My Skin Care Routine | Exfoliators

This post stems of my orginal skin care post & overview here

Entering your 30s brings about various changes to your skin. One most noticable of these is that your skin may start looking more dull. There is a scientific reason for this: Your skin cell turnover slows down as early as your 20s. By the time you hit your 30s new cells are visible every 28-35 days, whereas they once turned over every 14 days or so when you were a child. What this means is that dead cells start accumulating on the surface of the skin and interfering with light reflection – so where you once reflected light off healthy cells in your face, there are more layers of dead or drying cells getting in the way of that bounce-to-glow. This is one of the main reasons that frequent exfoliation is key.

The benefits of weekly, or twice weekly, exfoliation are endless, but in summary:
– It unclogs pores
– It prevents acne
– It helps other (active) skin care products penetrate deeper and so work more effectively
– It evens skin tone
– It Boosts Circulation and Lymphatic Drainage
– It Increases Cell Turnover
– It Stimulates Collagen Synthesis

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Made with 5-6.5% Glycolic Acid, it is both gentle and effective at exfoliating away dirt and actively dissolving the bonds that hold dead skin build-up to reveal a healthy glow. It is no wonder this is one of REN’s top selling products – I will never be without it!
The AHAs present in the formula are said to resurface the skin, visibly improving firmness and radiance, while at the same time reducing fine lines, post acne scarring, blemishes and blackheads – the outcome is a bright, new complexion. By incorporating an exfoliating product with alpha hydroxy acid(glycolic, lactic, citric, etc.) into your weekly routine in your 30s, you assist your skin with the process of cell turnover.

This exfoliator therefore targets all my issues: evening out my skin tone, minimising my lines and preventing or minimising breakout by unglogging pores. It is also good to note that alpha-hydroxy acids like glycolic, lactic and malic acid exfoliate the surface of the skin. They are water soluble, can be moisturizing (lactic), skin brightening, address texture and hyperpigmentation. Source. So if your skin issues are anything like mine, then this is a great choice of exfoliator for you, targeting multiple issues but not drying out the skin or causing sensitivity or flakiness!
Dr Lundy says it is best to combine AHAs and BHAs. “This way, you’re treating acne and breakouts with the BHA, while also treating hyper-pigmentation and uneven tone with the AHA.”

Key Ingredients:
Glycolic Acid from Pineapple Extract gently exfoliates the skin, removing dead skin cells.
Lactic Acid from Passion Fruit smoothes and refines skin texture.
Papain from Papaya helps to further remove dead skin cells and rejuvenate overall skin texture and radiance

How I use this product:
I apply a generous amount onto clean skin over the face and neck, avoiding the eye area. Leave for 10 minutes. It comes with a muuslin cloth which you dampen. I like to wet it with warm water, squeeze it out and lay it over my face for a few seconds before I gently wipe off mask. I then rinse skin with warm water. A slight tingling may be experienced during application and is normal. 
It is recommended that you use it weekly.

My Overall Thoughts:
Adore! I honestly could not be without this product in my skincare regime. It leaves my skin bright, soft, calm and glowing. The texture post-exfoliation makes for easy make up application because it is smooth and free of clogged pores and dead skin cells. Exfoliation is essential, but over-exfoliating can have the opposite effect on skin, causing dryness, irritation and breakouts, so stick to recommendation on product packaging to be safe.
This product is probably not suitable for very sensitive skins, or if you haven’t started your skin on any active products yet.
R680 from Woolworths or REN online shop

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The REN FLash Rinse 1 Minute facial is called a mask, and certainly has mask-like properties, but I can’t help but feel it has more exfoliating-type results than mask-like, and so I have added it under exfoliators. The ‘mask’ takes the form of a grainy gel that contains boswellic acid (to diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles), magnesium (to energise and boost radiance) and stabilized 10% Vitamin C. The Vitamin C smell is strong, and assures you it is ready to do it’s job. With vitamin C from ascorbic acid, to unify skin tone and banish dullness, whilst stimulating collagen synthesis it leaves in its place skin that looks plumped and luminous. Present is also boswellic acid – renowned for its ability to relax micro-muscular contractions, so fine lines look less obvious. Glycogen magnesium then boosts skin energy, so cells work harder to repair, protect and renew themselves, leaving your skin looking firm, toned and smooth – with fewer imperfections and an enviable, lit-from-within vitality.

Key Ingredients:
The formulation combines coconut, orange and sunflower oils to instantly tone, firm and brighten up the skin.

How I use this product:
1-2 times a week I apply a reasonable amount into the palms of my hands and apply gently to my face and neck. There is some ‘grit’ to the consistency so I am careful not to be too rough. I then dampen the tips of my fingers and massage into my skin in circular motions to activate the Vit C. I leave for approx 1 minute and then rinse.

Overall Thoughts:
Not only is this a simple and convenient treatment that also reduces the effects of sun damage, neutralises greyness and alleviates signs of fatigue, it helps to improve skin imperfections and blemishes, working to restore the skin’s natural radiance, and lessen appearance of fine lines. It leaves the face smooth and glowing with vitality. This facial in a flash should find place in everyone’s bathroom cabinet. It’s perfect for a quick pre-party ‘glow’, or with continued use banishing signs of fatigue and aging. I love mine.

R 635.00 at Woolworths or on Ren online store

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These are some of the products I have used and enjoyed. I am not a trained skin therapist so please do take guidance from a professional. This post contains my unbiased opinion on products that have worked for me. I have a combination to oily skin, so if you have a a dry skin you may not enjoy these products the way I have.