Chemical vs. Physical Exfoliation

How do you know which type of exfoliation to use? Chemical or Physical? What do those terms actually mean anyway? Read below and check out Tarrah’s latest video to learn the answers to these questions and more! Take a deeper dive into learning about exfoliating at home and just a few of the many products available at Amelia Gray.

Chemical Exfoliation

How does chemical exfoliation work?

When you use chemical exfoliation, you will be using a product that is meant to stay on your skin. This chemical exfoliant (usually the consistency of a gel or a serum) will soak into the layers of your skin and dissolve away the connections between your skin cells. This will allow the older top skin cell layers to slough off. Think of it this way, your skin cells look like building blocks or bricks with mortar in between each one to keep them in place. The chemical exfoliant will soak down into the mortar to dissolve it away and help to reveal fresh new skin cells.

What are some good product options for use at home and how do I use them for chemical exfoliation?

There are quite a few options when it comes to at-home chemical exfoliants, but a couple of our favorites at Amelia Gray are the Quick Refiner by Bioelements and the Mandelic Serum by Face Reality. As with most of our skincare products, we do recommend that you speak with a professional esthetician before purchasing. But, here is some information to get you started:

The Quick Refiner by Bioelements has two formulas, one for face and one for eyes. It is important to only use the eye formulation in that delicate area, so yes, you do need both! (This is true for any brand or type of chemical exfoliant you use at home.) This product is a multi-acid serum that contains alpha-hydroxy acid which helps to attract moisture. This means that you will have less dryness and flakiness when using this product, assuming you aren’t using it too often (more on that later!)

When using a chemical exfoliant for the first time, it is important to start out slowly so that you don’t irritate your skin and cause redness. Typically we recommend applying these serums two times a week with three days in between each application. You will apply the serum to clean skin and leave it on to do its work. The Quick Refiner is great for brightening up your skin and helping to clear up minor impactions (clogged pores).

If you deal with more stubborn acne or pigmentation issues, you may want to try the Mandelic Serum by Face Reality. We love this one for its accessible price point and the wonderful job it does at exfoliating and helping to clear up your complexion.

Watch this video to hear Tarrah explain the key differences between chemical and physical exfoliation.

How does physical exfoliation work?

Physical exfoliation is a fairly straightforward process by which you manually remove the dull top layer of your skin using a scrub. Unlike chemical exfoliants, these are not designed to stay on your skin. You wash them off after using. Some physical exfoliation products are actually combined with a cleanser.

What are some good product options for use at home and how do I use them for physical exfoliation?

Team AG loves Pumice Peel by Bioelemtents. This exfoliant is a thicker consistency and looks like it would be pretty mild. But don’t let it fool you, it is powerful because it is loaded with pieces of pumice stone. Think of using this product like giving yourself an at-home manual microdermabrasion. For this reason, we recommend only using once a week unless your esthetician tells you otherwise. Be gentle when you massage this into your skin so that you don’t cause irritation and redness! Massage in small circles for about a minute (avoiding your eye area) before gently wiping off with a damp cloth.

We also love the Antioxidant Scrub by Face Reality. This is a cleanser and exfoliant combined and it is much less aggressive than the Pumice Peel so you can use it several times a week. Just use it like you would your regular cleanser, massage it gently into your skin and then rinse off.

And a reminder, make sure to use a good moisturizer after physical exfoliation to help your skin look and feel its best.

What if I’m still confused about how to add exfoliation into my skincare routine at home?

Don’t worry. Team AG has you covered. If you are still unsure about how to go about adding exfoliation to your at-home skincare routine, just stop in and ask one of our Guest Experts at the front desk or speak with your esthetician when you come in for your next facial service. If you can’t make it in, you can always email us and place an online order.