How to exfoliate your skin

Get smooth
glowing skin
Kori Ellis

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Exfoliation removes dead skin cells, leaving your skin radiant and smooth. Whether it's bikini season or you just want soft, clean skin, exfoliating from head to toe will get you glowing.
Exfoliating products

Many women exfoliate their faces but forget about other body parts. As the weather heats up and you get bikini-ready, you should exfoliate all over. Exfoliation is also important before applying tanning products or when rejuvenating winter-weary skin.Exfoliation products

Items you need for exfoliation

  • Exfoliating cleanser
  • Loofah, body brush or exfoliating gloves
  • Pumice stone
  • Body lotion

How to exfoliate

1. Before stepping into the shower, brush your dry skin with your loofah, body brush or exfoliating gloves. This will help remove the loose skin and prepare your skin for the exfoliating process. Begin with the soles of your feet, working your way up your body.

2. Get into the shower and wet your body from head to toe. Don't exfoliate your skin if you are sunburned or have any open cuts or wounds.

3. Use a pumice stone on your feet to eliminate rough spots and calluses. If your feet are extremely rough, soak them in a basin of warm water mixed with a cup of milk for 30 minutes before getting into the shower.

Exfoliating Legs 4. Apply your exfoliating cleanser to your loofah or gloves. Begin scrubbing your body in a circular motion starting with the bottoms of your feet and working your way up. When you reach the bikini area, don't scrub too hard because the skin is very sensitive.

5. Use a body brush to exfoliate your back and other hard-to-reach places.

6. Be gentle on your face, particularly around your eyes and mouth. Use an exfoliating product especially formulated for the face, which is gentler than products designed to be used on the body.

7. Don't forget about your hands. You want them to look and feel soft and smooth too!

8. Rinse your body with lukewarm water, follow by the coldest water you can stand. Apply a shower gel to soften your skin, if you'd like.

9. After stepping out of the shower, apply a moisturizing body lotion all over. Body lotions and facial moisturizers containing alpha or beta hydroxy acids are ideal choices because these acids contine to remove dead skin cells.

10. Use body moisturizer once a day. Exfoliation is drying to the skin, so you must keep your skin hydrated.

Exfoliating products

Select exfoliating cleansers that contain sea salt, sugar, ground almonds, walnuts, seeds or other grainy components.

Exfoliating once or twice a week is usually enough to achieve silky skin; however, women with oily skin should exfoliate more often than those with dry skin. If your skin become excessively dry or irritated after exfoliation, don't scrub so hard. Cut back on how often you exfoliate, and explore the possibility that you may be allergic to the products you used.

Here are some of our favorite exfoliating products:

  • Belli Skin Smoothing Body Exfoliator
  • Zia Age-Defying Skin Clarifying Body Polish
  • Lucky Chick Mimosa Jasmine Violet Sugar Body Scrub
  • Sundari Omega 3 and Flaxseed Body Exfoliator

More skincare tips


Kori Ellis is an editor and writer based in San Antonio, TX, where she lives with her husband and two labs, Yogi and Deuce. At SheKnows, she contributes articles to the Beauty & Style channel and several other sections. Additionally, Kori has been published in dozens of magazines, newspapers and websites worldwide, writing about everything from wedding planning to fantasy sports. She's the Senior Editor at b5media.com and the guide to Accessories at About.com.


Comments
By antiagingmasks.com Oct 2, 2009

Exfoliation is the best way to kick start your skin care regimen, I’ve found it best to use products that have completely natural and herbal ingredients.

By Xanthe Eades Oct 8, 2008

I bought a Le Edge when I was backpacking around Australia nearly a year ago now. It still looks like its brand new, and it still works as well as the day I first bought it. I use it several times a week and I can honestly say that it does a brillant job. Its the best exfoliator I have ever used. I am always amazed at how super clean and smooth my skin feels after using it. I also looked at the other one Ana mentions, they dont look anything alike, so I dont know if one is a copy. To compare the two, I prefer Le Edge, its shape and look is more modern and sleek and it has a handle the other one doesnt, so Le Edge would be much easier to use. as well.

By James Phillip Sep 29, 2008

Hello Out there, I have a Le Edge its cool, its stopped all the lumps on my face and I recommend it to anyone for sure. Being outdoors at the time in the wind and rain, I need something that will clean the skin, it works great and has improved and given a great feel to skin, i can't believe the dead 'junk' it brings off.

By ana longton Sep 1, 2008

Hello, I understand that Le edge is a copy of the original product, myskn exfoliator, which you can see at www.myskn. This is the best exfoliator I have ever used to smooth my skin before shaving my legs or underarms. It is so gentle I also use it to remove my makeup. Ana

By casert natascha Jun 7, 2008

Men and woman agree that the Le Edge exfoliating edge is the easiest and safest solution for smooth beautiful skin! After phenomenal sales success worldwide, it’s easy to see why men and woman aged 13-60 find the Le Edge personal exfoliating tool the no mess, no fuss exfoliating solution for smoother healthier glowing skin! Le Edge gives skin a radiant refreshed glow by removing dead skin cells, waste, pollution and debris from the skins surface. And because you exfoliate under running water while showering, its germ free, 100% natural, so it eliminates the need for messy treatments and sometimesharmful exfoliating scrubs! Le Edge is the all over body exfoliating tool giving dead skin a vibrant new look so people feel confident and look great! Have a look to www.le-edge.eu

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