Exfoliation Ingredients In (Anti-Aging) Skin Care Creams

1. Exfoliation through chemical means
   1. Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHA), fruit acids
      • glycolic Acid
      • lactic acid
      • citric acid (3-hydroxypentanedioic acid-3-carboxylic acid)
      • malic acid
      • tropic acid (3-Hydroxy-2-phenyl-propionic acid)
   2. Beta-hydroxy acid (BHA)
      • salicylic Acid
      • beta-hydroxybutanoic acid
   3. Poly Hydroxy Acid (PHA)
   4. tretinoin (all-trans retinoic acid) under various trade name
      • Retin-A
      • Renova
   5. fruit enzymes
      • pineapple enzymes (Bromelain)
2. Exfoliation through mechanical/physical means
   1. coffee grounds
   2. crushed apricot kernel
   3. crushed almond shells
   4. crushed walnut shells
   5. sugar or salt crystals
   6. ground oatmeal
   7. pumice
   8. kiwi extracts,
   9. jojoba beads
   10. skin brushing or other tools (sponge, loofahs)
   11. polyethylene, polyurethane or other synthetic beads

Introduction

You can speed up the process of evening out your skin texture by exfoliating. As we age the process of cell turnover slows down. Cells start to pile up unevenly on the skin’s surface, giving it a dry, rough, dull appearance. Exfoliation is beneficial because it removes those dull, dry dead surface skin cells that are clinging on, revealing the fresher, younger skin cells below. This brings new cells to the surface faster, aids in the absorption of treatment products and stimulates skin cell renewal and production of collagen and elastin. Exfoliation can be achieved through mechanical or chemical means. Traditional chemical peel treatment is performed at spa, salon or beauty clinic by esthetician or dermatologist and is an ablative nonsurgical skin rejuvenation procedure using much higher concentrations of chemical ingredients . However, chemical peel ingredients are also formulated for topical exfoliating creams or peels. Chemical exfoliation is a mild and noninvasive form of skin resurfacing treatment that does not require professional services. Chemical exfoliation may involve the use of products that contain alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) or beta hydroxy acids (BHAs), or enzymes that act to loosen the glue-like substance that holds the cells together, allowing them to ease away.

Mechanical exfoliation process involves physically scrubbing the skin with an abrasive including microfiber cloths, adhesive exfoliation sheets, micro-bead facial scrubs, crepe paper, crushed apricot kernel or almond shells, sugar or salt crystals, pumice, and abrasive materials such as sponges, loofahs, brushes, and simply fingernails. Microdermabrasion is an ablative skin resurfacing procedure using mechanical abrasion which traditionally was performed at salon and clinic by esthetician using microdermabrasion equipment. Recently, home use microdermabrasion handheld device and home use microdermabrasion kits (cream and applicators) are becoming increasingly popular because of the convenience and safety advantages. Mechanical exfoliation scrubbing use small, round, gentle abrasives and is the mild, light surface cleaning of the skin. It is much less aggressive than microdermabrasion creams or home use kits.

Subpages

• Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHA): glycolic acid and lactic acid
• Beta-hydroxy acids (BHA): salicylic acid
• Bromelain (pineapple extract)
• Exfoliation via Mechanical Means
• Polyhydroxy acid