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beauty

The Difference Between PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL EXFOLIATORS

By Poosh
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 Photo credit @mandymadd
@mandymadd

Exfoliating is a vital part of any skincare regimen, and at Poosh, we take it very seriously. It helps to dissolve stubborn grime from dirt, makeup, and sebum lodged in our pores, eat away at dead skin, and encourage cell turnover for a more even, radiant, youthful complexion and tone. 

Without exfoliation, we experience more breakouts, blackheads, fine lines and wrinkles, poor absorption of amazing topical ingredients, and dull, flaky skin. However, exfoliation has come a long way. Gone are the days of harsh, lacerating ingredients with walnut shells or apricot pits from classic drugstore brands that shall remain nameless. Please, please tell us you’ve graduated from that too?

Scrubs are known as physical, or mechanical, exfoliators. They are not the devil, and we support their moderate use. It’s imperative to use gentle mechanical exfoliators, and use a light hand when massaging our skin with these mild abrasives. 

We do NOT want to scrub hard at our skin. While that may feel like we are giving our skin an intensive treatment to reveal baby-soft skin, what we are actually doing is damaging the skin. It creates uneven lacerations on the surface, which agitates the pores and can spread bacteria, causing redness, inflammation, and breakouts. The skin on our face is delicate and should be treated as such.

We like very gentle formulas with natural ingredients and soft, small beads to buff and polish our skin, and to wipe them away with a clean, damp towel to help exfoliate away the dirt and skin lifted from the scrub.

Chemical or enzyme exfoliants are incredibly effective, but can also be damaging if abused. They come in many liquid or gel forms, as exfoliating daily toners and peel pads, or weekly exfoliating masks. It’s so important that we honor the instructions on the packaging and do not use them more often or leave them on the skin longer than instructed, because these chemicals are powerful and can actually burn the skin, causing redness and irritation.

It’s easy to get carried away with the notion of exfoliation. It breaks down dirt, grime, oil, makeup, and dead skin, so the more the better, right? Eh! Wrong-o. Over-exfoliation actually damages the skin barrier, which is a protective film of beneficial bacteria that helps fight acne-causing bacteria and keeps out toxins from our environment. 

We want to exfoliate just enough to maintain a healthy glow, without overdoing it. Everything in moderation, that’s our motto. Here are some of our current favorite exfoliating products, both mechanical and chemical:

Golde Papaya Bright Superfood Face Mask $34

Golde

Papaya Bright Superfood Face Mask $34
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This fruit enzyme powder-to-gel mask is a natural, gentle chemical exfoliant, mild enough to use up to three times a week. Just 10-15 minutes is all it takes for these natural enzymes to break down dead skin for a brighter, clearer complexion.

exfoliating tool

Dehiya Beauty

Mihakka Exfoliating Tool $18
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This physical exfoliator is gentle enough to use several times a week with your favorite cleanser for a soft, buffing, deep clean. Plus it’s super cute.

Suki Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser ($37)

Suki

Exfoliating Foaming Cleanser $49
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Both a mechanical and a chemical exfoliant, the natural sugars provide granular, physical exfoliation while the natural glycolic acid from the sugar cane helps to eat away at excess grime. It’s ideal for the body and not the face, but we still don’t want to over-exfoliate! Just two to three times per week will leave you silky smooth.

Zena Foster Beauty Polished Exfoliating Mittens $35

Zena Foster Beauty

Polished Exfoliating Mittens $35
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Another fantastic exfoliator for the body, these mittens only require water to buff away dead skin and reveal glowing, happy skin. They are best used after the shower when the skin and pores are softened and opened up, which is how Kourt gets her baby-soft skin.

Kora Organics Turmeric 2-in-1 Brightening & Exfoliating Mask $50

Kora Organics

Turmeric Brightening and Exfoliating Mask $48
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Rosehip seeds help to physically buff away dead skin, while aspen bark helps enzymatically exfoliate, and turmeric soothes for a soft, protected, and nourished glow.

hyper skin Brightening Serum $36

Hyper Skin

Brightening Serum $36
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Vitamin C is a gentle way to brighten and exfoliate, and can be used daily. We love this blend with vitamin E for a smooth, radiate, nourished glow.

ROSEN Skincare Tropics Toner for Texture and Scarring $18

Rosen Skincare

Tropics Toner for Texture and Scarring $18
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This daily toner has kojic acid, hyaluronic acid, and pineapple enzymes for gentle exfoliation to help fade dark spots and improve texture while also hydrating and nourishing the skin.  

shaz & kiks Prewash $32

Shaz & Kiks

Prewash $32
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Scalps need exfoliation too! This pre-wash mask contains shikakai fruit powder for enzymatic, gentle exfoliation to break down build-up and reveal voluminous, healthy hair. Use a few times a week before washing for a healthy scalp to promote growth.

Kora Organics Noni Night AHA Resurfacing Serum $74

Kora Organics

Noni AHA Night Resurfacing Serum $72
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Lactic acid, lemon peel, and caviar lime help to dissolve dead skin and stubborn grime overnight for a regenerative treatment while you sleep. Safe to use nightly under moisturizer.

C & The Moon Malibu Made Body Scrub $64

C & The Moon

Malibu Made Body Scrub $64
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This classic brown sugar scrub is a great body buffer to reveal a summer glow followed by deep hydration from botanical oils and the sweet scent of natural vanilla. Use twice a week to keep skin radiate and bikini ready.

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