Exfoliating is not just about rubbing your skin. It's also about finding the best exfoliating tools to do the right job for your skin. Take for example your heels and elbows where your skin is usually rough. These rough spots need more exfoliating action from the scrubbing medium to effectively clear out those dead skin cells.

Below are popular exfoliating tools that can suit your scrubbing needs:

If you want to keep your skin looking radiant, healthy and youthful, you must exfoliate regularly. By removing the top layer of the dead skin cells, you are making room for your new cells which makes your skin appear smoother, softer and less wrinkled skin.


Here are some tips on how to properly exfoliate so you can achieve a healthy looking, clear skin:

> Before getting into the shower, gently dust off dry skin using a dry exfoliating brush, loofah or gloves. Start at the soles of your feet and work your way up.

> Get into the shower and moisten your skin.

> If you are using a scrubbing tool such as loofah, glove, washclothe or an exfoliating brush, be sure to use a body wash or gel with it to help you gently rub the exfoliating tool on your skin. You can also use exfoliating cleansers like body scrub creams that have micro beads inside, sugar or salt scrub preparations.

> Use gentle, circular motions while scrubbing

> Rub rough spots like heels and elbows with a heavier exfoliant like pumice stone. Remember to use a shower gel to make the surface more slippery.

> Apply a heavy lotion or body butter after exfoliating. Take note that exfoliating can dry your skin and you need to put back the moisture back in.

> Use body moisturizers at least once a day. Re-hydrating the skin is as important as exfoliating it.

> If you have a very sensitive skin, remember to choose the least abrasive exfoliating medium and use little friction as possible.

> Most important of all, DO NOT OVER EXFOLIATE. A gentle rubbing of the skin can easily remove the dead skin cells. Vigorous rubbing can cause more damage than good to your skin's health. Not only will you get minor abrasions and an extremely dry skin, you'll also risk bursting the delicate blood vessels in the skin and your skin may appear flushed. This condition, known as Telangiectasia, can be treated by laser surgery.

Exfoliating is not just for spa enthusiasts, it's for everyone who cares about their skin. Scrub regularly and make it a way of life!

Tomorrow's topic: Exfoliating mediums and tools! Know what they're for and what they're made of!

If you are an avid user of soap during bath time (which I hope you are), then you should be aware that you must not only cleanse your skin of dust, germs and other unwanted particles but you should also take time to remove the dead skin cells in your body through exfoliation.

Exfoliation is the removal of the oldest dead skin cells on the skin's outermost surface and has been practiced for many years to maintain the skin's beauty. Many have overlooked its importance and benefits to the body so let me explain how it can help your skin look and feel younger.


Process of Natural Skin Erosion:

When new skin cells form on the dermis, or the skin's lower layer, the older cells migrate to the surface of the skin and becomes acidic. It takes them 30 days to journey to the surface and simultaneously, they die and become saturated with a protein that protects the skin from outside elements, or better known as Keratin.

And through the aging process, especially for women who are on their post-menopausal stage, the natural process of skin erosion becomes uneven thus resulting to a rough and dry character of the skin that eventually leads to wrinkle formation and development.


Importance of Exfoliation:

> Removes dead skin cells to reveal new, softer, clearer and glowing skin

> Helps in boosting blood circulation as you massage deep into your skin

> Promotes appearance of vibrant skin

> Prevents clogged pores

> Allows better absorption of moisturizers, body oils and other skin care products


So you see, exfoliating is a very important and vital part in cleaning our bodies. Not only does it clean out the old cells and make way for the new cells but it also aids in blood circulation and pore cleansing. While there are a lot of people who have overlooked the many benefits of exfoliating, there are those who overdo it by vigorously rubbing an exfoliant on their skin. This can be harmful for the skin as it can cause minor abrasions, irritations, etc. A gentle exfoliation done once or twice a week will prove to be very advantageous for your skin's wellness.

Watch out for tomorrow's exciting blog about How to Properly Exfoliate and know the correct way of using the different exfoliating tools and mediums!

Check out SPA Ingredients' Exfoliating Mediums by clicking here or here.

Want to know how healing works?

Try imagining your body as an old, beaten-down and decrepit house in need of major repair, repainting and EXTREME cleaning.

You get scared of even coming through the front door because you feel as though the whole house is just going to crash and break into pieces while crushing you inside it. But nevertheless, your brave soul goes inside with a mop in one hand and a bucket filled with a good cleaning solution on the other. And so you start mopping the floors, tearing down the wallpapers that you have installed years ago and replacing that old rusty gutter which, in your memory, was as old as the house.

Then as you do this to the house, more unpleasant things pop out like rats, cobwebs, old (not to mention UGLY) wallpapers, dust and you can't help but scream in its full gross glory wishing it can all be over and done with.

But after cleaning and mending the broken parts of the house, you stare in awe and realize what a beautiful house you have.

Now this is what happens when you have decided to detoxify your body.

This is called the Healing Process or the Herxheimer Reaction. According to Dr. Stanley Bass, N.D D.C. Ph.D. you may feel worse before you begin feeling better.

Healing crisis is the natural detoxification and elimination process of the body where your body system is at work in eliminating waste or toxic elements to make way for the regeneration stage. Herxheimer Reaction occurs when the body is detoxifying too rapidly and the toxins are being released faster than the body can eliminate them. It can be a result from any holistic/natural therapy such as homeopathy, naturopathy, improved diet, etc.

Your body's reaction to the healing crisis may be mild or severe and the symptoms of it may at first be identical to the very disease it was meant to heal.

For example, you've shifted to an organic skin care product to reduce your skin rashes or acne but you end up experiencing more rashes and may feel that your condition has worsened. Many people would think of this as a symptom to a more serious disease and that it should be SUPPRESSED or STOPPED. And so they turn to all kinds of drugs to stop the symptoms but what they do not know is that they are stopping their bodies from eliminating waste. What's worse, apart from the fact that they're confusing their bodies, the next time won't be as effective.

Healing crisis will usually bring about past past conditions and personal issues. Many people often forget the diseases, issues, or injuries they have had in the past, but are usually reminded during the crisis so that they can heal their unfinished business. This arises in whatever order the body is capable of handling at that time.

Physical reactions could include skin eruptions, nausea, headache, sleepiness, unusual fatigue, constipation, diarrhea, head or chest cold, ear infections, boils, or any other way the body uses to loosen and eliminate toxins. An initial healing crisis usually lasts around three days but if the energy of the patient is low, it may last a week or more. According to Dr. Constantine Hering, the healing occurs from inside out, meaning toxins are mainly released through the skin.

Understand that these reactions are constructive, even though unpleasant at the moment. Do not try to hinder or suppress these symptoms by the use of certain drugs. These symptoms are part of a curing process, so DON'T TRY TO CURE A CURE. These are NOT deficiency problems or allergic manifestations.

Remember that complete healing comes after undergoing constant healing crisis that only your body can determine and define.

Let us help our bodies in achieving its optimum health and give ourselves the opportunity to experience a vibrant and truly healthy life through our “Healing Crisis”.