by Exfoliation is one of those things that we have to do all year round, but we have to adjust the way we do it as the temperatures change. Now that the weather is hot and our skin barriers are stronger, we can incorporate gentle (!) Manual exfoliation into our body care routine. This means natural scrub for exfoliation instead of relying on chemical exfoliating acids. To do it right, Ivy Lee, MD, a certified dermatologist in Pasadena, California, is a big fan of using exfoliating gloves this time of year.
“When used properly, exfoliating gloves can really provide a nice, gentle manual exfoliation, where you can gently remove the accumulation of dead skin cells in the stratum corneum, the top layer of your skin and the accumulation of skin care products,” he says. . Dr. Lee. “We spend a lot of time outdoors and exfoliation is a great way to make sure you don’t have an accumulation of sunscreen, insect repellent, sand, sweat and all that.”
If you shave more often, an exfoliating glove such as the Ameliorate Exfoliating Body Mitt ($ 14) can help you “prevent or soothe ingrown hairs so they don’t cause irritation or puffiness,” says Dr. Lee. In addition, it is an excellent first step before using a self-tanner. “Self-tanner, which is the safest way to get a really tanned look, is much easier and much smoother to apply if you exfoliate beforehand.”
To make the most of your exfoliating glove, Dr. Lee says there are three rules you must follow.
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How to use an exfoliating glove
1. Do not overdo it
The key to making the most of your exfoliating treatment is to make sure you do not overdo it. Let the glove do its job without putting pressure. You fill your skin – do not try to rub it raw. You also want to make sure that you exfoliate healthy skin. If you use it on skin that is extremely dry and flaky or has any kind of irritation, you could aggravate the problem.
2. Combine with the right products
Before starting the exfoliation routine, wash your body with a mild, non-soapy body cleanser to make sure you start with clean skin (your standard body wash should do this). Then, once done, apply a lotion or oil to keep the skin smooth.
3. Keep the glove clean
It is extremely important to keep your glove clean and dry. Rinse it with your soap after use, clean off excess water and hang it to air dry. “If you do not hang it to dry and do not let it really ventilate, you may have an accumulation of bacteria that, if used on your skin, could potentially cause a bacterial skin infection, bacterial blister,” says Dr. .
4. Replace it often
Even if you do your best to keep your glove clean, it is not designed to last forever. “If you use it on a daily basis or every other day, you should probably replace it every month,” says Dr. Lee.
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