Your skin sheds loads of dead cells every day.
Exfoliating helps remove these dead cells to make way for fresh looking, glowy skin. It also removes dirt and leftover oil, leaving your skin healthier looking. Dive in and discover everything you need to know about this essential skincare step.
Exploring exfoliation: Uncovering healthy-looking, glowing skin
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Exploring exfoliation: Uncovering healthy-looking, glowing skin
Benefits of exfoliation
- Bids dullness adieu: Sloughing off dead skin cells reveals brighter, smoother skin underneath for a radiant glow.
- Preps your routine: Exfoliation is known to help skincare products absorb more easily.
- Clears the way for clearer looking skin: Exfoliation removes built-up oil and dirt.
- Sets up a flawless finish: Exfoliation helps create a smooth canvas for makeup, making it easier to apply for an even look.
Types of exfoliation
Smooth, brighter skin with AHAs, BHAs, and gentle silica exfoliation
Chemical exfoliation
- Unleashes the power of ingredients like AHAs and BHAs to help get rid of dead skin cells.
- Dissolves and loosens bonds between dead skin cells.
Physical exfoliation
- Gets hands-on with small particles to sweep away dead skin cells from the surface.
- Utilizes ingredients like silica and bamboo beads to buff away dullness and reveal radiant skin.
Our picks for chemical lotion exfoliation:
Clarifying Lotion 1.0 Twice A Day Exfoliator, Acne Solutions Clarifying Lotion, Clarifying Do-Over Peel
- Clarifying Lotion 1.0 Twice A Day Exfoliator: Safe for sensitive skin, this drying alcohol-free exfoliator is ideal for daily use.
- Acne Solutions Clarifying Lotion: Fight acne with salicylic acid and unclog pores with this medicated formula.
- Clarifying Do-Over Peel: Want an extra boost? Experience a brighter, smoother look with millions of fresher surface cells revealed, powered by our 32% Micro-Acid+ Complex.
Our picks for physical scrub exfoliation:
Blackhead Solutions 7-Day Deep Pore Cleanse Scrub, All About Clean 2-in-1 Charcoal Mask + Scrub
- Blackhead Solutions 7-Day Deep Pore Cleanse Scrub: Minimizes the look of pores. Plus, see a 94% improvement in the appearance of blackheads in 6 weeks.*
- All About Clean 2-in-1 Charcoal Mask + Scrub: Detoxifies and purifies with charcoal, leaving skin clean in 5 minutes.
How to exfoliate your skin
Choose chemical or physical methods for smooth, glowing skin.
Clarifying lotions
- Use morning and night after cleansing.
- Apply to cotton ball or pad.
- Gently sweep over face and neck, avoiding eyes and lips.
Exfoliating scrubs (physical) like Exfoliating Scrub
- Dampen makeup-free skin.
- Dispense dime-sized amount of scrub.
- Massage in circular motion, avoiding eyes and lips.
- Rinse with water.
Try a 2-in-1 like All About Clean 2-in-1 Cleansing + Exfoliating Jelly, which cleanses and exfoliates:
All About Clean 2-in-1 Cleansing + Exfoliating Jelly
- Dispense a dime-sized amount onto hands.
- Massage gently over face, avoiding eyes.
- Rinse with water.
When to exfoliate
Twice daily (morning and night) use Clarifying Lotion between cleansing and moisturizing as part of Clinique's 3-Step System.
- Cleansing removes dirt and oil.
- Exfoliation removes dead skin cells, prepping for moisturizer.
- Moisturizer hydrates for a soft, refreshed feel.
Exfoliating do's and don’ts
Exfoliation can help you unlock brighter-, clearer-, and smoother-looking skin.
Do's:
- Do exfoliate regularly to remove dead skin cells to help reveal more radiant skin.
- Do choose the right exfoliant for your skin (chemical or physical).
- Do a patch test for new exfoliating products.
- Do follow the instructions provided by the product or your skincare professional.
- Do moisturize after exfoliating to hydrate.
Don'ts:
- Don't over-exfoliate; it can lead to irritation.
- Don't exfoliate sunburned skin.
- Don't use harsh scrubs or exfoliants on sensitive skin; look for products appropriate for sensitive skin.
- Don't forget your sunscreen after exfoliating.
- Don't exfoliate over open wounds, cuts, or active breakouts.
Get your glow. Explore the world of exfoliation.
*Clinical testing on 52 women.
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Clarifying Lotion 1.0 Twice A Day Exfoliator
6.7 fl. oz./200 ml
13.5 fl. oz./400 ml
Acne Solutions™ Clarifying Lotion
6.7 fl. oz./200 ml
