Facial exfoliation is that one step in a skin care routine that many people skip over. Yet it’s probably one of the most important for a healthy and glowing complexion.

Exfoliation involves gently sloughing off dead skin cells to reveal the healthy, radiant skin underneath. It helps to prevent breakouts by removing skin that may have been clogging the pores. It also stimulates blood circulation, which helps boost collagen production for younger, firmer skin. Exfoliating leaves the skin silky, soft and better able to absorb any products that are applied after.

It’s important that you do it properly to avoid any skin irritations.

In this article, we’ll go over 5 of the most important do’s and don'ts of physical exfoliation. This way, you can start to reveal the radiant skin you know you deserve.

Do exfoliate using an all natural product

When it comes to exfoliation, you want a product that will do the job without irritating your skin in in the process.

OurOatmeal Lavender Face Scrub contains soothing oatmeal to provide a gentle, yet highly effective exfoliation, even for sensitive skin. Every ingredient is chosen with care. For instance, we chose lavender essential oil because it’s known to calm irritation in your skin. Not only that, it also helps to relax your mind, fight acne and leave your complexion feeling soothed and hydrated.

Now let’s not get all crazy at the mention of using a “natural” product and think it’s the end all be all. Even with natural and organic products, you want to ensure that you aren’t allergic to any of the ingredients and you won’t have any reactions as well.

Pro Tip: Always test a new product on a small portion of your skin first.

Don’t use harsh abrasives

If you’re looking for an exfoliator at your local drugstore, then you may be disappointed to learn that it’s probably going to be full of synthetic, harsh ingredients. Many synthetic exfoliants use harsh abrasives to slough away dead skin and these may create microscopic tears in the skin and damage your skin’slipid barrier. Always read the label so you know exactly what you’ll be putting on your precious skin.

A few ingredients you should avoid are parabens such as methylparaben, propylparaben and ethylparaben to name a few. Some common skin irritants are SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate) and SLES (Sodium Laureth Sulfate). SLS and SLES are commonly used to help your scrub lather up, which is great. The down side are the chemicals used to create it.

Do exfoliate once a week

Exfoliants work by stimulating the process of cell turnover. This is where old dead skin cells are replaced by healthy new ones. The frequency of your exfoliating schedule should be predicated on your skin type, oily skin versus dry skin, whether or not you’re acne prone or the rate of dead skin build up. One size doesn’t fit all, so make sure to find your process by trial and error. Start out once a week and increase the frequency gradually to find your sweet spot.

If your skin is not sensitive then you may get away with exfoliating up to three times a week. However, if your skin is even slightly sensitive, then we recommend sticking to a weekly schedule.

Don’t over-exfoliate

Many people think they can exfoliate every day, but this is completely unnecessary. Once you exfoliate, your skin takes time to build up old skin cells again so by exfoliating on a daily basis, you risk exfoliating new skin, which can cause redness, irritation and inflammation. The key is starting out slow and testing what works best for your skin.

Do follow up with a good oil or moisturizer

Now that your skin is beautifully renewed, it’s time to apply your moisturizer or oil. Your skin is going to drink it right up! Make sure to choose a moisturizer that will hydrate your skin and leave it feeling smooth and moisturized. Don’t stop at the exfoliating process. Go the whole nine yards and feed your skin what it deserves.