The Two Types of Exfoliates: Manual (Physical) and Chemical

For most men, a chemical exfoliant is going to be the best course of action. However, to avoid irritation, it must be done correctly. Here’s what you should know about the two:

Often physical exfoliants will be harsher on the face, and you may notice they don’t remove skin cells as evenly. Plus, if you apply too much force, you can damage your moisture barrier, which promotes acne growth. Just remember to use a microfiber cloth, konjac sponge, or generally aim for a product like the scrub in the Tiege Hanley Skin Care System Level 1. With that said, I’d like to tell you a little more about chemical exfoliates.

Now, the chemical treatments will do a few things quite brilliantly: improve your skin tone, remove closed comedones (clogged pores), and of course, battle acne. How they work is simple: AHAs, including lactic and glycolic acid, weaken the bond between dead skin cells, so they shed right away. You’ll notice a brighter more radiant skin as a result. There’s also BHAs or salicylic acid, which penetrate deeply to splinter sebum thanks to their soluble lipid nature.

Tips to Know:

If you start with an AHA, chemical exfoliant like Body Merry Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Cleanser, it is essential to add sun protection to your routine. What happens is the AHAs will make your skin more sensitive to the sun causing things like wrinkles, pigmentation spots and certainly sunburn too.

With a chemical exfoliant, most men should start first with a lower percentage. Understand that a higher percentage, while seeming more powerful, will not speed up the process or magically produce overnight results. Slow down unless you’re prepared to deal with long-term skin damage and problematic issues down the road.

In my next guide, I’ll teach you incredible shaving tips, but just know that if you want a better shave, you must exfoliate before shaving. Remember, after whacking your face with the razor blade, your skin is already super sensitive as it is. One of the worst things you can do is to put it through a second war. It will show you back signs of defeat with redness and irritation.