If you skin is looking a little dull or rough, exfoliation may be the answer! Exfoliation as defined by Wiki (1) "Exfoliation involves the removal of the oldest dead skin cells on the skin's outermost surface. Exfoliation is involved in the process of all facials, during microdermabrasion or chemical peels at medical spas. Exfoliation can be achieved through mechanical or chemical means."
For the sake of ease let's just talk about microdermabrasion and the 2 ways to accomplish this. We can tackle chemical exfoliation on another post.
Professional microdermabrasion is extreme exfoliation. When undertaken by a professional, tiny sand like crystals are forcefully applied to the skin via a vacuum like hose and the top layer of skin is literally sanded away, revealing smoother, more youthful and radiant looking skin.
This may sound harsh but this can actually be a great thing for your skin.
The benefits of microdermabrasion exfoliation, some of which are immediate, include brighter complexion, even skin tone, reduction of the appearance of scars and pigmentation, reduction in pore size, even texture and stimulation of the production of collagen, which is one of the basic building blocks of skin. It's also a pretty quick way to look fairly luminous. But it can also be a little pricey, the average cost $138.
These are a few great reasons to exfoliate, but one of the most important and overlooked reasons to exfoliate is to facilitate the removal of the dead skin. Sin cells turn over on average every 6-8 weeks depending on your age. The older you get the slower the process. Those dead skin cells clog pores, cause skin to look dull and rough, but also contribute to skin conditions like acne and blackheads. Keeping the skin clean and exfoliated is the backbone to eliminating these conditions.
In addition, there is something I am not sure most people think about when it comes to dead skin. If you are spending upwards of $100 on skincare products, and most women are, if you don't exfoliate by some means fairly regularly, those dead skin actually soak up all your expensive skincare products, causing you to use a lot more product with less penetration. And as a bonus, by regularly removing the dead skin, the application of foundations and makeup becomes more even and undetectable and your products last much longer, saving you money in the long run. Plus the key to a flawless face and make up really begins with exfoliation.
All exfoliation thins the skin to some extent, which is actually what promotes the skin to produce more collagen and to become thicker but it's very important to remember a few things about exfoliating. You should never over do it. Scrubbing your face until it's raw is not beneficial. Scrubbing for a longer period of time is also not beneficial. You really just want to gently remove the dead skin layer and stimulate the skin just a little. Less is more in this arena. Scrub gently an evenly across the whole face applying minimal pressure and for short periods of time as over exfoliation can damage the acid mantle of the skin. You can read about the acid mantle here: https://www.blackboxuniversal.com/post/what-is-the-acid-mantle-and-why-you-should-be-using-a-sulphate-free-face-wash-to-protect-it
After exfoliation and thoroughly washing, one should use an antioxidant lotion, preferable one with Vitamin C, to protect and help rebuild the acid mantle. You can read about our Vitamin C products here: https://www.blackboxuniversal.com/post/infusionam
6 minute Miracle by BlackBox is an at home microdermabrasion exfoliation product that can give you similar results as expensive professional microdermabrasion, for a fraction of the cost. At $24.95 per jar, it's an affordable excellent means to exfoliate dead skin, unclog pores, reduce pigmentation and acne scarring as well as stimulate new collagen to improve the tone and texture of your skin. It helps your make go on easier and it lengthen the shelf life of your expensive skin care products.