You may cleanse, tone and moisturize like clockwork, but have you tapped into the benefits of exfoliation?
Exfoliants help get rid of dead, dry and dull skin cells that can build up on your skin. If you’re already familiar with exfoliation, then you might automatically think of scrubs like pulverized walnut shells, oatmeal or lactic and glycolic acid. But there’s another lesser-known class of exfoliators that’s growing in popularity for its gentle effectiveness: enzymes.
The most popular and commonly used exfoliating enzymes are naturally derived from pineapple, papaya and pumpkin. However you may also find enzyme exfoliants derived from mushroom, fig, cherry, raspberry, grape and pomegranate.
While our skin naturally sheds dead skin cells, the process slows with age and it’s common for dead cells to build up if we don’t assist in the exfoliation process. When dead cells accumulate, dullness and uneven skin usually result. The solution is to incorporate regular exfoliation into your skincare routine. Your skin will absorb products better, look smoother and you’ll notice a boost in overall brightness and glow.
Another major advantage to using an exfoliant that doesn’t scrub or rely on acids to peel is less chance for irritation. Depending on the acidity of the product and whether or not additional chemical exfoliants have been added, expect your skin to tingle — this is not cause for concern. Another great advantage of using an enzyme exfoliator is that it is excellent for people with acne. With traditional “scrubs” you run the risk of spreading bacteria when acne is present. Not only will you keep from spreading acne with an enzyme exfoliator, but the enzyme will also help to kill bacteria which in return will help keep breakouts under control!
If you have any questions regarding what products would best benefit your skin, please do not hesitate to speak to any of our estheticians or email Denise Wekarski, Ethos Spa Director, (denise.wekarski@ethosfitness.com) to schedule a quick skin analysis. Our estheticians would be more than happy to assist you with any skin care questions you may have.
