Does Exfoliating Actually Brighten and Improve Your Skin Tone?

Exfoliation is a key step in everyone’s skincare routine, and without it, the skin feels dull, rough, and by no means smooth. It not only increases the efficacy of other products, diminishes wrinkles look, regulates sebum and unclogs pores, but also reduces hyperpigmentation. Yes, you’ve heard that right. Exfoliating your skin regularly is one of the best ways to even out your skin tone and improve signs of hyperpigmentation by breaking up the pigmented cells and sloughing them off. 

You are just about to find out how exactly exfoliation lightens the skin.

What is exfoliation?

Exfoliation is the process that removes the dead skin cells from the epidermis, aka the outer layer of your skin, in order to allow new, healthy cells to replace them. This is really important because dead skin cell buildup can lead to clogged pores, a dull look, and premature aging signs. Although the skin naturally sheds dead cells every 30 days — this is called cell turnover — you still need to exfoliate to speed up the process. 

There are more types of exfoliation, all sharing the same goal: to break the bonds between dead skin cells. Among these, chemical and physical exfoliation are the most common. Chemical exfoliation uses peeling agents such as glycolic acid, lactic acid, or malic acid, which dissolve the bond that holds skin cells, while physical exfoliants, like scrubs and brushes, rub the top layer of skin enough to remove the dead skin cells.

Does exfoliation brighten the skin?

Yes. Exfoliation is the first step in reducing skin pigmentation because it sheds away the pigmented and discolored cells, leading to a bright and even complexion. However, for this, you would need a chemical exfoliator and not a physical one. Chemical exfoliants improve skin tone and texture by reducing the excess melanin, the pigment of the epidermis that defines skin color. Dark spots, freckles, hyperpigmentation, and an uneven skin tone are all forms of excess melanin, so reducing the levels of this pigment can reveal lighter and luminous skin. And science proves it!

How to properly exfoliate your skin

Exfoliation is a double-edged sword. If you do it right, your skin will get massive gains, but if you over-exfoliate, you can compromise your skin barrier which will trigger irritations and sensitivities.

Now, if you’ve decided to go to a derm, she or he will tell you everything you need to know, but if you want to do a chemical peel at home, here’s what you should do:

First, if you have never exfoliated before, it’s best to start with a gentle cleanser containing peeling agents suitable for your skin type. Usually, cleansers are formulated with low concentrations of acids, meaning they are gentle for most skin types and can be used daily. Cleansers or toners are a good way to increase your tolerance towards chemical exfoliation. 

However, for skin lightening and hyperpigmentation, a cleanser may not be that effective. Instead, you can try a chemical peel. Chemical peels use higher concentrations and work more effectively at removing dead skin cells and improving skin tone. Sensitive and dry skin should exfoliate once weekly, while oily and combination skin can do it twice a week, depending on the peeling strength and skin sensitivity.

Finally, use a moisturizer after the chemical peel to reduce irritations and dryness, and never forget about sunscreen, as sun damage is the main cause of hyperpigmentation and dark spots.