 | | Exfoliating Skin
There are three types of exfoliating skin products.
- Manual or Mechanical
- Enzyme
- Chemical
Manual or Mechanical Scrubs or Exfoliaters
- Definition:
- A topical skin exfoliating product applied to the skin which is manually moved across the skin's surface with fingers or applicator (buff puff, a washcloth is a manual exfoliater for any skin type). Dead cells are forced often scraped off the surface with mechanical or physical friction, pressure and strength.
- Hint:
- This product is not for acne, fragile or telangiectasis (broken capillaries) skin types.
- Paraffin or wax mixed with water and or oil while moving across the skin water evaporates allowing the dead cells to adhere to the wax forming small balls of debris.
- Hard irregular shaped granules (jagged) can cause microscopic laceration on the skin's surface sometimes leading to a toughed feel as the body forms a callous against the constant abrasion. This is only in extreme cases of over use with very abrasive products. Examples of exfoliating skin ingredients are crushed oyster shells, seeds, apricot pits, any "natural" or "unnatural" inexpensive or exotic material that suits the product line. Round beads or poly spheres are easier on the skin also susceptible to forceful pressure application (usually after a hard stressful day). The smaller the bead or sphere the kinder it is to the skin.
Enzymes
- Definition:
- A topical exfoliating skin product applied to the skin with a proteolytic enzyme that dissolves dead tissue. Enzymes are molecules that catalyze chemical reactions of other substances. A proteolytic enzyme catalyses the destruction or dissolving of dead cells. The strength or percentage of the enzyme if too low will not function properly if too high will cause irritation. The product is not manipulated or moved on the skin to perform and in some cases may be used daily.
- Hint:
- This product is recommended for acne, pimples, fragile or telangiectasis (broken capillaries) skin types that can not tolerate pressure or friction on the skin.
- Papain is a papaya enzyme
- Bromelin is a pineapple enzyme
Chemical
- Definition:
- A topical bio engineered ingredient with the ability to dissolve or loosen the glue like substance that holds dead cells together. The majority of these ingredients are Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) and Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA). Used in low strengths their major benefit is exfoliation higher strengths produce added benefits. The product is not manipulated or moved across the skins surface to perform unless combined with a mechanical or manual scrub ingredient.
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- Hint:
- This product is recommended (if not combined with a mechanical scrub ingredient) for acne, pimples, fragile or telangiectasis (broken capillaries) skin types that can not tolerate pressure or friction on the skin. Ultra sensitive skins may or may not have an irritation problem.
- AHA examples are lactic acid from sour milk, malic acid from apples, glycolic acid from sugar cane and tartaric from grapes.
- BHA example is salicylic acid from wintergreen and sweet birch.
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