Exfoliation : Why you NEED to be exfoliating ( and what you should use )
You may be wondering…. “ do I have to exfoliate in between my sugaring treatments ? “
Short answer : YES - absolutely. If you decide to get sugared, you 100% need to get into the habit of exfoliating 2-3 times a week!
Here’s why :
When you get epilation hair removal services, ( the type of hair removal where your hair shaft is extracted from the hair follicle ), your hair follicle is empty after removal… common sense, right ?
As our skin naturally sheds, the excess skin cells can become compacted in and around the empty hair follicle.
This can easily clog the hair follicle and keep your growing hairs from exiting the skin, creating ingrown hair! This is especially true for curly hair types - as they naturally grow into the skin!
It is our job to encourage a clean exit by gently sloughing off the excess skin cells as they shed ( aka exfoliate! ).
Exfoliating 2-3 times should do the trick - but sometimes 1-2 times a week is more suitable for sensitive skin types. Your sugarista will make recommendations for how frequently you should be exfoliating during your appointment.
You might be wondering.. “ What should I be exfoliating with? “
The most common types of exfoliants are : enzyme exfoliants, chemical exfoliants, and physical exfoliants.
Enzyme exfoliants work by gently dissolving the keratin of the top layers of the skin. They’re typically the gentlest form of exfoliation, and they’re usually derived from natural fruits like pineapple, papaya, kiwi, and pumpkin. They can be found in serums, masks, washes, and can be used in combination with physical exfoliants.
Chemical exfoliants work by dissolving the bonds in between the skin cells with enzymes and natural acids. They can penetrate deep into the layers of the epidermis and dermis, stimulate collagen production, and brighten hyperpigmentation!
Some examples of chemical exfoliating ingredients are glycolic acid, salicylic acid, malic acid, and lactic acid. These ingredients can be found in lower concentrations or higher concentrations, so it’s important to be mindful of the percentage of acids are in your product if you have sensitive skin. They can come in the form of serums, washes, moisturizers, and can be used as a stand-alone treatment.
Physical exfoliants work by physically exfoliating, scrubbing, or rubbing off excess skin cells with tools like exfoliating gloves and brushes or products with ingredients like oatmeal, bamboo, jojoba beads, sugar, and salt.
Since you are manually exfoliating the skin, it’s important to be mindful not to over-do it! We also recommend washing your exfoliating tools frequently and making sure to wash the skin after the use of your exfoliating product.
Physical exfoliants can be found in the form of sugar/salt scrubs, masks, and washes.
The most important question : How do you know what exfoliant is right for you?
We always recommend letting your skin tell you what’s best and to always take into consideration your lifestyle!
Here are some signs to look out for if your skin is telling you what you’re using isn’t working:
Irritation / sensitivity
Redness
Inflammation
Sensitivity to touch and heat
If your skin feels soft and normal to the touch, you should be okay to continue using the exfoliating product / method.
IMPORTANT: If you have naturally sensitive skin, please be extra cautious of the percentage of chemical exfoliants in a product before using and of natural ingredients if you have a lot of allergies. As always, we recommend consulting with your licensed esthetician / sugarista before adopting a new exfoliating routine.
Your lifestyle is also important to consider, as it’s a good idea to use a product that you can use with consistency.
If you’re the kind of person that’s low maintenance with skin care, it may be best to use a chemical exfoliating serum so you just apply and go vs. using an enzyme mask that has to sit for 10 minutes before you can rinse.
Whereas if you’re the kind of person that LOVES her skincare and can easily commit to a skincare routine, feel free to try out a few methods and see what you like best!
Some of our favorite exfoliants :
We love Tamaras Professional Sugar products! Not only are the ingredients in their products artificial fragrance and colorant free, but they are safe, tested, and designed to be used on both intimate and sensitive areas.
Their Sweet Exfoliating Serum is an AHA chemical exfoliant with ingredients like glycolic acid, mandalic acid, and lactic acid. It’s a 2 in 1 treatment, so it’s ideal for a 1 step solution to ingrown hairs.
Their BHA Exfoliating Pads come with 50 saturated waffle cotton pads, soaked in BHA salicylic acid and AHA glycolic acid. It gives a polished feel and is excellent for those with chronic ingrown hairs. Both products can be purchased at our store!
When you book an appointment with any of our sugaristas, an exfoliating product or method will be recommended for you. You can also feel free to bring in your current product if you’re not sure if it’s the right fit for you.
We know it can be confusing/overwhelming and we’re here to help anyway we can.
