- PPF Points
- 2,888
Exfoliation, man, it’s like walking a tightrope—one wrong move and suddenly your face hates you. I’ve absolutely fumbled this step before; back in the day, I thought, “Hey, scrub harder, scrub more… glowy skin in no time!” Spoiler: nope. My face went red and patchy, basically threw a tantrum. It took me forever to realize you can’t treat your skin like a kitchen floor—you gotta listen to it (yeah, cliché, but it’s true).
Now? Twice, maybe three times a week, tops. I learned the hard way that those scrubs with the tiniest jagged grains are kinda evil. Chemical exfoliants are way gentler—like lactic acid, mandelic acid, that sort of thing. They melt away the rough stuff without turning your cheeks into sandpaper. Seriously, if you’re slathering on AHAs like frosting every night, take a step back. Your skin will thank you.
Not gonna lie, I used to get carried away layering every acid and peel I could find, thinking “more = better!” Genius, right? Ended up with skin so raw, it looked like I’d been sunbathing on the sun. Now, I read my face like a weird little mood ring: if she’s irritated, flaky, or just cranky in general, I back off and stack up the soothing stuff—think aloe, ceramides, boring-but-necessary moisturizers.
Seasons mess with my routine too. Winter? Total Sahara desert situation, so I chill with the exfoliating and slap on extra moisturizer. Summer? I might exfoliate a smidge more ’cause sweat and sunscreen make my pores act up, but still… everything in moderation unless you want your face plotting revenge.
Oh, and don’t skip sunscreen—ever. Once you sweep away those dead skin cells, your face gets all vulnerable and dramatic about the sun. Basically, exfoliation’s kinda like dating: pay attention, don’t rush, and sometimes you just need a break. Everyone’s skin is different, though, so honestly, it’s trial and error. You gotta figure out what makes your skin happiest, even if that means ignoring every influencer on the internet now and then.
Now? Twice, maybe three times a week, tops. I learned the hard way that those scrubs with the tiniest jagged grains are kinda evil. Chemical exfoliants are way gentler—like lactic acid, mandelic acid, that sort of thing. They melt away the rough stuff without turning your cheeks into sandpaper. Seriously, if you’re slathering on AHAs like frosting every night, take a step back. Your skin will thank you.
Not gonna lie, I used to get carried away layering every acid and peel I could find, thinking “more = better!” Genius, right? Ended up with skin so raw, it looked like I’d been sunbathing on the sun. Now, I read my face like a weird little mood ring: if she’s irritated, flaky, or just cranky in general, I back off and stack up the soothing stuff—think aloe, ceramides, boring-but-necessary moisturizers.
Seasons mess with my routine too. Winter? Total Sahara desert situation, so I chill with the exfoliating and slap on extra moisturizer. Summer? I might exfoliate a smidge more ’cause sweat and sunscreen make my pores act up, but still… everything in moderation unless you want your face plotting revenge.
Oh, and don’t skip sunscreen—ever. Once you sweep away those dead skin cells, your face gets all vulnerable and dramatic about the sun. Basically, exfoliation’s kinda like dating: pay attention, don’t rush, and sometimes you just need a break. Everyone’s skin is different, though, so honestly, it’s trial and error. You gotta figure out what makes your skin happiest, even if that means ignoring every influencer on the internet now and then.