Giving your skin a little refresh with an exfoliator is a great way to get that wonderful glow. 

Most, if not all, skincare routines ask for exfoliation at least once a month (sometimes once a week) depending on your skin type. However, it might be confusing to choose the right exfoliator for the job. 

You’ll often see skincare routines mention “chemical” or “physical” exfoliators, or perhaps your Skincare Specialist has recommended one over the other. 

Let’s explore the difference between the two, and how introducing exfoliation into your skincare routine might help you get that dewy, effortless glow. 

How Does Exfoliation Help Your Skin?

When you regularly exfoliate your skin, you’re helping to shed dead skin cells, clean your pores, and helping to increase your skin’s cellular turnover. This exfoliation also helps your skin to absorb moisturisers, serums, and creams with ease. 

However, when you don’t exfoliate, you may notice your skin begins to look dull, flaky, or congested, and wrinkles and fine lines start to show up more. Over time, your skin slowly loses its ability to fight environmental aggressors and your cellular renewal slows down. 

Exfoliation is so important for the skin, and luckily it doesn’t take much effort to get it right. There are two methods for exfoliating your skin; a chemical exfoliant or a physical exfoliant. 

So, which is which?

What Is a “Chemical Exfoliator”?

A chemical exfoliant, also known as a liquid exfoliant, uses chemicals like fruit acids or enzymes to gently exfoliate your skin. These include chemicals such as AHAs (Alpha Hydroxy Acids) or BHAs (Beta Hydroxy Acids). 

Chemical exfoliants gently dissolve the bonds of dead skin cells encouraging them to come away from the skin and don’t require any harsh rubbing or scrubbing.  

Not only does this cocktail of chemicals help to remove dead skin cells, but it also works hard to penetrate deep into the skin to help remove congestion.

What Is a “Physical Exfoliator”?

A physical exfoliator is a kind of product that requires you to rub or scrub your skin to remove the dead layers. Commonly, these kinds of exfoliators have small granules or texture surfaces that work to buff your skin. 

Physical exfoliators are a popular choice as they are easy to fit into a skincare routine, but can be extremely harsh on the skin if not executed correctly. Unlike chemical exfoliation, when you physically exfoliate you’re only working on the upper layer of the skin. 

Which Exfoliator is Better for My Skin?

Knowing which exfoliator is best for your skin is tricky to pin down as everyone’s skin is uniquely different. Some people’s skin gets easily irritated by AHA and BHA, while others find that granules in their exfoliators are too harsh and cause redness. 

Many say that chemical exfoliators sound too invasive, but they actually work better on sensitive skin as they can be more gentle. But some find that their skin reacts better to physical exfoliators, giving them an instantly brighter look. 

The best way to know which exfoliator is the one for you is to consult the professional opinion of a skincare specialist. That’s where we can help.

To discover what exfoliator works best for your delicate skin, book in for a skin consultation with Nuovo Skin and Health. Our expert Skin Clinician will help to create a tailor-made skin routine plan including the right exfoliator, along with recommended in-clinic treatment for your skin.