Exfoliator for dry skin

Good skin is something desired by most people throughout the world, regardless of sex, nationality or skin colour. One of the things that one can do to achieve this aim is to exfoliate. Often overlooked, exfoliation is essential for the maintenance of good skin. Cleansers remove dirt, but not dead skin cells and thus exfoliation becomes necessary. A common misconception is that exfoliation is unnecessary for those with dry rather than oily skin. However, dry skin wrinkles easily and a gentle exfoliant is required to even out skin tone and make the skin smooth.

How and When?

Weekly exfoliation should be undertaken by those with dry skin. The product used to exfoliate should be as mild as possible and should also strive to increase hydration. Ideally, exfoliators that use mildly abrasive micro crystals should be applied. Harder abrasive granules may damage skin and should be avoided.

When applying exfoliating products, it is necessary to first of all wet the neck with water and apply a pea-sized amount of the product using a gentle circular motion. Take care to avoid the eye area. This should take two or three minutes. Rinse the face clear with water and pat dry with a towel. Subsequent moisturising may also be required to gain that desired glow.

Recommended products for this process include Clinique Gentle Exfoliator, Molton Brown Clear Jade Face Exfoliator, Clarins Face Exfoliator and Fresh Sugar Face Polish.

Home-made ExfoliatorsAlternatively, there are some home remedies that can be used for exfoliation.

One recipe uses baking soda and coarse sea salt. Mix together an equal quantity of the two ingredients, moisten your face with water and gently rub the mixture to the skin, using a circular motion. Rinse your face with water and pat dry. If necessary, moisturise after using this method.

Another recipe requires two tablespoons of sea salt to be mixed in a bowl with four tablespoons of honey. Apply the liquid to the face before washing off and patting dry.

One particularly simple method involves granulated sugar and olive oil. Mix four tablespoons of oil with two tablespoons of sugar and apply to the face. The sugar crystals will be the main exfoliator while the olive oil will add moisturisation.

The final recipe uses ground almonds and avocado pulp. Mix the two together into a paste and apply to the face before rinsing and patting dry. The oatmeal will act as an abrasive while the avocado can provide moisture.