We all know that the most effective skincare routine involves cleansing, toning, moisturising and exfoliating. Dermats say that daily CTM and occasional (twice a week) exfoliating is the foundation for good skin. But as temperatures drop, we dread exfoliating our skin, for obvious reasons–who would want to worsen skin that’s already dry and itchy by scrubbing it further? And we conveniently skip the exfoliation step because of this. But, turns out that not just the skin on your face, but also your body, elbows, heels, lips etc. needs thorough exfoliation in the winters. Find out how to exfoliate face at home and why exfoliation is equally important to practice during the winters.
How Best to Exfoliate Your Face During Winter
Exfoliation is essentially done to get rid of all the dead skin cells. This results in a clear complexion. Skin cells dehydrate and dry faster during the winter season. Letting these dead skin cells go is important for new, healthier cells to develop. Once or twice a week, you will want to give your skin some replenishment in the form of exfoliation.
When your skin is nice and exfoliated, it soaks in the moisturiser a lot better. In the winter, if you skip exfoliation and moisturise over dead skin cells, what’s the point of it, really? The cells will instead block the moisture and defy the whole purpose of it.
1. Use a gentle hydrating cleanser
Before you exfoliate your skin it is essential to cleanse your face to get rid of the impurities and sebum sitting on your face. During winters it is important that you pick a nourishing and hydrating face cleanser such as the St. Ives Watermelon Hydrating Face Wash. It has a super hydrating gel formula that won’t leave your face feeling dry and tight. It is formulated with hyaluronic acid – a hydration hero that helps your skin to retain moisture – and a naturally derived formula. This dual action refreshing face wash for dry skin deeply cleanses away impurities while also replenishing moisture to help your skin maintain its natural barrier.
2. Choose a nourishing exfoliator
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Knowing how to use face exfoliator and selecting the right one during winters is extremely important. Pick an exfoliator that’s natural and does the job of two products; a moisturiser and an exfoliator. For the winters, mild exfoliation is recommended. This Simple Vitamin C Clay Scrub is infused with Yuzu Lemon, Ginger, Bentonite Clay and Natural Bamboo extracts to remove 98% urban dust by unclogging pores to reveal skin’s natural glow. It removes excess oil, dust, and impurities for bright, fresh, and glowing skin. The added infusion of Glycerine and Ginger Root Juice gives this scrub the dual benefit of removing dead cells and dark spots while leaving the skin hydrated and bright.
3. Exfoliate not more than once a week
If you usually exfoliate your skin two-three times a week, tone it down to just once. Doing this will still serve the purpose without further removing the healthy skin cells.
4. Exfoliate when you shower / Take a steam before exfoliation
Apart from helping you relax; a hot water shower also helps open your pores. This is a great time for scrubbing all the dead skin cells off! The results are more effective as opposed to exfoliating it any other time of the day with cold water.
5. Hydrate immediately after exfoliation
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Seal the deal by giving your skin a boost of hydration immediately after you’re done exfoliating it. For your face, we recommend using a light hydrator such as the Ponds Super Light Gel Moisturizer. It is infused with the goodness of Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin E and Glycerine, this super light moisturizer absorbs faster than regular creams and gives 24-hour hydration for a water-fresh glow. It helps restore the moisture balance to keep your skin soft and smooth. Its lightweight formula absorbs into the skin instantly without leaving any sticky feeling, making it ideal for all seasons.
FAQs about How Best to Exfoliate Your Face
Why do you need to exfoliate in winter?
With the cold air outside and the dry air inside the house, your skin dehydrates faster. You should exfoliate your face regularly to remove dead skin cells and rejuvenate the skin. In winter, try to use exfoliators once or twice a week if you have very sensitive skin.
How many times a week to exfoliate face in the winter?
If you are wondering how to exfoliate your face in winter and how often, you must limit the usage to 2 to 3 times a week. To help your skin in the winters it is important that you take care of your skin the right way. Hence, exfoliate your skin as per the recommendation and don’t forget to moisturise twice daily.
Do I exfoliate wet or dry?
The friction level when the skin cells are moist is different from the friction level when the skin is dry, as many people exfoliate their skin with a loofah or scrub in the shower. With the dry method, you will be able to exfoliate more effectively, and it will be less messy as well.
How to know if you need to exfoliate face?
You know how to exfoliate face with scrub but here are the signs your skin tells you if you need to exfoliate.
Your skin looks dry and dull.
Your skin is not absorbing the products. It is important to exfoliate your face before moisturizing and treating it with skincare products.
There are bumps or scaly patches on your skin.
There are breakouts or your pores appear clogged.
Your skin is exposed to a lot of sunlight.
Written by Kinnari Ashar on Dec 15, 2022