Exfoliation 101

Does your skin flake when you apply moisturizer or make-up? If so, you might need to exfoliate. It is important to exfoliate because the skin naturally reproduces new skin cells, pushing them from the bottom layer of the skin (dermis) to the top layer (epidermis).  As the cells rise they die but in the process fill with keratin.  The keratinized skin cells slough off as new cells are being produced.  Exfoliating removes those dead skin cells from the outer layer of the skin. 

Types of Exfoliants

So what can you use to exfoliate?  Salt and sugar scrubs are an excellent way to exfoliate the body. Ice Body's scrubs contain ingredients such as organic Shea butter, cupuacu butter, essential oils, and other natural moisturizing and healing ingredients. Exfoliants include dried botanicals, jojoba beads, mineral salts and sugar.  Clay masks work great on exfoliating the face.  Ice Body's facial masks use clays such as Bentonite, Kaolin, French Green and Moroccan as well as activated charcoal.

How Often Should You Exfoliate? Depends:

1. On skin type:   For oily skin, typically 2-3 times per week. For dry skin, 1-2 times per week.

2. Condition of your skin: If you have eczema or other skin conditions, use gentle exfoliants. If sunburned, avoid exfoliating until skin heals.

3. Type of exfoliant used: Use soft exfoliants on your face. Salt scrubs are coarse and should be used once a day. Sugar scrubs are gentler and can be used 2-3 times per week.

How To Exfoliate:

1. Before wetting skin, brush dry skin with body brush, loofah or gloves.

2. Wet body. With a pumice stone, scrub feet to remove rough and callused skin.

3. Apply body scrub/exfoliant directly to skin or onto loofah. Scrub in a circular motion, from feet and upwards.

4. Use body brush for those hard to reach areas, like the back.

5. Rinse thoroughly with warm then cool water.

6. For maximum moisturizing effect, follow up with Ice Body's Whipped Body Butter or Satin Body Crème.

HAPPY EXFOLIATING!