Exfoliating your skin once or twice a week is a recommended practice all year round, but it is also advised before exposing oneself to the sun. When we think of tanning, we think of sunscreen, after-sun... but we often forget about exfoliating treatments. Discover the numerous benefits of exfoliation before sun exposure.
The importance of exfoliating your skin before sun exposure.
Summary
Published on April 5, 2023, updated on October 4, 2024, by Pauline, Chemical Engineer — 4 min of reading
Themes:
Exfoliation for an even tan.
The process of cell regeneration leads to an accumulation of dead cells at the epidermis level. The role of exfoliation is to eliminate them, while softening the skin layer. In doing so, exfoliation brightens and evens out the complexion, in order to subsequently achieve a uniform tan.
Furthermore, exfoliating the skin before sun exposure can extend the duration of your tan. Indeed, the natural skin renewal cycle is 28 days. During this cycle, the various layers of the skin will completely regenerate. This results in a process known as desquamation, which is the shedding of dead skin cells.
By contributing to this process, exfoliation allows new skin cells to be coloured, subsequently extending the duration of the tan. When applying this treatment, do not hesitate to focus on areas of the body that have the most dead cells, such as the elbows and knees.
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Exfoliation aids in the application of sunscreen.
The presence of dead cells and other impurities on the skin's surface forms a layer that can interfere with the application of sunscreen. When using a sun care product, it is important that it is spread evenly in a thick layer to optimise its action and the protection it provides against UV rays. Therefore, it is wise to exfoliate the skin before sun exposure to facilitate the adherence of the sunscreen to the skin, and enhance its effectiveness.
Exfoliating Care: Which One to Choose?
Before exfoliating the skin, it is necessary to select a suitable exfoliating product. This choice is typically made based on the sensitivity and the typology of your skin. Therefore, mechanical exfoliants are not recommended for dry, sensitive or acne-prone skin. Indeed, this type of treatment uses granules that are abrasive and can damage the skin.
If your skin is sensitised, we would rather advise you to use a chemical exfoliant, which is gentler. It requires no scrubbing and works on the skin by enabling the detachment of corneocytes. This is facilitated by the breaking of bonds that hold them to the epidermis. All impurities present on the skin's surface are thus eliminated, and the skin is purified.
Chemical exfoliants typically utilise AHA, BHA or PHA. It is generally recommended for individuals with sensitive skin to opt for PHA. These acids have a higher molecular weight than AHA and BHA, and therefore penetrate less deeply into the epidermis. If you have oily skin, exfoliants containing BHA are intended for you. Indeed, these molecules act both on the surface of the epidermis and inside the pores to unclog them.
Now that you have all the keys to choosing your exfoliant, it's time to focus on the practical part: theapplication. An exfoliant is typically applied in a semi-thick layer to the face or body, which should be previously cleaned and dried. It should then be left on for about ten to fifteen minutes before rinsing with clear water. It's worth noting that it's recommended toexfoliate your skin about 3 days before sun exposure , and to avoid doing so the day before, as this could weaken the skin and make it more susceptible to sunburn.
