Want younger looking skin in 5 minutes?  Impossible you say?  Not only is it possible, it’s something so simple it can be done in mere minutes in your own home.  What is this miracle anti-aging treatment of which I speak?  Exfoliation. Plain and simple.

Exfoliation is the process of sloughing off the outermost layer of dead skin cells that build up on the surface of the skin.   

There are two methods of exfoliation, mechanical and chemical.

In Mechanical Exfoliation, skin cells are physically scrubbed off with an abrasive material such as the sea salts used in body glow treatments for example.  Microdermabrasion is also an example of Mechanical Exfoliation, where fine crystals are sprayed onto the skin to remove dead skin cells at a deeper level and then the crystals and skin cells are sucked into a light vacuum leaving the skin smooth and soft. 

In Chemical Exfoliation, a mild acid or enzyme is applied to the skin to loosen the bond that holds skin cells together, allowing them to be sloughed away.  This can be done daily at home with a mild acid such as salicylic acid, or can be done with a stronger acid or enzyme in a spa or dermatologists office in a procedure known as a Chemical Peel.

Now why does exfoliation make you look younger?  It’s all about the way the skin reflects light.  A rough surface will absorb light and draw attention to lines and wrinkles.  A smooth surface will reflect light and diffuse the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.  Not only that but with all those dead skin cells removed, anti-aging products can be better absorbed into the skin allowing them to do their job more effectively.

Want to add exfoliation to your skincare routine?  Derma MD has two options.  One Mechanical and one Chemical.

Our Mechanical option, the lovely At Home Microderm (formerly known as Exfoliant Micro Peel) uses corundum crystals, like those found in microdermabrasion equipment, combined with luxurious anti-aging ingredients in a creamy base.  Used 2 or 3 times per week, it will leave your skin smooth, soft and supple allowing for better penetration of serums such as Pink Silk or S-Cargot.

At-Home Microderm

Our Chemical option, the superstar Clearifying Wasabi Resurfacing Gel has a unique delivery system of 4% encapsulated salicylic acid that will increase cell turnover and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.  This product is also wonderful for acneic skin as salicylic acid is known to exfoliate inside the pore to remove dead skin cells that can block the pore and cause acne.  See our blog post Winning the Battle with Acne for more info.  Clearifying Wasabi Resurfacing Gel can be used daily.

Clearifying Wasabi Resurfacing Gel

There are 2 important things to remember when adding an exfoliant to your skincare routine.

    1. Don’t overdo it!  Having smooth, supple skin is a wonderful thing but over exfoliating can cause excessive dryness, increased sensitivity and redness.

    2.  Wear sunscreen, even on cloudy days!  Your freshly exfoliated face will look smooth and beautiful but that outer layer of skin cells was offering some protection from the sun.  It is extremely important to protect that glowing new skin with a high SPF sunblock such as Last Step, SPF 50.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me, your skincare specialist at lisa@dermamdcanada.ca or follow us on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter.

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Glowingly yours,

Lisa P

Skincare Specialist
Derma MD Canada