Exfoliating vs Cleansing. The Benefits of Both

How often have you bought an entire range of skin care products that dictate you need to cleanse, exfoliate, and then moisturize (not forgetting to use sunblock, too)?

Well, here’s some good news. Exfoliating first, before cleansing, could help you get better results.

Think about the top layer of your skin. It’s full of debris and pollution. If you cleanse first, you won’t effectively remove the debris. But when you start with exfoliating, you can blast the skin’s surface. After all, exfoliators are designed to prime your skin for cleansing.

Then there’s the skin’s epidermis, all ready to soak up minerals, antioxidants, and benefit-rich oils. And that’s when your hydrating step really comes into play.

Yes, we know this order of things goes against every article you’ve ever read but try it. You’ll be amazed at how clean, soft, and downright beautiful you and your skin feel!

Now that that’s out of the way, let’s delve into what both exfoliating and cleansing can do for you.

The Top Benefits of Exfoliating Your Skin

1. Healthy Skin

Ever wondered just how some people get glowing, bright skin? We’ll let you in on their secret – exfoliators.

Think of it like this. When you put makeup on over dead skin, you’re working with an uneven surface. So, your skin looks patchy and flaky. It might even feel kind of rough.

But when you use a gentle exfoliator, the skin is left smoother and refreshed, with new cells to boot. It also means the tone of your skin improves.

2. Bye-Bye Breakouts

If you want to bust breakouts and acne, you need to exfoliate. Don’t underestimate its power. A deep exfoliation can significantly unclog your pores from excess oils, banishing (or at the very least reducing) breakouts.

Take note, though, that breakouts and acne aren’t just caused by external things like dirt and makeup. There are a few internal factors worth considering, like hormonal imbalances that are directly linked to the condition of your skin.

What’s more, a bad diet and stress can cause spots.

3. Tightened Pores

Pores are essentially openings in your skin where hair follicles grow. And since they’re really tiny holes, when dead skin and dirt build up, pores expand to make way for it all. The result? Big, visible pores that make you want to hide.

Get up, grab a good exfoliator and get rid of the dirt trapped in your pores and watch them shrink before your eyes.

4. Smoother Skin

When you put makeup on over dead skin cells, it just can’t blend into the surface of your skin. Rather, it sits on top, like a layer, magnifying those fine lines and wrinkles.

Get rid of the dead cells by exfoliating and your wrinkles become less noticeable. In other words, regular exfoliation can help fight signs of aging!

5. Creates a Smooth Canvas

Exfoliating makes sure the rest of your skincare routine works. If your pores are blocked, nothing can penetrate the deeper skin layers.

But when you remove the dirt and buildup, moisturizers can get right into the depths of your skin for ultimate nourishment.

Which brings us to the benefits of cleansing.

Why You Need to Cleanse, Too

1. Boost hydration

Regular skin cleansing, with the help of moisture-rich products like our sea minerals and blue iris bar soap, can help your skin maintain good levels of hydration.

Dehydrated skin looks dull, feels rough, and shows signs of aging. Cleansing can help you manage the PH levels of the skin, making way for better product retention.

2. Get Rid of Build Up

Like exfoliating, cleansing removes dirt, oils, and other debris. During the day, your skin gets covered in dirt, dead skin cells, and pollutants. Daily cleansing will remove these impurities to give you a fresher look.

Our pampering soften and moisturize bundle contains a variety of skin and hair care products to lock in moisture and shine while keeping dirt at bay.

3. Clearer Skin

Tiny glands below the surface of your skin produce oil, or sebum, to protect the skin from the outside world. The glands use your hair follicles as a path, which allows oils to reach the outer layer of the skin and form a barrier, preventing bacteria and harmful agents getting in.

A build-up of dirt can cause blocked pores, trapping sweat, dead cells, and sebum. When the skin’s surface lacks sebum, bacteria can penetrate the follicles, leading to inflammation and acne.

Proper cleansing, though, keeps those thoroughly exfoliated pores clear, allowing sebum to reach the surface of your skin and minimizing the risk of breakouts – working perfectly with your exfoliating regime!

It’s Got to Be Both. Every Time!

Exfoliating and cleansing go hand in hand for keeping skin fresh, smooth, and breakout-free. Isn’t it time you upped your skincare game?

Check out Soapbox’s range of moisturizing products today.