The One Regimen Step That Makes All the Others Work
Everyone is looking for the best and buzziest ingredients. How crazy would it be to have a shelf full of them and be missing the one ingredient that makes them all work? The master key to unlock the powers of every ingredient on your shelf is exfoliation.
Why is exfoliation so crucial? Because without it, nothing else gets past the barrier of dead skin cells. The buildup of cellular debris, effectively renders your products ineffective. Exfoliating removes the dead skin cells to clear the way for product absorption and optimum results.
Your skin is constantly regenerating forming new cells and shedding them off. A complete cell cycle takes about 30 days. During that cycle, skin cells build up making skin look dull. Fine lines become more visible. Pores clog and appear larger. And skin- transforming ingredients are blocked from their tasks.
To alleviate all these problems and get your skin care ingredients to their sub-dermal loading zones, it’s critical that you accelerate the natural exfoliating process to get the cellular barrier out of the way.
Topical agents like alpha hydroxy acids, beta hydroxy acid, and retinoids (vitamin A) are your arsenal for increasing cell metabolism to reveal radiant, healthy skin and ensure your optimum product performance.
Physical exfoliation—granules or buffing pad— is essential as well, but you want to be careful not to overdo it and cause irritation. Limit physical exfoliation to a few times a week and rub gently. Don’t scrub. You don’t want to damage your skin barrier.
Every skin type requires exfoliation to maintain healthy texture and tone, even dry skin. In fact, people with very dry skin will exfoliate faster and notice improvement sooner than people with oily skin because they have more dead skin cells on the surface of the skin, and removing dead skin cells also allows your skin to draw in more moisture.
Bottom line: regular exfoliation equals better results from the active ingredients in everything from correctors to moisturizers. Even your sunscreen, which you should be wearing every day (plus limiting your sun exposure), will perform better after exfoliation.
OUR FAVORITE EXFOLIATORS
Mandelic Acid Exfoliating Wash
Naturally brightening, gently exfoliating mandelic acid, plus polyphenol-rich green tea extract and grape seed oil combine to suppress pigmentation, prevent breakouts, balance tone, and support a healthy skin barrier. Safe for all skin tones.
Buffing Grains Exfoliating Cleanser
Lift dead skin cells and remove impurities with this gentle scrub. Can be used on its own or added to a targeted cleanser for maximum radiance.
An advanced toner with glycolic acid, plus salicylic and citric acids to provide added exfoliating muscle. Removes impurities, refines pores, promotes cell renewal, and restores skin’s optimal pH balance while prepping skin for better absorption of serums. Recommended for Combination or Oily skin.
Barrier boosting, gently exfoliating, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory formula ideal for darker skin tones and skin too sensitive for benzoyl peroxide, hydroquinone, and glycolic acid.
A transformative vitamin A and AHA cocktail that accelerates cell renewal and resurfaces skin to reduce wrinkles, acne scarring, and hyperpigmentation. Best for skin already acclimated to vitamin A therapy.
The full complement of acids—glycolic, salicylic, citric, kojic and lactic, plus vitamin A— for superior exfoliating effect with less irritation. Ideal for acne prone skin already acclimated to vitamin A therapy.
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