The self-care industry is obsessed with exfoliating. Yes, we said it — but it’s true! Whether it’s beauty influencers on Instagram sharing their ten-step routine or the latest marketing campaign promising to give us that coveted glow, there are endless exfoliation methods just about everywhere you look. Once you notice, you’ll realize it’s no surprise that many of us are over-exfoliating, which can, unfortunately, lead to irritation, overly-dry skin, and flaking (via Byrdie).
Since the act of scrubbing our skin is so encouraged, take stock of all the ways you may already be exfoliating before adding another product to your regimen. Does your lotion or cleansers already contain ingredients like lactic acid or fruit extracts? Are you dry brushing or using a loofah? Even shaving and drying with a standard towel exfoliates the skin (via mindbodygreen).
You can over-exfoliate by doing it too often, too long, or using a product that’s too harsh for your skin type. If you’re new to exfoliating, start slow at once or twice a week and evaluate how your skin reacts. “If you find that your skin sensitivity all of a sudden skyrockets, you’re doing something wrong,” Suzan Obagi, M.D., director of the UPMC Cosmetic Surgery and Skin Health Center, tells SELF. Obagi concludes that our skin has the power to heal itself quickly, but if you’re over-scrubbing every day, she says, “that’s going to put your skin in a chronic stage of low-grade inflammation and irritation.”
