Should You Cleanse or Exfoliate First?
Determining whether to cleanse or exfoliate first is a common question when establishing an effective skincare routine. The right order allows products to better absorb while removing dirt, oil and dead skin cells for a thorough clean and radiant complexion.
What is Cleansing?
Cleansing involves washing the skin, usually with a facial cleanser, to eliminate impurities like dirt, excess oil, pollution particles, and makeup. Cleansers come in various forms like gels, oils, micellar waters, foaming cleansers, milks or creams. Choosing one suitable for your skin type is key.
Using a cleanser removes surface debris and preps skin to better absorb subsequent products. Most experts recommend double cleansing - first with an oil cleanser to break down oil-based impurities, followed by a water-based cleanser to purge remaining buildup.
What is Exfoliation?
Exfoliation removes dead skin cells, oils and embedded debris while smoothing skin texture. It should only be performed on clean skin so a cleanser should come first.
There are two main types of exfoliators:
Physical/Mechanical Exfoliators: Use abrasive particles or granules to manually slough off dead cells. Common ingredients include salts, sugar, beads or nuts.
Chemical Exfoliators: Feature acids that dissolve bonds between dead and living skin cells, causing them to shed. AHAs like glycolic and lactic acid or BHAs like salicylic acid are typically used.
Should You Cleanse or Exfoliate First?
Cleansing should always precede exfoliation. Attempting to exfoliate skin when there's still dirt, oil, makeup and other debris present just pushes those impurities further into pores. It also reduces effectiveness of the exfoliator.
Thoroughly cleansing skin allows better absorption and efficacy of whichever exfoliating ingredient you choose afterwards. Think of it like washing a dirty car before polishing - removing surface dirt allows polishes and waxes to reallybrighten the paint underneath.
Double Cleansing For the Win
Double cleansing ahead of exfoliation provides superior results. Prepping skin with an oil-based cleanser melts down oil soluble makeup, SPF, sebum and environmental buildup. Using a water-based cleanser second purges residue from the first cleanse while targeting water-based debris missed by the oil formula.
Double cleansing essentially de-gunks your pores for your chosen exfoliator to better penetrate them after. Just don't overdo cleansing to avoid stripping your skin - stick to once per day at night or twice if you wear heavy makeup.
Exfoliation Tips
Once you've cleansed, follow with your preferred exfoliator. Bear these tips in mind:
Exfoliate 1-3 times weekly, scaling down or up based on your skin's needs.
Those with sensitive skin should stick to gentle exfoliators like PHA or enzymes versus abrasive scrubs.
Don't rub harshly - use light pressure in gentle circles concentrating on congested areas.
Rinse after 1-2 minutes for chemical exfoliators, when product turns milky for physical scrubs.
Always follow with soothing, hydrating products after exfoliating to nurture skin.
Use supportive treatments like retinol and vitamin C to prolong results.
Proper Order to Exfoliate Skin
When building your routine, the proper order is:
Makeup Remover (if wearing makeup)
Oil-Based Cleanser
Water-Based Cleanser
Exfoliator - choice of chemical peel, scrub, mask, etc. Focus on areas prone to congestion and dead skin like nose, chin and forehead.
Toner (optional but great for pH balancing)
Serums -Apply antioxidant, skin-identical and corrective serums while skin is fresh and bare post-exfoliation for optimal absorption.
Moisturizer & Treatments
Sunscreen (daytime)
Key Takeaways
Cleansing before exfoliating allows your chosen resurfacing treatment to work most effectively. Thoroughly cleansing skin preps it to shed dead cells, absorb active ingredients, reduce congestion and deal with debris.
Double cleansing with an oil then water-based formula yields the cleanest canvas ahead of exfoliation. Just don't over-cleanse to avoid dryness and irritation.
When starting an exfoliation routine, gradually work up to avoid redness and sensitivity. Combine with antioxidant and collagen-boosting serums afterwards to prolong the smoothing, brightening effects.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.
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