How to exfoliate your skin properly

What does exfoliating mean?

Your skin constantly renews itself (how clever and cool is your skin?!). It sheds the dead skin cells it no longer needs over a 28 to 30-day cycle. That cycle is call your cellular turnover. When your skin looks dull and a bit dry, it is usually due to the build-up of dead skin cells on your skin – like the dust bunnies under your bed.

Just the same way your room is better for your health when clean (come on, you know deep inside it is true), removing the dead skin cells that clutter the surface of your skin keeps it healthy too.

What does exfoliating do for my skin?

It allows your skin to keep healthy so it can protect all your internal organs and regulate your body temperature (your skin’s job). It helps your pores to stay unclogged, so they don’t trap bacteria that gives you pimples.

Just like you remove the gunk out of your sink, exfoliating removes the gunk out of your skin.

Exfoliation also helps your skin to be ready to absorb the products you apply more efficiently and it stimulates your skin’s cellular turnover, so it sheds when it needs to shed. Basically, exfoliation helps your skin just like your team coach cheers you on to perform better. And of course, when your skin is performing better, has no dust bunnies (the impurities and dead skin cells), it looks brighter and clearer, which is a major bonus.

How does it work?

There are two different ways to exfoliate, physical or chemical. They both have the same outcome, to lift dead skin cells off your skin. But they work and affect your skin differently. Read more about each type here.

Because we focus on younger skin at evre. we stick to physical exfoliation, which is gentler and doesn’t risk acerbating oily skin or boost acne.

We made our Fancy Cloth to help you cleanse your skin properly, but the added benefit is that the natural fibre of cotton and the way you use it over your skin also gently exfoliates your skin.

Another easy way to get rid of the impurities that end up clogging your pores (and leave you with pimples) is to use a gentle scrub once or twice a week.

The grainy texture of the scrub acts like a sponge in a dirty pot: it lifts the dead skin cells and dirt build-up off your skin.

Because we are super conscious of our environment at evre. and care about our planet, when we designed our Time to Shine Raspberry & Almond Gentle Face Scrub, we chose nourishing jojoba seeds and not polluting synthetic micro-beads like other scrubs contain. This way we know that what goes on your skin dissolves naturally in the nature and is good for the planet.

The other reason we chose jojoba seeds is because the oil contained in them is very similar to your skin’s natural oil, sebum. In fact, it mimics the nourishing and hydrating job of sebum so well that your skin doesn’t spot the difference. But unlike sebum, it is less likely to build up and block your pores as you control the amount you use - as opposed to the production of your natural oils. It is also a great anti-inflammatory, so it calms down your skin instead of irritating it like other exfoliating ingredients do.

How do I apply it?

Apply your exfoliator after cleansing your skin.

Start at the centre of your face, going well over the corner of your nose and move towards the edges of your face.

Stay clear of your eye area as your skin is thinner there and more fragile. You can gently exfoliate around your eyes using your clean, wet cotton cloth. But avoid applying scrub around your eyes.

Don’t forget your eyebrows as hairs trap oils and dirt.

Rinse off using warm water and follow with your moisturiser. You can even apply a serum or spray your mist before using your moisturiser if you want to give your skin extra love. As your pores are unblocked, all the goodness of your skincare products is absorbed faster – and more efficiently – into your skin. Our Wake Me Up Watermelon & Rose Face Mist is nourishing and balancing with rosewater, and it also contains cooling and repairing aloe vera and watermelon, which is great to soothe your skin after exfoliating.

I have sensitive skin, can I still exfoliate

Yes, you can but it is best to go for less frequent exfoliation and use gentler tools or products.

We recommend that you patch test any new product first and also check with your health practitioner first, so you know exactly how to look after your sensitive skin.

Stop. Read. It’s truly the best exfoliation tip ever

Don’t exfoliate too often. How simple is this?! Yet most people go a little cray-cray with exfoliating and do it too often. The result is the opposite of what you want. By overstimulating your skin, you irritate it, you also make your natural skin barrier more vulnerable to bacteria and harsh elements, which in turns leads to skin problem.

So repeat after us: Exfoliation, yes, but in moderation!