - Turn off the shower head.

Yes, this one may come as a surprise. It's also probably the number one mistake that people are making! Exfoliating while the shower head is on will undoubtedly remove the scrub from your skin... leaving you with nothing to scrub with! Imagine this, you grab a spoonful of scrub, apply it to your skin, and before you know it...it's down the drain. Be sure to turn the shower head OFF, then proceed to apply the scrub to your skin. Once you are done exfoliating, turn the shower head back on and rinse. Your skin will thank you!

Tip #3 - Use light pressure on your face.

De Mi Tierra sugar scrubs are great for the face if you have normal, oily, and dry skin. We don't recommend them if you have sensitive skin (Our facial masks are a great alternative!). Exfoliating your face 1-2x a week can deliver great results! However, we highly recommend that you use light pressure and use your fingertips and not the palm of your hands when exfoliating. Focus on areas around the nose, forehead, lips, and chin to remove accumulated dead skin cells.

Tip #4 - Don't forget your elbows, knees, and underarms!

We like to exfoliate from the top down. Once you start on your face, work your way down. Our elbows, knees, and feet are considered to be the dirtiest part of our skin so place close attention to these areas. If you use traditional antiperspirants, the buildup can occur in your underarms too! Be sure to exfoliate your underarms regularly.

Tip #5 - Exfoliate 1-2x a week only

Physical exfoliants, like our sugar scrubs, should only be used 1-2x a week. Exfoliating more than that can be counter-productive and can cause your skin to become red, irritated, and inflamed.

Enjoy the benefits.

Exfoliating your skin on a consistent basis provides so many benefits! Be sure to check out our natural sugar scrub collection with ingredients like lavender, honey, lemon, coffee, rose petal, and many more and determine which one best suits your skin needs! Happy exfoliating!