It has been revealed that there is one beauty product that skincare experts aren't happy about us having in our bathroom cabinets, and it's not a harsh chemical or something that isn't sustainably sourced... it's a good old fashioned walnut scrub!
There's something seriously satisfying about giving your skin a really good scrub with an exfoliator, but it turns out that the deep clean feeling you get isn't as good for our skincare routine (opens in new tab) as we thought.
Skincare experts have revealed that manual exfoliators, as opposed to chemical exfoliators that are also on the market, could cause you more damage than good if used incorrectly.
Most people have tried manual exfoliators at some point. Who could forget the good old trusted St Ives Apricot Scrub, for example. But what makes them suddenly so bad for our skin?
What using a daily exfoliator really does to your skin
According to insiders, manual exfoliators can cause a lot of irritation if used too vigorously, leaving your face feeling tight, dry and causing the natural biolayer that holds moisture in to break down.
Skincare expert Susanne Kaufmann told Yahoo Style,"Imagine that you have a microscope to follow the skin exfoliation process. You will see the particles generating tensions on skin surfaces, and mechanically removing debris.
"But after a while, and depending on how sharp the particles are, you will see them starting to damage the skin surface, almost like a powder that scuffs glass."
But using an exfoliator is important, you just need to limit how often you use it, and find the type that's right for your skin.
Dermatologist Dr Gary Goldfaden told the Independent, “Regular exfoliation helps maintain clean pores, decreases pore size and minimizes many types of superficial scarring, fine lines and wrinkles. In addition, removing the top layer of dead and damaged cells allows moisturisers, serums and other collagen boosting ingredients to better penetrate the skin and work more effectively.”
How does a chemical exfoliation compare to a manual scrub?
"From reducing the appearance of lines and wrinkles to hydrating the skin and treating acne, using an exfoliating acid is the key to more youthful, glowing skin. These exfoliants include ingredients such as glycolic acid, AHAs, and BHA, and enzymes such as pumpkin, papaya, and pineapple," celebrity esthetician Renée Rouleau told Bridye.
While chemicals break down the skin's layers, manual ones chafe off a layer... but both can leave your skin looking fresh and healthy if used sparingly and correctly. So we can relax, there is a place for our exfoliators in our skincare regime after all... we just need to be clever with how we use them.
A few of our favourite chemical exfoliators
REN Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic (opens in new tab), £25
A total crowd pleaser, this fast-acting toner is loved by skincare experts across the globe. A quick swipe morning and night will leave your skin looking brighter.
Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel (opens in new tab), £34.50
A classic beauty buy, it's hard to beat Elemis's gentle, yet effective, fruit acid peel.
Bobbi Brown Radiance Boost Superfine Walnut Grain & Orange Oil Exfoliating Mask (opens in new tab), £34
This gentle exfoliating mask is the perfect once-a-week treatment for keeping your skin fresh and glowing.
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