Exfoliation 101: The Difference Between Physical and Chemical Exfoliants for Smooth, Radiant Skin

For a fast track to vibrant, smooth, and youthful skin, incorporating exfoliation into your skincare routine is essential. However, not just any face exfoliator or exfoliating scrub will do. It’s critical to understand how to exfoliate and the difference between chemical and physical exfoliants. With this foundation, you can tailor your exfoliating routine to meet your skin’s needs. 

If you have questions like “How often should you exfoliate your face?” or “Is physical exfoliation bad for the face?” you’re in the right place. In this article, we will explore skin exfoliation, answer your questions, and cover the following topics:

• What is exfoliation, and why is it important?

• Chemical vs. physical exfoliation

• How to exfoliate the face

• High-quality, gentle, and effective exfoliating products from NassifMD® facial plastic surgeon skincare

Why Exfoliation is Essential for Skin?

Exfoliation is a crucial step in the skincare routine. At its core, exfoliation involves removing dead skin cells and impurities from the skin’s surface and pores, promoting skin turnover and revealing the younger, radiant skin below. Without exfoliation, dead skin, dirt, and impurities accumulate, leaving the skin dull and uneven in texture. 

Benefits of regular exfoliation include:

• Improved appearance of the skin

• Brighter and smoother skin

• Improved skin texture and tone

• Clear, unclogged pores

• Reduced breakouts

• Better absorption of skincare products 

• Improved circulation in the skin

There are two types of skin exfoliants: physical and chemical. 

What Are Physical Exfoliants?

Physical exfoliation involves physically scrubbing off the dead skin that sits on the skin’s surface and pores using something abrasive to produce friction. Examples of physical exfoliators include:

• Salt or sugar scrubs 

• Ecuadorian ivory palm seeds, a gentle physical exfoliant 

• A textured exfoliating brush, cloth, sponge, or gloves

Generally, physical exfoliants benefit all skin types, providing fast and noticeable results. Many physical exfoliants are found in scrubs or exfoliating body washes, where they can exfoliate rougher skin, such as the elbows and feet. Physical exfoliants are also well-suited for the scalp and lips. 

Some physical exfoliants for the face may be too abrasive for sensitive skin or cause micro-tears in the skin’s surface. For the best physical exfoliator for the face, we recommend Ecuadorian ivory palm seeds, which you’ll find in NassifMD® Skincare. 

How Chemical Exfoliants Work 

Chemical exfoliation works by using hydroxy acids to break down the sticky bonds that hold dead skin cells in place, allowing them to slough off easily and promote cellular turnover. A chemical exfoliant doesn’t require manual scrubbing to resurface the skin, and you’ll find them as active ingredients in facial cleansers and pads. 

Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) are naturally occurring chemical exfoliants. They are water-soluble, gentle, and well-suited for dry, aging, or acne-prone skin. Examples of AHAs include:

• Glycolic acid

• Lactic acid

• Mandelic acid

• Phytic acid

Beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs) are also naturally occurring acids found in plants that act as chemical exfoliants. The BHAs are oil-soluble, allowing them to penetrate more deeply into the skin and pores. The most well-known and frequently used BHA chemical exfoliant for the face is salicylic acid, which is particularly well-suited for oily or acne-prone skin. 

Which Exfoliant Type is Best?

The best exfoliator for the face is one that is gentle enough, yet effective enough for your skin’s needs. The skin on your face may have different needs than the skin on your body, varying needs depending on the season, and needs that change with age. At the foundation, knowing your skin is what will help you determine the best exfoliating products for you. 

NassifMD® Skincare offers gentle chemical exfoliants in facial cleansers, detox pads, and other products. Some products combine chemical and physical exfoliants. We also provide targeted exfoliating products for your body, scalp, and lips. Please keep reading our recommendations below. 

Tips for Safe, Effective Exfoliation 

Here are some quick tips for how to exfoliate the skin:

• Begin by exfoliating 2 to 3 times per week, working up to a greater frequency as your skin allows. 

• Pay attention to how your skin responds. Look for signs of buildup and dullness, which can indicate insufficient exfoliation. Keep an eye out for redness, dryness, or irritation, which can indicate excessive exfoliation. 

• Exfoliate after cleansing or use a combination product that cleanses and exfoliates. Follow with facial serums, a moisturizer, and sunscreen during the day. 

• Choose high-quality exfoliating products with additional synergistic active ingredients, including antioxidants. NassifMD® exfoliating formulas are expertly designed to exfoliate while nourishing, hydrating, and protecting the skin. Choose from the following:

NassifMD® Purifying Glycolic Facial Cleanser is a gentle, non-drying exfoliating face wash featuring the AHA glycolic acid, along with aloe, allantoin, willow bark extract (from which salicylic acid is derived), and coconut-based cleansing agents to cleanse, brighten, and smooth the skin.

NassifMD® Dawn to Dusk AM + PM is a dual-action gel-to-foam exfoliating cleanser, gentle enough for twice-daily use. It features chemical exfoliation from phytic acid and physical exfoliation from Ecuadorian ivory palm seeds, along with hydrating cleansing agents. 

NassifMD®Detox Facial Pads – Original are our award-winning exfoliating face pads utilizing multiple hydroxy acids, including salicylic acid, glycolic acid, and lactic acid combined with bakuchiol, ectoin, and vitamin C. These detox pads are the ultimate skincare tool for smoothing, toning, and preparing the skin. 

NassifMD® Even, Correct & Renew Retexturizing Pads feature mandelic acid as the chemical exfoliant combined with hyaluronic acid, retinol, niacinamide, and allantoin for a powerful combination that smooths, evens, and brightens the skin without a trip to the Med Spa. 

NassifMD® Glycolic Microdermabrasion Skin Perfecting Polish combines 10% glycolic acid with Ecuadorian ivory palm seeds for deep exfoliation. You’ll also get benefits from ectoin and Luremin, an anti-wrinkle alternative to retinol. It’s a powerful at-home treatment to clarify, refine, and brighten the skin. 

NassifMD® Purifying Scalp Detox Exfoliant is a hair and scalp exfoliating cleansing scrub with sea salt as the physical exfoliant, fruit acids (similar to AHAs), B vitamins, and nourishing plant compounds. It’s a deep-cleansing and scalp treatment you’ll want in your hair care routine. 

NassifMD® Lip Sugar Scrub is a gentle exfoliant and moisturizer designed for the lips. It features raw cane sugar crystals as the physical exfoliant, along with sunflower seed and jojoba oils and vitamin E. 

Exfoliation is a crucial part of any skincare routine. With NassifMD® Skincare you get the best chemical and physical exfoliants as part of synergistic, nourishing formulas that strip away dead skin and impurities while improving the health of the new skin below. The result is smooth, radiant skin! 

References

1. Valle-González, E. R., Jackman, J. A., Yoon, B. K., Mokrzecka, N., & Cho, N. J. (2020). pH-Dependent Antibacterial Activity of Glycolic Acid: Implications for Anti-Acne Formulations. Scientific reports, 10(1), 7491. 

2. Liu, H., Yu, H., Xia, J., Liu, L., Liu, G. J., Sang, H., & Peinemann, F. (2020). Topical azelaic acid, salicylic acid, nicotinamide, sulphur, zinc and fruit acid (alpha-hydroxy acid) for acne. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 5(5), CD011368.