Who doesn’t love smooth skin? If your skin’s been looking a bit dull and lackluster lately, try exfoliating with an exfoliating puff! In fact, all products touting detoxifying, pore-refining, or complexion-perfecting magic are based around one thing: exfoliation. Exfoliation, or the process of removing the built-up, pigment-containing dead skin cells, occurs naturally every minute or every day, but nature did not bother to make it uniform. This variability causes a dull, uneven complexion. When you exfoliate, you sweep away dead cells to reveal the healthy, glowing skin underneath. An exfoliating puff is all you need to breathe new life into your skin!
Step 1: Prep Your Face
Wet your skin thoroughly with slightly warm water. The warmth opens the pores, allowing for greater cleansing and dead skin cell removal.
Step 2: Soak Buff and Choose a Cleanser
Apply a quarter-sized amount of a gentle cleanser to a wet exfoliation puff.
Scrubs can be iffy, depending on your skin type and concerns. If nothing else, make sure that the particle size in scrubs is small, and that the shape of the scrub is round/circular. For instance, apricot and peach scrubs often contain larger, irregularly-shaped particles that can get into pores and tear them open, and abrade the skin.
Acids can be used, but with caution. It’s important to note that your skin is already acidic. Your skin has a natural range between a 4.5 and 6.0 on the pH scale that is important for maintaining its delicate, yet ultra-protective, acid mantle. Ideally your cleanser is between a 4.5 and 6.0, but if you use an acidic product, do so with caution.
Fruit enzyme exfoliants, such as papaya (papain) and pineapple (bromelain) can also be useful. Enzyme-based products tend to work with the skin to remove dead skin. They typically do not abrade the skin in any way, because the enzymes are not large, rough, or irregularly-shaped.
Step 3: Use the Correct Exfoliation Puff
Many common exfoliation puffs are too harsh for sensitive skin and regular use. Scrubbing with the wrong exfoliation puff can cause skin damage in the form of microtears and inflammation.
Luckily, there are products like the ViaBuff. Without getting into it too much (it is our own blog, after all), ViaBuff exfoliators are designed with four different levels for a variety of skin conditions and concerns:
- Level 1: Extra Gentle (Purple)
Ideal for Oily Skin, Acne, Psoriasis - Level 2: Mild (Green)
Ideal for Normal Skin, Eczema - Level 3: Moderate (Pink)
Ideal for Dry Skin, Ingrown Hairs, Keratosis Pilaris, Waxing - Level 4: Clinical (White)
Ideal for Very Dry Skin
Simply select the proper buff for your skin type and concerns, and you’re done!
Rub the exfoliant into your skin gently using small, circular motions. Exfoliate anywhere you’d like, including your arms, legs, torso and neck. You may want to focus on rough areas, such as your knees and elbows. If you exfoliate your face, stay away from your eyes and the surrounding skin.
Step 4: Rinse.
Rinse your skin thoroughly with slightly cold water. The slight cold temperature will help to retighten the pores.
Step 5: Moisturize properly.
Do not thoroughly dry your skin after exfoliating with an exfoliation puff. Rather, leave skin slightly damp to the touch. Then apply moisturizer while it’s still damp. Moisturizer will comfort newly exfoliated skin and lock in hydration.
Apply moisturizer daily after your shower, even if you don’t exfoliate that day.
Step 6: Cleanse Your Exfoliation Puff.
Many people do not cleanse their exfoliation puff. When this happens, they end up with a bacteria and fungi-filled mess. [Read more: What’s Really Growing On Your Loofah?] This is because most exfoliation puffs are made of plant-based materials, which retain moisture and will grow bacteria.
Either replace your sponge every 30 days, or consider switching to an exfoliation buff that does not contain plant materials, like ViaBuff Body Exfoliator! The ViaBuff Body Exfoliator is constructed of non-plant materials, which means that mold growth is slowed. It lasts 3x as long to microbial assaults than traditional sponges. Many customers report that their ViaBuff has lasted a year or longer, but we recommend replacing it every 90 days — three times as long as the average sponge!
- Can be set on the counter or used in the bath
- ViaBuff has four custom levels for every skin concern
- Anti-microbial material
- Durable foam construction
In Summary
To use an exfoliation puff properly, make sure that you:
- Wet the skin with slightly warm water.
- Apply a quarter-sized amount of a gentle cleanser.
- Choose the right exfoliation puff.
- Rinse thoroughly with slightly chilled water.
- Apply moisturizer while your skin is still damp.
- Take proper care of your exfoliation puff. Replace it every 30 days, or if you use a ViaBuff, replace it every 90 days.
Comments 1
I’m 61 years old and I have really nice skin, especially my face. The area around my eyes is looking rough. Puffiness, and some wrinkles. Do you have any suggestions? I exfoliate my face twice a day and use Vichy for my skin. I also massage my face while applying my face cream. The area under and around my eyes need help. Thank you