Acne, pigmentation disorders, sagging skin, elasticity deficiency, ruddy complexion, eczema… one thing that all of these skin scourges have in common is that they can be greatly reduced, if not cured, by proper exfoliation of the skin.

The mechanics of skincare exfoliation are simple. Skin cells are constantly dying and being replaced. Skin cell death can occur due to sun or environmental damage, or senescence (when a cell seizes to function properly due to age). The goal of any skin exfoliation regime is to loosen or unbind dead skin cells so that they may be removed from the skin and replaced by new, undamaged skin cells. If a dead skin cell is not removed, it may collect in the lining of the skin pore, resulting in dullness, ruddiness, and skin inflammation. Further, a clogged pore is a hospitable environment for the proliferation of acne-causing bacteria; thus, blemishes and blackheads follow the reticulated path of a poor exfoliation regime.

Proper Exfoliation
Exfoliating the skin is important; however, many would be surprised by the fact that they often do more harm than good to their skin when using exfoliating scrubs and devices. The following is a simple list of exfoliating “do’s and do not’s” that will help you plan an effective, healthy skin exfoliating regime.

Exfoliating DO NOT’S:

- Do not wash your skin with an abrasive cleanser or “scrub”. Scrub based cleansers often use ground up walnut shells or plastic as a topical abrasive. Applying an abrasive scrub to the skin will result in the over-stimulation of the sebaceous glands. Because the top layers of the skin have been abraded and irritated by abrasive “tearing”, the ability of the skin to secrete excess oil becomes hindered and the skin becomes sticky, allowing acne-causing bacteria to proliferate.

- Do not scrub your skin with a mechanical scrubber, loofah, or sponge. These abrade the skin and will result in the skin having a ruddy, inflamed appearance. Further, the wet environments these mechanical scrubbers are stored in (that is, your bathroom sink or shower) make them ideal storehouses for acne causing bacteria.

- Do not continue to use an exfoliant if you experience discomfort. Burning, itching, drying, sloughing, peeling, and tingling sensations are messages from your skin telling you that it is irritated and going into “defense” mode. This does not mean that the product is “working,” or “penetrating the pore.” Remember – be gentle your skin!

Exfoliating DO’s:-

- Do use a clean, unused wash cloth to gently remove dead skin after washing.

- Do use a naturally derived Alpha Hydroxy Acid, such as lactic acid, on the skin in the morning and at night. Rejuvené Natural Skin Toner and Rejuvené Natural Skin Lightening Cream are excellent sources of AHA’s and contain soothing anti-inflammatory ingredients so the skin is insulated from possible sensitized reactions or skin irritation.

- Do use a full spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or greater during the day. AHA’s may have a photosensitizing affect on the skin and should therefore be coupled with a non-irritating sunscreen. Rejuvené Anti-Aging Sunscreen Cream has an SPF of 30 and contains zinc oxide, an FDA approved full-spectrum SPF with clinically proven anti-irritant and antioxidant properties.

The Rejuvené product line addresses issues associated with sun and environmental damage, including hyperpigmentation, skin irritation, slowed collagen production, coarseness, sagging, and loss of elasticity. The products offer a gentle alternative to harsh chemical peels and invasive cosmetic procedures.
Rejuvené offers all natural, herbal, anti-aging skin and hair care systems and handcrafted soaps. Rejuvené products are available through practitioners and spas nationwide. Rejuvené welcomes inquiries about its products and can be reached toll free at 1-888-873-5883 or by visiting the Rejuvené website, http://www.rejuvene.us.