Exfoliating your skin is one of the most important steps you can take to keep it looking healthy and invigorated. Once you’ve cleared away those dead skin cells, your skin is more open to receiving the best skincare possible. Now is the ideal moment to start treating it with the care and respect it deserves.
Selecting the right post-exfoliation steps can go a long way toward keeping skin hydrated, calming possible sensitivity, and improving your skin’s overall look and feel. From deeply hydrating moisture to comforting SPF, every step in this routine helps protect and pamper your complexion while it heals and prepares to shine again.
These seven steps are easy but impactful, helping you to maintain skin that is both beautiful and tough. You can either go all-in with a comprehensive skincare routine or easily use fewer products. Regardless of the reason, these seven steps are the perfect follow-up to any skin exfoliation.
Key Takeaways
- Post-exfoliation care is key to getting the most out of your exfoliation while replenishing the skin’s natural barrier to minimize irritation or damage.
- Invest in gentle and hydrating products Whether it’s a cleanser, toner, or moisturizer, soothing ingredients are a must when your skin is freshly exfoliated.
- Skip super harsh ingredients, such as retinoids and vitamin C, right after exfoliating to avoid irritation.
- Use a broad-spectrum SPF30 sunscreen to prevent UV-induced skin damage. Just make sure you keep reapplying it throughout the day!
- Don’t exfoliate more than 1-2 times per week, and don’t use multiple exfoliating products in the same routine.
- Drink lots of water to stay hydrated, and use cooling tools like jade rollers to calm skin post-exfoliation.
Why Post-Exfoliation Care Matters
Exfoliation is essential in a complete skincare routine. It gently exfoliates dead skin cells, unclogs pores, and helps prevent breakouts while balancing your complexion. This is great if your goal is clear, smooth skin.
You might not realize that the process leaves your skin even more sensitive and exposed. It’s not hard to believe that nine out of ten people experience some sort of irritation post exfoliation. That’s why post-exfoliation care is really important. If your skin’s post-exfoliation needs are neglected, irritation can quickly escalate to redness, dryness, or in some cases, breakouts.
One of the biggest reasons you should start prepping your skin for post-exfoliation care is to support your skin’s barrier function. Though exfoliating is great to clear away buildup, it temporarily disrupts the outer layer of your skin. That barrier not only locks in moisture, but it keeps out irritants, so protecting and maintaining that barrier is key.
Using a rich, hydrating moisturizer immediately following exfoliation goes a long way. At night, you can use heavier moisturizers to form a protective barrier that locks in hydration overnight. Another non-negotiable is to layer in sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher during the daytime. After exfoliation your skin is much more sensitive to UV light. A physical sunscreen with zinc offers outstanding protection while avoiding irritation.
It can be easy to overlook these steps. In the long run, avoiding care for your skin can lead to dryness, rough texture, and even premature aging. These simple post-exfoliation care choices will help keep your skin healthy and looking great for years to come.
Steps to Take After Exfoliation
After exfoliating, your skin will require additional moisturizing to maintain a radiant appearance. Here’s a breakdown of the steps to follow for optimal recovery:
1. Cleanse Gently
Follow with a hydrating wash like Charlotte’s Magic Hydration Revival Cleanser, which purifies without depleting hydration. Avoid overly abrasive exfoliating scrubs or foaming cleansers that can further irritate sensitive skin.
Instead, search for gentle, calming ingredients such as aloe vera or chamomile to help calm your skin post-exfoliation.
2. Apply Hydrating Toner
Immediately follow with a toner that puts moisture back in. Alcohol-free toners with ingredients such as hyaluronic acid are excellent options.
This one goes on best with either spray application or a cotton pad. This simple step restores balance to your skin while preventing over-drying.
3. Use a Soothing Serum
Applying a high-performance serum Charlotte’s Magic Serum Crystal Elixir, for example, can help reduce redness and irritation. Niacinamide or centella asiatica are fantastic ingredients to reach for when soothing and repairing skin post-exfoliation.
Lightweight serums, like our Radiance Serum, absorb more quickly and are a great choice for post-exfoliation care.
4. Treat the Eye Area
After with enough hydration, to the sensitive eye area with an eye cream, such as Magic Eye Rescue. Peptides, hyaluronic acid soothe and plump to hydrate without the puff.
5. Lock in Moisture
Lock in hydration with a thick, creamy moisturizer, such as Charlotte’s Magic Water Cream, for a dewy, water-burst glow. Once you’ve exfoliated, apply your serums on damp skin so they absorb even more.
Ingredients such as ceramides or shea butter help to restore the skin’s barrier.
6. Protect with Sunscreen
Complete with a broad-spectrum SPF 50+ sunscreen. Foxtale’s Dewy Sunscreen is a great option if you have dry skin, and their Matte Sunscreen is better for folks with oily skin.
If you’re outside, make sure to reapply every two hours.
7. Avoid Harsh Products
Avoid activities such as retinoids or vitamin C. Avoid irritation by sticking with gentle, healing products.
Choosing the Right Products
After exfoliation, your skin is more vulnerable and requires additional protection. Choosing the right products can help your skin recover and thrive. Here’s a closer look at what to prioritize:
Importance of Non-Comedogenic Options
Non-comedogenic products are made to not clog your pores, which is key to maintaining clear, healthy skin. These formulas are particularly effective post-exfoliation when skin is most vulnerable.
Lightweight formulas such as gel-based facial moisturizers or serums offer hydration without the heaviness. Make sure to look for labels that guarantee a product is non-comedogenic, making sure it’s right for your skin type.
Skin type can affect the choice of product—for instance, someone with oily skin may lean toward a water-based moisturizer, while drier skin types love creamier formulas.
How to Pick Skin-Safe Ingredients
Soothing and hydrating ingredients are your skin’s best friends post-exfoliation. Consider ingredients like aloe vera, chamomile, and hyaluronic acid—these are all proven to soothe irritation and seal in moisture.
Skip synthetic fragrances and harsh chemicals, such as alcohols, which can further irritate sensitivity. When in doubt, look for or default to brands that specialize in mild, dermatologist-tested, dermatologist-approved formulas.
A toner with calming ingredients, like this one, for instance, can help bring your skin’s pH level back to balance, Dr. Rogers says.
Identifying Products for Your Skin Type
The best way to approach your skincare is to focus on your exact needs. For those with oily skin, gels are airy and lightweight.
Dry skin sings with richer creams or balms, and skin that’s easily aggravated does best with hypoallergenic formulations. Combination skin may necessitate using different products on different areas.
A quick consultation with a dermatologist can help you figure out which products to use for the most effective results.
Additional Tips for Post-Exfoliation Care
Limit Exfoliation Frequency
Over-exfoliation can leave skin dry and irritated. To avoid harmful side effects, dermatologists recommend exfoliating no more than once to twice a week for your skin type. For instance, if you’re prone to skin sensitivity, wait a few days between exfoliation treatments to allow your skin to recuperate.
Listen to your skin and if you start to feel your skin tightening or it’s turning red, that’s a good indicator that you need to exfoliate less. Don’t pile on exfoliation. Don’t use a physical exfoliant like a scrub along with a chemical exfoliant in one routine. Layering them can really be too much for your skin.
Using fewer products makes it easier to strike the balance your skin needs and to avoid overexerting yourself and causing irritation.
Avoid Sun Exposure Immediately After
Lastly, after exfoliating your skin is much more sensitive to sunlight as the protective barrier is compromised. To reduce the potential harm, limit the time you’re outside if you can, or cover your skin with long sleeves and a wide-brimmed hat. UV protective sunglasses are a good measure as well.
If you have to be outdoors, keep a moisturizer with SPF handy to save time and remember to reapply sunscreen every two hours. This protects your skin while avoiding additional dryness and potential sunburn.
Stay Hydrated for Skin Health
Hydration is perhaps the most important aspect of post-exfoliation care. Drinking eight glasses of water a day will help your skin stay hydrated and help your skin’s natural repair process. Incorporating water-dense foods, such as cucumbers or oranges, into your diet can be an easy way to increase water intake too.
If you’re very active, or outdoors a lot, you may need to drink more water to accommodate that. Anything with Glycerin is great for sealing in moisture and comforting skin after exfoliating.
Use Cooling Tools for Soothing
Cooling tools, such as jade rollers or ice globes, are a must-have to soothe skin and give it a refreshing post-exfoliation treatment. When used with a light touch, these tools work to decrease redness and soothe any irritation.
To achieve optimal results, place them in the refrigerator prior to use. Healing and soothing ingredients such as Centella and guaiazulene will help speed up your skin’s healing process. They do a great job soothing and moisturizing irritated, flaky skin.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
After exfoliating your skin, here are some common mistakes to avoid. Following these tips will go a long way towards keeping your skin looking healthy, bright and beautiful!
Here’s a clear breakdown:
- Exfoliating too often or too aggressively
- Skipping essential steps like moisturizing and sunscreen
- Using multiple active ingredients at once
- Choosing abrasive scrubs over gentler alternatives
- Forgetting to patch test new products
- Exfoliating too close to treatments like facials
Overusing Active Ingredients
When your skin is overloaded with activities, it can get angry. Rather than layering multiple products containing retinol, AHAs, BHAs, or vitamin C, choose one or two targeted products.
For example, if your goal is acne treatment, pick a salicylic acid product instead of layering it with glycolic acid. Overloading on activities can cause irritation, dryness, or even PIH.
Be respectful to your skin and listen to it at all times.
Skipping Moisturizer or Sunscreen
Once exfoliation has cleared the way for new skin, it can leave your skin exposed and sensitive. Moisturizer is key to replenishing hydration and repairing the skin barrier.
Without it, dryness and irritation can develop. Sunscreen is equally important — it protects your skin from harmful UV rays that can lead to burns and lasting damage.
After exfoliating, these are the non-negotiable steps.
Using Abrasive Scrubs Too Often
Physical scrubs can be irritating. The micro-tears from overuse, in turn, result in inflammation and even scarring.
Stick to chemical exfoliants or enzyme-based products that are less abrasive. Restrict physical scrubs to once a month max.
Stick to exfoliating 2-3 times a week to keep your skin in check.
Conclusion
These post-exfoliation skincare steps supercharge the reveal of fresh skin. It’s the secret to keeping your skin radiant and beautiful. Keeping it hydrated, protecting it from the sun, and using products that are gentle and nourishing can go a long way. These small steps go a long way in helping your skin heal quicker and appear healthier.
By preventing missteps such as over-exfoliating or not using moisturizer, you’re safeguarding your complexion from irritation and dryness. Choose the right products for your unique skin type and concerns, and you’ll start to notice visible results in the long run.
Your skin will thank you for these extra steps post-exfoliation. Continue this level of care, and allow your skin to glow. To learn more beauty tips and tricks, visit some of our other skincare guides and perfect your routine!
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