This Peel Removes Dry Skin Better Than Any Scrub
When I learned about facial scrubs back in middle school, I was pretty sure exfoliation was the only thing that would get me glowing skin. Scrubbing my skin with rough microbeads certainly felt effective, whether or not I saw a difference in my skin afterward.
But in recent years, I’ve started doubting my trust in exfoliants. It probably started when microbeads were banned in December 2015 because they’re so bad for the environment. It hadn’t really occurred to me that scrubbing my face with microbeads basically amounted to rubbing plastic into my skin.
Plus exfoliating doesn’t always work for me when it comes to removing dry skin. Whenever I got those little dry flakes on my nose that come along with cold weather, I’d scrub and scrub and the flakiness would just get worse.
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But recently, The Body Shop sent me a sample of its Drops of Youth Liquid Peel. I had never used something like this before, but now I’m hooked.
The peel is really simple to use — you just pump it into your hands and rub it all over your clean face, and your flakey dead skin will come right off. After I use the peel, my nose is totally smooth.
A dermatologist from The Body Shop, Dr. Christine Choi Kim, answered a few of my questions about Drops of Youth and exfoliation. Read on and give the product a shot by buying it here.
Why do we get dry flakes on our faces, in the wintertime and in general?
Desquamation, or the shedding of skin cells, is the natural process in our skin to regenerate itself and eliminate pollutants and damaged cells. A skin cell normally takes thirty days to travel from the bottom layer of the epidermis to the top before being sloughed off, but this process slows down as we age due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. The result is a dull, dry, and sometimes flaky complexion. Winter weather can exacerbate dry flakes because the cold temperatures and low humidity cause water to evaporate from our skin more quickly.
READ ALSO: 6 Hydrating Products to Avoid Flakey Skin
I’ve tried exfoliation to remove flakes before but it just seems to make it worse. Why is that? Am I exfoliating too hard?
Over-exfoliation can lead to red, flaky, and irritated skin. Different skin types will respond best to different exfoliants. Oilier types may do well with prescription retinoids and alpha- or beta- hydroxy acids, while sensitive skin types may benefit from gentler enzymatic or physical exfoliation techniques. How often should you exfoliate? Some people can handle daily exfoliation while others can only handle exfoliating once a week. It may take some trial and error, but with proper guidance from your dermatologist you will be able to find the best exfoliating regimen for you.
This product is really good for getting rid of the flakes, but what are some prevention tips?
Proper skincare is the key to preventing flakes, and the good news is that your skin care routine does not have to be complicated to be effective. In the morning, use a gentle cleanser and make sure to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher before you apply your makeup. At nighttime, even when you’re tired, removing makeup before you go to sleep is a must. Exfoliate regularly based on your skin type and tolerance. Then hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Make a commitment to stick to your skin care routine even on “good skin days” — and you will be much less likely to have a “bad skin day”.
Can you recommend some other products to go along with this one for if someone wants to do a full DIY treatment at home?
I like to use the Drops of Youth Youth Liquid Peel twice weekly as part of my nighttime routine after removing my makeup and using a gentle cleanser. Afterwards, I like to use a light serum with active anti-aging ingredients, followed by a really intense moisturizer to give me a boost of hydration while I sleep. The Drops of Youth line includes its best-selling Youth Concentrate as well as the Korean beauty-inspired Bouncy Sleeping Mask. This nighttime trio helps me wake up to a clean, glowing complexion.
Buy The Body Shop’s Drops of Youth Here.
