If you think that with a cleanser, toner, and moisturizer, you have got the whole skincare squad to achieve that healthy skin, think again! What you are missing in order to get smooth and radiant looking skin, is exfoliation. Exfoliators make up for an excellent addition to your skincare routine and everyone in the skincare industry is head over heels in love with exfoliation. But what’s so great about it? This article breaks down everything you need to know about exfoliation in skincare: Beginners level.

What Is Exfoliation And Why Is It Necessary Regardless Of Your Skin Type?

In simple words, Exfoliation is the process of removal of dead skin cells and other impurities on the skin. And when the top layer of the skin, which looked dull due to the accumulation of all sorts of skin enemies, is removed, it unveils fresh, glowing, baby-soft skin.

It is essential to exfoliate regardless of your skin type because who doesn’t love shedding those dead skin cells sitting on their skin? Apart from this, here are some benefits of exfoliation:

1. Exfoliation helps to slough away the dead skin cells and encourages new cell turnover

2. It boosts circulation and evens out the skin tone

3. It helps to improve the overall skin texture

4. It helps products that you apply later on penetrate deeper into the skin

5. It cleans out and decongests pores

Tips To Pick The Right Exfoliator

The best way to choose the right exfoliant for you is according to your skin type. So, if your skin type is:

1. Normal/Combination

Glycolic acid, which is a type of Alpha hydroxy acid (AHA), is the best one to start with. It is found naturally in sugar crops, and since it has smaller molecules, it can penetrate better than any other kind of AHA. It is an all-rounder exfoliant that can target every possible skin concern.

Another great exfoliator for normal skin type is the L ascorbic acid, the most stable and purest form of Vitamin C. If you suffer from dark spots and have hyperpigmentation, this one must be your go-to exfoliator. Our C For Yourself Vitamin C Serum is jam-packed with L ascorbic acid and Vitamin E. These ingredients work best together to reduce the appearance of scars and pigmentation and can also prevent sun damage.

2. Dry

Lactic acid, which is another, more gentle form of AHA, is a great pick. This exfoliant can exfoliate as well as moisture the skin at the same time. Since it is derived from milk and has larger molecules, it works gently on the skin.

3. Sensitive

Either mandelic acid, a form of AHA, or PHA, is right for you. These do not penetrate as deeply into the skin but can brighten your skin without being too irritating. They have very large molecules so it’s less harsh and best for sensitive skin, even for rosacea and acne-prone skin.

4. Oily

Salicylic acid, a form of BHA, is best for you. It is oil soluble and can go deep into the pores, helping you control oiliness and frequent breakouts. It can unclog your pores and help you achieve cleaner looking skin.

How To Exfoliate As A Beginner

Now that you know what exfoliant you should pick according to your skin type, it’s time to use it correctly. As a beginner, you must introduce your skin to an exfoliant very carefully or you might ruin your skin. There are two ways by which you can introduce an acid/exfoliant into your skincare routine

In the form of a Cleanser

A cleanser is a wash-off product and usually, exfoliating cleansers have a very low percentage of acids in them. Hence, making them a perfect start for beginners. The results are slow when using exfoliating cleansers but since the percentage is so low, it can be well tolerated by beginners.

Start by using any exfoliating cleanser of your choice 2-3 times a week at night and then gradually increase the frequency once you are comfortable.

In the form of a Toner

A toner is another way to introduce chemical exfoliation to your skin. A toner can penetrate deeper into the skin and help to even out the texture of your skin. The focus of toner is usually on a single exfoliant, such as either AHA or BHA. So, it’s great to target specific skin concerns.

The best way you can introduce an exfoliating toner in your skincare routine is by using it twice a week at night.

Things To Keep In Mind While Exfoliating Your Skin As A Beginner

Exfoliation is a beautiful mistress, can be the love of your life and your worst enemy. The trick is to choose products based on your skin concerns and not what is trending. Prioritize your skin health over anything else and keep these things in mind while using an exfoliant so it can be the love of your life:

1. Start slowly and at a lower percentage of acids

2. Use exfoliants at night and never forget to apply a good sunscreen with SPF 50+

3. Avoid the eye area as it’s sensitive

4. Don’t layer too many acids trying to solve all skin concerns at once, remember that less is more

5. Always do a patch test

6. Always make sure to use a barrier repair moisturizer afterwards to calm your skin

7. Don’t rush for results, but be patient and consistent

Best Exfoliation Routine  

Now that you have picked an exfoliant for your skin type, here’s how you can add it to your skincare routine.

1. Start with cleansing: Cleansing is the first step in skincare routines across the board. It helps remove dirt, grime, and other impurities from the pores, ensuring a balanced microbiome. Moreover, cleansing ensures better absorption of your chemical exfoliant and guarantees better results. If you have dry skin, opt for Foxtale’s Hydrating Face Wash. The gentle formula contains Sodium Hyaluronate and Red Algae Extract that administer long-lasting hydration to the skin. Alternatively, folks with oily or combination skin can try our Acne Control Face Wash with Salicylic Acid.

2. Apply exfoliant: Dab your skin dry and apply the exfoliant of choice. Use a light hand to avoid any stress or strain on the skin.  

3. Moisturize to seal: After the serum sinks into your skin, apply a generous layer of moisturizer. Packed with emollients, this skincare staple locks in the treatment and hydration for best results. It also helps offset inflammation and flare-ups – a must-have after your exfoliation session. People with dry skin can try Foxtale’s Hydrating Moisturizer with Ceramides. Alternatively, folks with oily or combinaton skin can opt for the Oil Free Moisturizer.  

4. SPF to protect: Since exfoliation can cause photosensitivity in some individuals, a slather of sunscreen is non-negotiable. Try Foxtale’s Dewy Sunscreen for dry and Matte Sunscreen for oily skin.

FAQs

1. Why is exfoliation important? 

Exfoliation helps dissolve excess sebum, dead-dried cells, and other impurities to reveal a brighter, smoother surface. It combats skin concerns like whiteheads, blackheads, acne and dullness while promoting healthy cellular regeneration.

2. How often should you exfoliate? 

Experts suggest that exfoliating 2 to 3 times weekly is integral for healthy skin.

3. What are the different types of exfoliation

There are two types of exfoliation- 

Physical exfoliation: It entails the use of scrubs, washcloths and loofahs to breakdown buildup on your skin. Chemical exfoliation: On the other hand, chemical exfoliation includes using active ingredients like AHAs and BHAs to dissolve buildup.

4. I have flaky skin. Will exfoliation help alleviate the problem?

Definitely. Exfoliation helps improve skin texture by dissolving unwanted flakiness on the outside.

5. Is it okay to exfoliate sensitive skin?

Regular exfoliation is non-negotiable for all skin types, including sensitive. To avoid episodes of inflammation and redness, pick gentle formulas like Foxtale’s AHA BHA Serum.

6. Why should I exfoliate at night?

Your skin has a circadian rhythm that prioritizes protection during the day and repair at night. This involves shedding dried-dead cells and regenerating new ones while you’re busy counting sheep. This is where exfoliants like AHAs and BHAs come into play. The active ingredients help dissolve the buildup swiftly for best results.

7. What should you do after exfoliation?

After exfoliation, ensure to apply a potent moisturizer and SPF.

8. Why should we not step out without SPF after exfoliation?

The use of AHAs or BHAs can cause photosensitivity amongst certain individuals. Additionally, the lack of sunscreen can damage the newly generated skin cells from the overnight renewal process.

9. Why is over-exfoliation harmful?

Over-exfoliation removes natural oils from the skin, making it exceptionally dry and tight. It can also give rise to episodes of inflammation, redness, and other flare-ups. To keep these concerns at bay, we recommend exfoliating only 2 to 3 times a week.

10. How should I exfoliate as a beginner?

If you are a beginner, we recommend conducting a patch test on your neck. If your skin responds well, start by using the exfoliant once in your weekly routine.

11. I have oily skin. How can regular exfoliation benefit me?

If you have oily skin, regular exfoliation can help you in the following ways 

1. Regulating sebum production

2. Minimizing the appearance of pores

3. Reducing whiteheads and blackheads

4. Alleviating acne

POV: It’s your big day (or your best friend’s, sister’s, or cousin’s wedding weekend), you’ve likely already figured out your outfits, planned your makeup looks, and prepped your body for three full days of dancing. With so many things on your plate right now, skincare might not be on your priority list. But prepping your skin is just as important—how you treat it in the run-up, as well as the morning of, will show up in your final look. If you want to look as radiant as Alia Bhatt or Anushka Sharma did on their wedding day, we have curated just the perfect tips you can use to achieve the most flawless bridal glow ever seen. 

Figure out what you’re looking for 

If you’re a bride-to-be and you’re not sure where to start, you must be receiving a lot of advice from everyone (be it relatives, friends, and whatnot). While this may seem overwhelming, it is best to make an appointment with a dermatologist or aesthetician to discuss what your wedding day skin is. They’ll be able to get you on the right regimen, and you’ll have a ritual that you can follow.

If you’re a wedding guest, the stakes are pretty high too. You’ll have the photos forever, and with all the different makeup looks you’ll be trying, you’ll want to have your skin being the perfect base. As opposed to just purchasing every product you can to get glowing skin, take some time to figure out exactly what you’re looking for. Is it reducing acne? Do you desperately need to hydrate your skin? Do you need to work on anti-ageing? Answering these questions will help you take the steps you need. 

Allow for enough time before starting a new product

Whenever you are trying out a new product like retinol or salicylic acid, you’ll want to add it to your routine 3-4 months before the big weekend. Your skin needs to get used to the ingredient you’ve picked. Foxtale's Retinol anti ageing night serum is the perfect tool for brightened, firmer, and more taut skin. Additionally, you can sandwich the ingredient with a soothing pick like the Ceramide Moisturizer to strengthen your skin barrier and get the best results from both products. 

Exfoliate 

You’ll want to find an acid that works for what you need. AHAs (or alpha hydroxy acids) can improve cell turnover and provide great results when it comes to dullness, acne, or texture issues. BHAs (or beta hydroxy acids) break down the bonds between dead skin cells, so they can be swept away. The result? Glowy skin (the one you’re manifesting). While you're exfoliating your face, remember that your back, arms, and neck need a deeper "reset" for those backless blouses and sleeveless outfits. To achieve a seamless head-to-toe glow, integrate the Detan Body Wash into your shower routine.

Look for ingredients that’ll brighten

Glowing or dewy skin is on your bucket list and do you know what will help you achieve it? Foxtale’s  C For Yourself Vitamin C Serum — it’s the hero we all root for. Not only is it good for most skin types but also helps with pigmentation, reducing free radical damage, brightening the skin, and boosting collagen production. It upgrades your skin's natural regeneration process, which helps your body repair damaged skin cells. If you’re new to the ingredient, start using it a couple of months before the wedding weekend. On the day of, use Vitamin C along with hydrating agents like hyaluronic acid to create the perfect canvas for your makeup. P.S. Never forget the sunscreen!

Stop spots in their tracks

Getting a pimple on your D-day is nothing short of a nightmare. If you have pimples that have just popped up, tackle your trouble spots by using a drying lotion with salicylic acid like Foxtale’s Acne spot corrector gel which helps in your fight against acne, it unclogs pores and cleans them deeply, and decreases sebum production leading to fewer breakouts. To prevent your skin from drying out, make sure to layer the Ceramide Super Cream Moisturizer along with the spot treatment to protect the skin from peeling or redness.

Make your skin the perfect canvas

The ideal base for makeup is hydrated, firm, and supple skin, so your makeup artist can focus on enhancing your features rather than concealing and correcting them. Look for ingredients that’ll hydrate and balance your skin, especially ones that’ll support your natural skin barrier.

Your skin needs pampering and Foxtale’s Hyaluronic acid serum will do just that. It makes your skin plumper and reduces uneven skin tone, giving you a perfect canvas for your makeup. 

Hydrate yourself 

Weddings though fun can be super stressful and during times like these, we can easily forget to hydrate ourselves. Hydrating yourself, especially during such busy times can do wonders for both our skin and body. Ensure you have at least 2-3 litres of water everyday to get the radiant glow and shine you want on your wedding day. 

Integrate CTMP

It stands for cleanse, treat, moisturize and protect. No matter how busy or worn out you may be in the mornings and at night, do not neglect these four steps. Cleansing your face is crucial because it helps remove all the dirt and grime that accumulates there during the day. Foxtale’s hydrating facewash is a deeply hydrating cleanser that emulsifies to remove makeup, unclogs pores, and gets rid of dirt and sebum gently.

When it comes to treating your skin, it deserves the best. Foxtale’s Eye candy firming gel visibly reduces the appearance of dark circles and puffiness. It won't clog your pores and will firm the under-eye.

The next essential item in your pre-bridal skincare regimen is a moisturizer, which you should use both at night and during the day in order to lock in moisture to give skin that's supple, radiant, and soft. To protect your skin, it is important to use sunscreen that will protect you from sun damage and reveal healthier skin. Foxtale’s matte finish sunscreen is perfect for oily and acne-prone skin while the dewy sunscreen will suit normal to dry skin.  

Conclusion

Weddings are considered to be one of the most important days of your life and achieving the perfect skin will be the extra cherry on top. Taking extra care of your skin and yourself is a key step to achieving the skin of your dreams. So sit back, relax and follow the right routine that will help you achieve youthful and radiant skin! 

If you have been on Tiktok for a while and are a skincare enthusiast, you have probably seen people using the term ‘Slugging’ quite often. This skincare hack started trending last year only, however, it has been there for a long time. Whether you are looking forward to ‘Slugging’ or just want to know what’s up with the beauty community these days, this article is for you. Keep on scrolling to know more about this viral hack.

What’s the deal with ‘Slugging’?

Slugging is the term used to describe the act of locking in the nighttime skincare routine with the help of an occlusive. This involves using any petroleum-based product such as Vaseline or Aquaphor as the last step in your skincare routine to create a barrier on top of your skin, prevent trans epidermal water loss (TEWL), and keep moisture in place. Although this technique is mainly used for the face, it can also be beneficial for the body, lips, knees, and other body parts.

Are there any benefits to Slugging your face?

The reason why this hack became immensely popular among people, irrespective of their age, is the instant results. When done correctly, people noticed they woke up with super hydrated and moisturized skin. Let’s take a look at what more benefits this technique can offer.

• It strengthens the skin barrier: Slugging involves using occlusives on the skin as a protectant. If you have over exfoliated your skin or damaged the skin, slugging can help you heal.
• It prevents water loss: Occlusives create a barrier on the skin and make it hard for any product to escape, even water (99%) for that matter.
• It locks in hydration: Slugging is the last step so it makes sure everything applied before is sealed. Those who suffer from dry, flaky skin can highly benefit from this method.
• It soothes and softens the skin: Petroleum provides intense moisturization and also relieves and soothes the skin from any sort of irritation or redness.

This seems intense, how to slug the right way to get the maximum results?

You must follow a proper skin care regime to get the most of Slugging. Here’s how to do it:

• Your first step should be cleansing your skin. Since the main goal of slugging is to provide intense moisture, make sure to use a gentle and hydrating cleanser like our Daily Duet Face Wash to wash off all the dirt and makeup.
• Apply a hydrating toner and follow it up with an antioxidant serum like our C For Yourself Vitamin C Serum. This will make sure to treat your skin as well as hydrate it.
• Next up is using a lightweight moisturizer like our Ceramide Supercream, a hydrating and barrier repair formula.
• Lastly, finish off by applying a thin layer of vaseline or any other petroleum-based ointment.

Things to note before you try this viral hack!

1. People who have super dry, dehydrated, flaky, mature, irritated skin with damaged skin barrier can try slugging whenever the skin demands it. Those with extreme blackheads, oily and acne-prone skin can avoid it.
2. Quite contrary to popular belief, occlusive based products, even petroleum, do not clog your pores. In fact, it can calm it down.
3. Ensure you have cleansed your skin well before because everything (even dirt, if any) is sealed in Slugging.
4. It is recommended not to slug on nights when you have used retinoids so as not to increase its potency.
5. Only slug on nights and areas of the face when you have to! Always listen to what your skin has to say.