Exploring exfoliation: Uncovering healthy-looking, glowing skin
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Skin Experts

Exploring exfoliation: Uncovering healthy-looking, glowing skin

Your skin sheds loads of dead cells every day.
Exfoliating helps remove these dead cells to make way for fresh looking, glowy skin. It also removes dirt and leftover oil, leaving your skin healthier looking. Dive in and discover everything you need to know about this essential skincare step.

Benefits of exfoliation

  • Bids dullness adieu: Sloughing off dead skin cells reveals brighter, smoother skin underneath for a radiant glow.
  • Preps your routine: Exfoliation is known to help skincare products absorb more easily.
  • Clears the way for clearer looking skin: Exfoliation removes built-up oil and dirt.
  • Sets up a flawless finish: Exfoliation helps create a smooth canvas for makeup, making it easier to apply for an even look.

Types of exfoliation

Smooth, brighter skin with AHAs, BHAs, and gentle silica exfoliation

Chemical exfoliation
  • Unleashes the power of ingredients like AHAs and BHAs to help get rid of dead skin cells.
  • Dissolves and loosens bonds between dead skin cells.
Physical exfoliation
  • Gets hands-on with small particles to sweep away dead skin cells from the surface.
  • Utilizes ingredients like silica and bamboo beads to buff away dullness and reveal radiant skin.
Our picks for chemical lotion exfoliation:

Clarifying Lotion 1.0 Twice A Day Exfoliator, Acne Solutions Clarifying Lotion, Clarifying Do-Over Peel

Our picks for physical scrub exfoliation:

Blackhead Solutions 7-Day Deep Pore Cleanse Scrub, All About Clean 2-in-1 Charcoal Mask + Scrub

How to exfoliate your skin

Choose chemical or physical methods for smooth, glowing skin.

Clarifying lotions
  • Use morning and night after cleansing.
  • Apply to cotton ball or pad.
  • Gently sweep over face and neck, avoiding eyes and lips.
Exfoliating scrubs (physical) like Exfoliating Scrub
  • Dampen makeup-free skin.
  • Dispense dime-sized amount of scrub.
  • Massage in circular motion, avoiding eyes and lips.
  • Rinse with water.
Try a 2-in-1 like All About Clean 2-in-1 Cleansing + Exfoliating Jelly, which cleanses and exfoliates:

All About Clean 2-in-1 Cleansing + Exfoliating Jelly

  • Dispense a dime-sized amount onto hands.
  • Massage gently over face, avoiding eyes.
  • Rinse with water.

When to exfoliate

Twice daily (morning and night) use Clarifying Lotion between cleansing and moisturizing as part of Clinique's 3-Step System.

  • Cleansing removes dirt and oil.
  • Exfoliation removes dead skin cells, prepping for moisturizer.
  • Moisturizer hydrates for a soft, refreshed feel.

Exfoliating do's and don’ts

Exfoliation can help you unlock brighter-, clearer-, and smoother-looking skin.

Do's:
  • Do exfoliate regularly to remove dead skin cells to help reveal more radiant skin.
  • Do choose the right exfoliant for your skin (chemical or physical).
  • Do a patch test for new exfoliating products.
  • Do follow the instructions provided by the product or your skincare professional.
  • Do moisturize after exfoliating to hydrate.
Don'ts:
  • Don't over-exfoliate; it can lead to irritation.
  • Don't exfoliate sunburned skin.
  • Don't use harsh scrubs or exfoliants on sensitive skin; look for products appropriate for sensitive skin.
  • Don't forget your sunscreen after exfoliating.
  • Don't exfoliate over open wounds, cuts, or active breakouts.

Get your glow. Explore the world of exfoliation.

*Clinical testing on 52 women.