Skin care
7 Skin Care "Rules" You Need to Break
Think your routine is working for you? Wait until you see these sneaky ways your skin care habits are causing wrinkles, zits, and more
Rule No. 2: Exfoliating often is crucial
We think of dead skin cells as the enemy, but they do serve a purpose, says Gold. What does the skin you don't slough off do? It shields your complexion from environmental pollutants and bacteria. Rather than scrubbing daily, you should only exfoliate once every two weeks, Gold says.Graf also points out that it's not just how often you exfoliate, but the type of exfoliator you're using that also matters. She recommends avoiding face scrubs because "the sharp edges of the particles in some scrubs made from apricot pits and walnut shells can injure the skin." Instead, try chemical exfoliants (like alpha hydroxy, glycolic, or lactic acid) or more gentle scrubs made from rice or synthetic beads, like Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant, $50. It uses rice powder to gently exfoliate without scratching the skin. Or if you want to go the chemical route, try a product like DDF Glycolic 5% Daily Cleaning Pads, $35. Graff says to look for products that say they are gentle enough for daily use (but you should still only use them every two weeks). Chemical exfoliants may give you a slight tingly feeling, but if you're ending up with red or irritated skin, the product is too intense and you should try something gentler (look for lower concentrations of the active ingredients).
SEE NEXT PAGE: Rule No. 3: Retin-A and retinol are just for wrinkles
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