How to Get A Smooth-Feeling Face: Your Guide to Facial Exfoliation

Want to know how to get a smooth-feeling face? For starters, you’ll want to address any dry, dead skin cell buildup on the surface of your skin that may be getting in the way of your moisturizer. To help you do so, we’ve mapped out a step-by-step guide to facial exfoliation, ahead.

If you’ve ever tried applying moisturizer to a dry complexion, you know how challenging it can be—especially in the areas that experience dry patches or flakiness. With dry, dead skin cell buildup taking up real estate on your complexion, there can hardly be any room for moisturizer to move in and do what it’s good at (hydrate, duh!), leaving you with skin that appears to be light years away from looking and feeling soft, smooth, and supple. So, how do you combat this pesky skin care woe? By sloughing away that dead skin buildup, of course! Keep reading to learn how to manage any buildup on the skin’s surface and get a smooth feeling face with our step-by-step guide to facial exfoliation.

WHAT IS FACIAL EXFOLIATION?

New to facial exfoliation? No problem! Facial exfoliation involves using a product on your skin that is formulated to either chemically break down or physically remove dead skin cell buildup from the surface of your skin. In doing so, the skin may not only be left looking—and feeling—softer, smoother, and fresher, it can also help prep the skin for additional skin care products. Similar to the skin on your body, the skin on your face can also experience dryness and may benefit from exfoliation once or twice a week to keep it looking—and feeling—its best.

HOW OFTEN CAN I PRACTICE FACIAL EXFOLIATION?

Similar to body exfoliation, your complexion may benefit from facial exfoliation 1-2 times a week—depending on your skin type and the type of facial exfoliator that you choose to use. If you’re new to facial exfoliation, you may want to start by exfoliating the skin once a week and working your way up to two—if your skin type permits. For more information on how often you should exfoliate your skin, click here.

WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN YOU DON’T EXFOLIATE YOUR FACE?

If you skip out on exfoliation, your complexion could start to appear dull and dreary—not to mention, the texture of your skin may begin to feel a bit rough, too. What’s more? An uneven complexion can make it harder to apply your makeup. The good news is, with facial exfoliation, soft, smooth, supple-looking skin can be attained. See for yourself with our step-by-step guide to facial exfoliation, ahead.

STEP ONE: EXFOLIATE

You can opt for a physical exfoliant—like a sugar scrub, such as, this one from YSL Beauty—or a chemical exfoliant—which can be formulated with alpha hydroxy acids like glycolic acid or enzymes. If you prefer to use a chemical exfoliant in your skin care routine, we recommend incorporating peel pads. Peel pads can help to remove dry, dead skin buildup and may result in the appearance of softer, smoother, healthy-looking skin. No matter which type of exfoliator you pick you’ll want to use them in a gentle, upward circular motion and follow the instructions on the product.

We share more about the differences between chemical and physical exfoliators here!

STEP TWO: MOISTURIZE

After you’ve exfoliated, it’s hydration time. Reach for a moisturizer formulated for your skin type and gently massage it onto your complexion in upward circular motions until evenly distributed. This helps to provide hydration to the surface of your skin after cleansing and exfoliating.

STEP THREE: PROTECT

While exfoliating your skin can reveal new, more radiant-looking skin that was hiding underneath all of that dead skin cell buildup, This is why it’s so important to be diligent about applying and reapplying a sunscreen with broad-spectrum SPF. If daily SPF use isn’t already a habit, it’s time to make it one.