Exfoliating the skin is recommended by most dermatologists, unless your skin is too young or delicate to take it. The idea is that it removes the top skin cells (they are not dead) and encourages cell renewal, which slows down as we age. Once or twice weekly exfoliation is enough.
Bristol Made Facial Polish is scented with jasmine oil, and can smooth away dull skin with a blend of whipped shea butter, beetroot and in-house blended oils. Made with finely ground organic raw cane sugar, it gently buffs away old skin skills. Gently massage into clean skin for 1 to 2 minutes (avoiding the delicate eye area) then use a clean face cloth and warm water to remove.
Never exfoliate on open wounds/sunburn. Avoid essential oils for pregnancy/nursing and medical conditions affected (asthma, epilepsy, high blood pressure etc). Avoid shea butter for latex allergies. Keep essential oils (and cocoa butter) away from children and pets.
Conscious Skincare (Wales) is a quality organic brand sold in metal bottles. The exfoliator is for normal skin (orange blossom and geranium oil) but there is also a version for dry or sensitive skin (chamomile, lavender & aloe version) and mature skin (rose, lemon and frankincense oils with aloe vers).
Some dermatologists say exfoliating the skin is far more important than slathering on creams (most of which evaporate anyway). You can exfoliate manually (say with a washcloth or loofah – keep it dry to avoid mould), use a physical exfoliant (like apricot scrub etc) or chemical exfoliators (alpha-hydroxy acids, beta-hydroxy acids and enzymes all loosen skin cells to ‘unglue’ them from the epidermis.
Choosing the right exfoliator can help to lessen the appearance of age spots (as it will remove some of the darker top cells). And although it won’t ‘cure them’, it can make fine lines look less visible, as well as ensuring products like creams and serums sink in better to do their work.
Dermatologists actually prefer chemical exfoliators as they are less harsh, but be sure to choose a natural one based on glyolic acid (from sugar) rather than lactic acid (from milk. The most common BHA is salicylic acid, which is best reserved for acne, as it may be too harsh for other skin types. Just apply on your face (and neck area) then leave it for a few minutes to absorb, before adding any other products, if any. If using physical scrubs, be sure to avoid the eye area, then wash off with warm water, after massaging the skin for up to a minute in circular motions.
