Physical Exfoliation—Should You Do It?

We polled you guys for your unpopular skincare opinions on Instagram stories a while back and one of the most common responses we shared was about physical exfoliation—and that’s it’s sometimes necessary. We've mentioned in the past that we have physically exfoliated at least twice a week for almost a decade without any issues, so let’s talk more about it.

First off, we’ve seen quite a few skincare bloggers kind of shame people who physically exfoliate, and make it seem as though it’s an amateur procedure that needs to be grown out of. We disagree. While we definitely don’t recommend physical exfoliation to everyone, people who suffer from relentlessly dry patches of skin won’t find relief from anything but. There is no amount of AHA, BHA, retinol, PHA, bakuchiol, or what have you that can cut through a large dry patch—at least not in ten seconds the way a physical exfoliator can. Dry patches are thick, heavy piles of dead skin cells and other debris, and while most people can usually get rid of them with consistent long-term chemical exfoliation, larger patches simply won’t budge. It’s all about exfoliating in a gentle way. We tend to opt for smaller granules, such as microdermabrasion systems, suspended in thicker gels that act as a soft buffer between the skin and the granule. Obviously, a DIY salt scrub on the face is a bad idea, but when the granules are held in a cleanser-like texture, they go a lot easier on the skin.

Our biggest tip to optimal physical exfoliation is minimizing the amount of time spent scrubbing. We recommend 10-15 seconds tops. Anything longer, and you will probably irritate your skin more than smooth it. If you have oily skin but still want a bit of an exfoliation, we recommend thinner clay or powder-like exfoliators that help soak up oil a bit as well.

Just remember, the key to skincare—and most healthcare overall—is moderation. Listen to your skin and adjust your routine to its needs.