Everything you need to know: Physical vs. Chemical Exfoliation

If you ask yourself the question of whether exfoliation is good or bad, here you will not only find the answer but which exfoliation is the right one for you.

If your skin looks tired and when you wear makeup you notice it flaking, your skin is actually telling you it's been neglected. When you don't usually exfoliate, dead skin cells build up on the top layer of your skin and make your complexion dull, patchy, and dry. Applying a gentle exfoliation to your skincare routine will make your skin look more luminous, it will also allow other products to penetrate the skin better and avoid clogged pores. 

Physical vs. Chemical Exfoliation

There are 2 types of exfoliation that you should know: physical and chemical. Physical exfoliation uses small particles of diverse materials to gently remove dead cells. A chemical peeling lotion or serum uses mild acidic or non-acidic components to promote skin rejuvenation. Both physical and chemical products are essential to help you bring fresh, radiant skin to the surface.

Physical exfoliation

Physical exfoliations come in different formulations, gentler and a little bit harsher, but they basically are all types of scrubs that contain granulations and are used to remove dead cells that are on the surface of the skin to stimulate cell regeneration. If you don't have sensitive skin, using a physical scrub on your complexion, not more than once a week won't do you harm,  but if you have mature skin, sagginess, or sensitive skin, you run the risk of causing redness, irritation, and micro-tears to your skin.

Chemical Exfoliation

Chemical exfoliants use different types of acids; AHA and BHA or enzymes to exfoliate the skin. Peels are chemical exfoliants and are great for smoothing and brightening the skin.

• AHA: alpha-hydroxy acids or AHAs are derived from natural substances and are ideal for exfoliating dry skin, as they eliminate flaking. that holds dead skin cells together. AHAs, because they are water-soluble, cannot penetrate very deeply into pores.
• BHA: beta hydroxy acids are oil soluble molecules. Therefore, they can penetrate deeper into the skin and pores. BHAs also have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, a deeper peel overall. This exfoliation is perfect for oily skin, with acne or blackheads.

Physical vs. Chemical Exfoliation: Which is better for my skin type?

• Dry skin: Chemical exfoliants, specifically AHAs like glycolic and mandelic acid are ideal for this type of skin.
• Oily skin: you can use both types of scrubs. If your skin suffers from a lot of pimples, breakouts, and/or acne then a chemical exfoliator is better, preferably one that contains BHA, as it will exfoliate inside the pore and help fight them.
• Sensitive skin: It is best to use a chemical scrub that does not contain BHA and use it gradually or use an enzyme-based scrub.