We can be soft on the inside, but tough on the outside if we take care of our sensitive skin. Exfoliating is key to healthy, glowing skin, but like any good things in life, do not over do it. Here are our top five tips on exfoliating for delicate, sensitive skin and what are some things to avoid.

Avoid harsh chemicals

They may reveal gorgeous new skin for some, but for sensitive skinned babes, a chemical peel could be a red hot disaster. The top layer of our skin acts as a protective layer and using harsh chemicals could compromise the skin’s barrier, leading to red, itchy and inflamed skin. Some ingredients to be careful of include AHAs, Vitamin C, acids and peels, retinols and retinoids.

Over Scrubbing

Finding the right exfoliation balance is key to healthy skin. We’ve always extolled the virtues of exfoliating for your skin's health, but you should still be careful not to over-exfoliate. It is unlikely you’ll over-exfoliate, especially if you are using our gentle konjac sponge, with French Pink Clay that’ll soothe and nourish while it cleanses. Using a manual exfoliation versus a chemical process allows you to control the intensity of the exfoliation ritual and be as gentle as you’d like to be. For sensitive skinned babes, exfoliate 1 to 2 times per week if you are using a traditional exfoliant or scrub, and up to 3 to 4 times per week with a konjac sponge, using gentle circular motions.

Harsh Scrubs

There are many options on the market that you can scrub with like jojoba beads, coffee beans, walnut shells, sugar, salt scrubs, loofahs and many more. Remember to patch test on your hand first, to make sure the granules are not too rough, or it could cause microtears in your skin. Milder exfoliants that we prefer are ground rice powder, adzuki bean powder, and almond meal. These ingredients are much milder and do not have sharp edges that could cut into skin.

Know your soft spots

We’re all extra sensitive in different areas of our face - some are most sensitive around the chin, upper lip, cheeks or nose. Know where you are most sensitive and go easy when exfoliating this soft spot. Our eye area is extra delicate, avoid strong ingredients, be gentle and don’t pull or scrub rigorously, as this could cause wrinkles, dry patches or milia.

Breakout aggression

Exfoliating regularly helps prevent breakouts and promote healthy skin. But if you’re already broken out, tone down your exfoliation accordingly, and avoid scrubbing over broken skin as this could actually spread the infection to other parts of the face.