Its about that time peeps! The summer is starting to wind down and everyone is whipping out their neon bikinis, playing Old Town Road as many times as humanly possible. Additionally, this means your summer '19 shine should be on point and your skin should be as smooth as a baby’s bottom. Totally not feeling this way? Don’t shed a tear! I’m here to help you shed that layer of dead skin cells so your best skin can take center-stage.
Exfoliation-Who Is She?
You know that girl with the dewiest skin looking like she fell from the dumpling heavens? The more you look, the more you can feel Mr. Green Monster bubbling under the surface? Firstly, I feel you. Secondly, it probably has a lot to do with Miss Dumpling Glow exfoliating properly.
Exfoliating is the process of removing dead skin cells on the outermost layer of your skin - either physically with scrubs or chemically using acids or enzymes. If you feel your complexion is dull and well, lifeless... you probably need to incorporate exfoliating into your skincare routine. You can successfully integrate exfoliation into your skincare routine in many ways igniting the long-term effect of boosting collagen production (which yes, can lead to having the skin of your 10-year-old self again). Why is it the older I get the more I’d actually love my life to play out like a reverse 13 going on 30?! (Let’s take a moment to reminisce Jennifer Garner’s major throwback #outfitgoals in that movie.)
Exfoliation is a crucial step in any skincare routine to slough off dead skin cells and improve skin texture and tone.
With all the skincare products and gadgets out there, it can be overwhelming to figure out what works best for you. Here’s four simple ways to incorporate exfoliation into your skincare routine:
1. Throw exfoliating pads in your gym bag
Okay, y’all - this may be my favorite way to exfoliate! Exfoliating pads are life-changing for the girl on the go. Most toner pads are classified as Chemical exfoliants (no scrubbing necessary); using AHA’s & BHA’s to help the skin speed up cell-turnover and leave your skin looking even-toned af. Check out our blog post To Scrub or Not to Scrub: Your Guide to Exfoliation for more on AHA’s & BHA’S. Not to mention: these lil guys are perfect for you if you have 0 free seconds in the day- or if you’re just a tad bit lazy. My go-to exfoliating pads are HIGHER EDUCATION EASY A® Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Pads which precisely take me 0.005 seconds to swipe across my face and 0 extra effort. They fit perfectly into my lululemon gym bag for a refreshing wipe after Soul Cycle. Exfoliating Pads are a great way to incorporate exfoliation into your skincare routine- throw em’ in your gym bag or backpack for an on-the-go pick-me-up.
2. DIY Lip scrub
Have you ever longed for those Kylie Jenner lips minus the lip-filler? I think about it all the time and will practically try anything to get softer and more luscious lips (yes, I even tried the bottle cap method, and I do not recommend). Using a lip scrub or lip mask removes the dead skin cells and softens appearance of wrinkles and lines. I prefer to go full-on DIY youtuber and make my own.
Here’s how I make my DIY lip scrub:
- Remove my makeup or lipstick with CHEAT SHEET® Makeup Removing Wipes
- Use a dime-size amount of HIGHER EDUCATION GRINDING AWAY® Skin Polishing Scrub and gently rub in circular motions on the lips
- Gently rinse HIGHER EDUCATION GRINDING AWAY® with a cold washcloth
- Apply DOUBLE MAJOR® Hyaluronic Acid Gel Moisturizer on lips after for an extra plump and ultra-moisturized lips (this step is optional but definitely gives the lips an extra oomph!)
- Apply HIGHER EDUCATION MAKE OUT READY® Vegan Lip Balm SPF 15 with vitamin E, plant extracts, and antioxidants to keep lips moisturized and make out ready
A DIY lip scrub will take you one step closer to those Kylie Jenner lips by exfoliating and sloughing off those dead skin cells to leave seductive looking lips. DIY lip masks are perf for a girl’s night in with wine & a fully stocked Netflix queue of Rom-Com’s.
3. Body Scrubbin’
Okay, I can’t be the only one who has struggled with feeling like my legs are constantly flakey and dry? The struggle is real. I’ve found that exfoliating head-to-toe not only gets rid of the dead skin but also just leaves me feeling refreshing and ready to break out my summer dresses and show off my legs! Using a physical scrub in the shower before you shave is a simple way to start incorporating exfoliation into your skincare routine. I keep HIGHER EDUCATION GRINDING AWAY® Skin Polishing Scrub right next to my razor and scrub it all over my legs and body prior to shaving. I also utilize this scrub to get rid of my older layer of self- tanner- your girl loves a good glow. I’ve learned the hard way that it’s extremely important to properly scrub off the previous layer of self-tanner before starting to apply again. Scope out The Art of Self-Tanner: 8 Tips for your Best Sunless Tan for more tea on self-tanning application.
Pro-tip: If you’re a bad chick and are tatted up- you can also exfoliate your tattoos! You can exfoliate your tattoos in the shower gently with a physical scrub. It’s a common misconception that this can led to fading or discoloration. However, the only thing that can lead to discoloration or fading is the sun. You’re a badass and I see you.
4. Take advantage of ‘Mask Monday’s’
This tip is easy to take up, ladies. We all know and love a good face mask and many face masks have exfoliating ingredients in them - such as Lactic Acid or Glycolic Acid. These ingredients exfoliate the skin while reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Incorporating a mask with exfoliating properties into your weekly regimen is fairly easy and effective. Throw on a face mask while catching up on The Real Housewives (RHONY Stan all the way), or while catching up on evening emails or doing laundry. I usually apply STUDY BUDDY® Detoxifying Bentonite Clay Mask 1-2 times a week while I’m catching up on my nightly reading with a crisp glass of rose. STUDY BUDDY® contains Glycolic Acid which is known as the holy grail of exfoliation and works to remove dead skin cells. I always wake up feeling refreshed and thoroughly exfoliated.
Pro-tip: Apply your face mask with a makeup brush. This leads to smoother and cleaner application with less of a mess.
Exfoliating is a vital part of a successful skincare and self-care routine. Finding which method of exfoliation works best for you, whether chemical or physical, is important. Your sorority sis might be able to exfoliate 5 times a day while you might not. Remember- Every skin and glow is unique.
Try incorporating one of these steps into your skincare routine to encourage cell growth and put your best skin forward!
