Written By Jennifer Raskin / Reviewed By Ray Spotts

If you want to look more youthful, you should make some time for one of the best anti-aging strategies for your skin. That strategy is exfoliation, a process where you help remove dead skin cells that build up on the outer layer of your skin. With each passing year, your skin’s natural ability to turnover cells slows down. The dead skin cells linger and leave us looking dull and aged.

It happens all over the body too, from head to toe. Proper exfoliation is important to keep skin healthy and youthful, but without proper technique, you could be doing more harm than good. The following tips will ensure that you properly exfoliate every time!

Choose the right tools for exfoliation

A simple washcloth is ideal for exfoliating the face and body. Bamboo material is best since it’s even gentler. Dry brushes and exfoliating gloves are also helpful for the body. You can even find plenty of skincare tech like sonic facial brushes to make it even more effective.

Be careful with facial and body scrubs for exfoliation

Your skin type matters when it comes to what you use. However, there is one golden rule: don’t use any scrub that has rough material in it. You’re exfoliating your skin, not removing paint off a wall! Anything that is too abrasive can leave tears in your skin and damage it.

Use simple ingredients for exfoliation

You can make your own exfoliation scrubs from what you have. No need to be fancy - even mixing baking soda with distilled water can cleanse your pores. Brown sugar and coconut oil is another natural exfoliation match made in heaven!

Know when to exfoliate

Most dermatologists recommend you exfoliate once or twice a week. Don’t do it more frequently than required. Also, it’s best to exfoliate in the morning if you can, especially for your face. Your cells are busy repairing all night so it is the best time to remove that dull dead skin cell layer.

Hydrate immediately after exfoliation

When you’re finished exfoliating, use a moisturizer to keep skin soft and supple. Ideally, use something that is soothing and calming for your skin.

Try stronger products for exfoliation

Exfoliating doesn’t always mean scrubbing. You can use things like glycolic acid or retinoids that also increase cell turnover while exfoliating, all without rubbing and tugging at the skin.

Don’t forget lesser-known parts for exfoliation

We all tend to remember to exfoliate our faces but not our lips. A gentle brushing with your toothbrush followed by a moisturizing lip balm should do the trick.

Elbows and feet also could do with a little extra love. If you rub shortening onto your elbows and then keep them covered all night (use socks with the toes cut off), you’ll wake up to super-soft skin. And for your feet, keep a pumice stone handy in your shower to use daily to keep feet in tip-top condition.

Now that you know how to exfoliate properly, don’t skip this essential step for your most beautiful, healthy, and soft skin.

Looking for 100% chemical-free, all-natural nourishing face and body oils? Check out Earth & Elm Nourishing Face Oil and Earth & Elm Nourishing Body Oil. Subscribe to our Trusted Health Club newsletter for more information about natural living tips, natural health, oral health and skincare. If you are looking for more health resources make sure to check out the Trusted Health Resources list. 

Written By:

Jennifer Raskin is a freelance writer, wife and mom that loves cold weather despite her location in Florida, cooking, reading, watching ‘80s movies, weight-lifting, and wine tasting.

Reviewed By:

Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.

Photo by Tara Winstead from Pexels