Image of a woman getting a facial

So many times, we look in the mirror and are dissatisfied with what we see. We feel good, but our skin doesn’t reflect it. It may be dull, dry, oily and flaky, or just overall lackluster in appearance. Environmental factors, extreme temperatures, the stress we experience in our own lives, and so many other factors influence how our skin looks. As we age, it gets worse. Our skin begins to produce less collagen, the ingredient that helps keep our skin looking young and the texture feeling springy and firm. When our skin loses elasticity, it can make us look older than we are.

Oftentimes our skin also suffers from the effects of dehydration, although we may not even know it. Hollows under our eyes, fine lines and wrinkles that weren’t there a few days ago, dryness, and even overproduction of oil and breakouts can all be signs our skin is thirsty.

Skin irritation is also a real issue. Redness and blotchiness can leave us with skin that not only looks bad but feels uncomfortable. No matter what we try it can be nearly impossible to “fix” our skin.

There has to be a solution, and there is.

One of the best ways to help troubled skin is by exfoliating on a regular basis.

Exfoliating is the process by which we remove excess dirt, oil, and dead skin cells from the surface of your skin. Doing this not only brings new skin to light, but it also prepares skin for the products you use after you exfoliate. This means your favorite products have a better chance to work deeper and more effectively than if you’d applied them to skin that had not been exfoliated. This is a recipe for skin that is truly “better.”

At KULCBD, we know skincare, and we know good, quality skincare ingredients. Our skincare products include high-quality, full spectrum CBD, along with a proprietary blend of lactobacillus probiotic to make sure your skin is not only extremely nourished and hydrated, but it’s also healthy too. We also use a blend of plant botanicals that are effective and the most beneficial for your skin. We start our skincare lineup by encouraging the use of an exfoliating cleanser daily. Our CBD exfoliating cleanser is formulated for every skin type; oily, dry, and combination, so that every user can get a great exfoliation while enjoying the benefits of CBD oil.

If you’re curious about exfoliating, we can help you make sense of it. There are definitely right ways (and wrong ways) to exfoliate your skin. You never want to use products that are harsh or harmful to your skin, as these products can cause more harm than good, and it’s important the products you use include ingredients that nourish your skin and don’t leave it feeling dry and stripped of not only dead skin cells but moisture as well.

We’ll teach you when it’s best to exfoliate, how often you should do it, and what products are best to follow up with after you’ve finished.

What Are the Benefits of Exfoliating?

Exfoliating does more than just leave your skin feeling baby soft. There are some real benefits to exfoliating on a regular basis, that may make you raise your eyebrows. Here are some of our favorite exfoliating benefits.

It deeply cleans your pores. Sure, you can use a cleanser full of harsh ingredients that claim to dig deep into your skin to unclog pores. The problem is, these usually leave your skin feeling parched, stretched thin, and itchy. If you have oily skin, using a harsh cleanser can cause your already over-productive sebaceous glands to produce even more oil to compensate for the condition your skin is left in after you cleanse it with these products.

Using a gentle, yet effective exfoliating cleanser can dig deep into pores without the use of skin-stripping ingredients. A formula that contains a mild exfoliating ingredient, like crushed apricot seed powder, can gently remove dirt and oil from pores without removing all your skin’s natural moisture.

Exfoliating can help other products penetrate more effectively. When your skin isn’t covered in a layer of dead skin cells, dirt, and oil that other cleansers can leave behind, the products you apply after you cleanse will naturally penetrate deeper, making them even more effective. This is especially good news for anyone who uses specialty products like acne treatments, anti-aging creams, or high-quality serums.

When dead skin cells remain on the surface of your skin, they act as a virtual barrier, not allowing any other products to penetrate the skin. So essentially, when you apply a product before exfoliating, you’re simply applying it to dead skin cells.

It helps your skin renew more quickly. When you brush away old, dying skin cells, it triggers your skin to start making more new cells. More new cells means healthier, fresher skin, and skin that looks younger. When your skin begins making new cells, it also increases collagen production, which means your skin will have an overall firmer appearance and those pesky fine lines will begin to gradually fade over time.

Related: Why KUL is Revolutionizing Skin Care »

How to Exfoliate Properly

Exfoliating your skin isn’t complicated, but some products and companies seem to make it that way. At KULCBD, we like to keep it simple. We offer a high-quality, CBD exfoliating cleanser specially formulated for daily use.

Be sure if you are using a daily exfoliating product that it does not include an ingredient that can actually harm your skin. For example, some exfoliating cleansers contain synthetic ingredients that can actually be harmful to your skin and cause microtears and abrasions. Additionally, they aren’t very effective at exfoliating either. The particles are much too large to remove dead skin cells, so without heavy scrubbing, you won’t have the benefit of the exfoliation.

A better option is an apricot seed powder. This powder has the ability to rid your skin of dirt, oil, and dead skin cells gently without causing damage. It is safe and gentle enough to use daily, both morning and evening. This means that your daytime and nighttime products will penetrate more effectively when applied, and you’ll have fresh, glowy skin all day.

Another great ingredient to include in an exfoliating cleanser is a probiotic and CBD blend. The combination of CBD and probiotics can deeply nourish skin and help your skin maintain healthy levels of good bacteria, which can equate to happier, healthier, more glowing skin overall.

To exfoliate properly, follow these simple steps:

Dampen skin with warm water. Avoid using extreme temperatures which may aggravate the skin. Warm water will help open pores and allow the exfoliator to do its job more effectively.

Use a dime-size amount of exfoliating product. You don’t need any more or less. Too much product will simply be wasted and too little will not be effective in exfoliating the entire area of your face.

Starting on your cheeks, begin to gently massage the exfoliating product on your skin in a circular motion. Be sure you do not scrub, as this can cause the exfoliator to potentially damage your skin, and it isn’t necessary.

Moving upward and outward, continue to massage the product into your skin, covering your cheeks, nose, forehead, and chin. Massage the product over your face for an entire minute.

Using warm water again, rinse the product from your face. Resist the urge to use a cloth or towel to remove the product; your hands can do the job for you and are gentle enough to ensure you don’t harm your skin.

Apply your other products. Your skin is now primed and ready for you to apply any specialty treatments or moisturizers. It’s best to make sure you apply these ingredients within about a minute of exfoliating, while your pores are still open. Anything you apply to your face will have the ability to penetrate deeply and be more effective than if you hadn’t exfoliated.

When Can I See Results

Immediately! One of the great things about exfoliating your skin is that some of the most desirable results are viewable immediately. You’ll notice healthier, more radiant-looking skin tone from the first time you exfoliate. The dead skin cells have been removed so there is now the beautiful, healthy glow of new skin.

You’ll also reap more benefits from the other products you normally use on your skin. This means if you’ve been using products for a period of time with little to no results, you may begin to feel they are working more effectively because they are able to penetrate more deeply and do the job they were designed to do.

Exfoliating your skin can be done on a daily basis provided it is done with a gentle exfoliant and done correctly. Exfoliating removes dead skin, oil, and dirt from the surface of your skin and cleans pores so that your skin is ready for additional products to penetrate deeply and become more effective. Exfoliating can leave your skin more radiant and beautiful. A great exfoliator should be gentle enough for daily use and should never contain any harsh, unnatural cleansing or exfoliating agents. Good luck!

Sources:

https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-secrets/routine/safely-exfoliate-at-home

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3088928/

https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/meaning-of-exfoliating#faqs

Directions for how to use QUL Wellness Tinctures: Shake well before using. Using provided dropper, take desired amount daily. Repeat as needed at home or on the run as a powerful hemp extract facial oil.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.