Exfoliation is considered as the most basic yet an effective step of skincare for getting a radiant and glowing skin without any dull patches. It helps in clearing out the buildup of dead skin cells and other impurities from the skin and helps in unclogging the pores of the skin.
People might often get confused whether to choose chemical exfoliating face scrub or a physical face scrub. Both the scrubs work well for the skin and help in brightening the skin and lifting impurities from the skin but both these methods follow different approaches for exfoliating.
Physical scrubs need to be scrubbed manually on the face to exfoliate the skin. They use some gritty particles which help in gently lifting the impurities from the skin when scrubbed on the face.
Whereas chemical exfoliants use mild acids like AHA, BHA or PHA which work chemically to dissolve the bonds of dead skin cells and help in gently shedding them from the skin. They do not need to be scrubbed harshly on the face like physical scrubs. Chemical exfoliants are even beneficial for delivering deep pore cleansing.
You need to select the right one based on your skin type, skin concerns and goals.
Benefits of using an exfoliating scrub
- Exfoliation helps in shedding the buildup of impurities from the skin and dissolves the accumulated dead skin cells.
- It helps in smoothening the texture of the skin by shedding the buildup from the face.
- It helps in brightening the skin as it clears out the impurities from the face which might cause skin dullness.
- It helps in enhancing the absorption of other skincare products by clearing the blockage from the surface.
- It helps in keeping the pores of the skin clear.
- It helps in unclogging the pores of the skin and prevents buildup inside the pores of the skin.
How do physical scrubs work?
Physical face scrubs need to be scrubbed manually on the skin to lift off the buildup of dead skin cells and other impurities. It mainly works on the surface of the skin and helps clear out the buildup. It might not work effectively for delivering deep pore cleansing but delivers proper surface cleansing. Physical exfoliating scrubs mostly use gritty particles or beads to scrub off the impurities from the skin. Using smooth and gentle exfoliators for clearing out the buildup from the skin is more suitable as it does not cause any micro-tears. It helps in getting a smooth and brightened skin right after cleansing.
Most physical scrubs use grainy particles derived from natural or chemical sources. It could be soluble or insoluble into the skin. Mostly sugar, salt, coffee grains, and micro beads are used for this purpose.
Chemical exfoliating scrubs
Chemical exfoliation involves mild acids which work chemically to loosen or dissolve the cellular bonds that hold the dead skin cells together. This helps shedding the buildup of impurities along with dead skin cells from the skin.
Some of the chemical exfoliants also help in delivering deep pore cleansing action. They are ideal for gentle exfoliation as they do not need to be scrubbed harshly on the skin to clear the buildup. They offer deep exfoliation and deliver results slowly but effectively.
Types of chemical exfoliating acids used for exfoliation-
- Alpha hydroxy acids: AHAs are the exfoliating agents which work on the surface of the skin as they are water soluble in nature. They break down the cellular bonds of dead skin cells and help in clearing them out. Glycolic acid and lactic acid are examples of AHAs.
- Beta hydroxy acids: BHAs are chemical acids that have the ability to penetrate deep into the pores of the skin as they are truly oil-soluble in nature.These oil soluble acids work deep in the pores by breaking the bonds of dead skin cells and other impurities and help in cleansing the skin deeply. Salicylic acid is one of the most effective BHA.
- Poly hydroxy acids: PHA are water soluble chemical acids like AHAs but they are larger in size as compared to AHAs and they mostly work on the surface of the skin to exfoliate impurities.
Time of delivery of action
A physical face scrub delivers an immediate action, it works in 60 seconds and helps in clearing out the surface impurities from the skin right after rinsing. Your skin starts feeling clear and smooth but physical scrubs deliver temporary cleanse.
Chemical exfoliants deliver an action slowly on the skin as they work on the deeper skin levels and it helps in improving the skin deeply. They can’t deliver a quick action after first cleanse instead deliver measurable change after some time.
Skin type suitability
For getting a clear skin you need to opt for the best scrub among both options based on your skin type.
- Oily and acne prone skin: Must use deep cleansing BHA for lifting oil and other impurities deeply from the skin. Also use gentle exfoliating physical scrubs and avoid harsh physical scrubs which could trigger acne.
- Dry and sensitive skin: Must opt for gentle exfoliating acids like AHAs for surface cleansing in dry skin. Look for PHAs for sensitive skin.
- Combination skin: Can easily use both physical and chemical exfoliating scrubs.
Wrapping up
Both scrubs work well for your skin and help in delivering skin brightening actives. Neither scrub is superior, it totally depends on your skin’s adaptability that how well each scrub would work for your skin. Just find the right match for skin based on your concerns and exfoliate your skin gently.
