I started to use an exfoliating scrub on my face about a year ago when I was trying to find a solution for my excessive ingrown hairs. I bought several different types, some were expensive and yet I saw minimal benefit. They are also supposed to make your skin glow again as they scrub off all the dead cells leaving new, radiant skin.
I did find the solution eventually to my ingrown hairs, namedly single blade shaving with quality products. However, I continued to use the exfoliating scrub every week as a habit and with the impression that it was good for my skin. Whilst 'scrubbing' it feels like the little particles are scratching my skin for a short while, then I wash it off. My skin then feels tight, dry and itchy and I need to apply a heavy layer of moisturiser to compensate.
I made the mistake once of shaving just after exfoliating and suffered the worst razor burn since using that rubbish sanguine razor (an earlier post). It must have been because the natural skin oils had been scrubbed off.
A few weeks ago, the weather was really dry and I looked in the mirror to see a scaly area above my left eyebrow. I do suffer from mild psoriasis and this definately wasn't psoriasis, plus I only usually get it on my chest & arms. I used moisturiser on it intensively but it was still there every morning when I looked in the mirror.
Then, I was shaving one morning and using my shavette loaded with half a Tesco blade to shape my beard when I decided to try and scrape that scaly bit. I wet it with warm water and rubbed my shavestick on it lightly and scraped it off with the razor. I was amazed at how much skin came off! Next morning there was no more scaly skin.
I decided to use the razor to exfoliate the whole of my face where I don't shave. I have been doing this every week now and my skin has never looked smoother and more radiant. Plus there is no more post exfoliating dryness and itchiness.
I have now banned myself from using those nasty scrubs which do nothing apart from scratch and dry your skin. I was inspired partly by this video on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCZLjRs0068
I did find the solution eventually to my ingrown hairs, namedly single blade shaving with quality products. However, I continued to use the exfoliating scrub every week as a habit and with the impression that it was good for my skin. Whilst 'scrubbing' it feels like the little particles are scratching my skin for a short while, then I wash it off. My skin then feels tight, dry and itchy and I need to apply a heavy layer of moisturiser to compensate.
I made the mistake once of shaving just after exfoliating and suffered the worst razor burn since using that rubbish sanguine razor (an earlier post). It must have been because the natural skin oils had been scrubbed off.
A few weeks ago, the weather was really dry and I looked in the mirror to see a scaly area above my left eyebrow. I do suffer from mild psoriasis and this definately wasn't psoriasis, plus I only usually get it on my chest & arms. I used moisturiser on it intensively but it was still there every morning when I looked in the mirror.
Then, I was shaving one morning and using my shavette loaded with half a Tesco blade to shape my beard when I decided to try and scrape that scaly bit. I wet it with warm water and rubbed my shavestick on it lightly and scraped it off with the razor. I was amazed at how much skin came off! Next morning there was no more scaly skin.
I decided to use the razor to exfoliate the whole of my face where I don't shave. I have been doing this every week now and my skin has never looked smoother and more radiant. Plus there is no more post exfoliating dryness and itchiness.
I have now banned myself from using those nasty scrubs which do nothing apart from scratch and dry your skin. I was inspired partly by this video on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCZLjRs0068