Exfoliation helps to make skin smoother, clearer, brighter. This is especially important as we get older when cell turnover slows down, dead skin cells build up and dullness and dryness can creep in. Fresh, new, perky skin takes longer to reveal itself.
Exfoliation helps to give the process a nudge, speeding up cell renewal, reinvigorating the skin and helping to replace lost radiance. It can take away that dullness that makes us look more tired and washed-out than we’d like.
Exfoliation isn’t a case of stripping the skin, which would only leave it damaged and vulnerable; it’s about sweeping off cells that are ready to go anyway. Exfoliation just chivvies them along a bit, breaking the bonds between the dead skin cells and the skin’s surface, to reveal smoother, brighter looking skin.
How to exfoliate
In our youth we may have taken the sand-blasting route with harsh, grainy scrubs. These days however, exfoliation has moved on with ever more sophisticated products and the preference now is for liquid acid exfoliators. These began life as in-salon treatments but have evolved to be safe enough to use in the comfort of your own home.
Talking about acids around the face can cause many of us to recoil, but the surface of our skin is acidic, so acid products are ‘familiar’ to the skin. The product you choose will depend on your skin’s needs but for mature skin, polyhydroxy acids (PHAs) are a good choice as they are gentle, non-irritating, hydrating and suitable for even sensitive skin types.
Our new Willowberry PHA Liquid Exfoliator uses next-generation polyhydroxy acids (PHAs) of gluconolactone and lactobionic acid. As well as exfoliating, PHAs are great humectants (attracting and holding water in the skin therefore improving hydration), help support the collagen matrix, restore skin barrier function and protect against collagen degradation. Our Willowberry PHA Liquid Exfoliator also contains pumpkin enzyme, a gentle exfoliator for enhanced cellular renewal, and is a good source of vitamin A to soften and smooth the skin.
The benefits of exfoliation for mature skin
Having an exfoliant in your skincare routine as you get older is a good, possibly essential, move in helping your skin be the best it can be, thanks to all the associated benefits:
- Speeding up cell turnover, protecting against collagen depletion and helping to maintain elasticity.
- Strengthening the skin’s barrier function.
- Reducing the appearance of fine lines and pigmentation.
- Encouraging radiance and brightening dullness.
- The skincare products that you use afterwards in your routine are able to penetrate skin more effectively.
Where does an exfoliator fit into the skincare routine?
Apply your exfoliator after cleansing and before any serums, oils or moisturisers.
How often should you exfoliate skin?
Exfoliating gently and regularly will avoid build-up and maximise all the fabulous benefits detailed above. How often you exfoliate depends on what type of exfoliator you use; manual scrubs or stronger exfoliating acids like AHAs and BHAs need their use to be limited depending on their strength. Meanwhile, our Willowberry PHA Liquid Exfoliator is formulated to be gentle enough to use every day on all skin types.
Willowberry is nutritious natural skincare for grown-ups, for your best skin.
A favourite with top make-up artists, Willowberry's luxurious award-winning products protect skin’s natural barrier function, to nourish and revive grown-up skin without telling women to be 'anti-ageing'.
As seen in Vogue, Independent, The Telegraph, This Morning and more.
