We all know that exfoliation is key to maintaining a luminous complexion. But as much as we love using a good scrub to rid our dermis of dirt and grime, our favorite products may be doing our skin more harm than good, especially the ones that have jagged, sharp edges that do not dissolve, such as pit fruit seeds and nutshells. They’re very abrasive and tear, scratch and rip your skin. These tiny abrasions might not be immediately apparent, but they damage your skin and accelerate aging.
Sugar and salt scrubs are finer in texture and less abrasive than their large, granular counterparts, but it’s still easy to go overboard with these physical exfoliators. So please, use gentle pressure when scrubbing to avoid further irritation. Over-scrubbing can cause dehydration, redness and premature aging.