KATIE WITHINGTON: CLARIFYING FROM HEAD TO TOE
AS AN ACNE-PRONE TEENAGER, THAT VIRAL ‘GLASS SKIN’ GLOW was never really feasible. As a result, exfoliating skincare and I have had a long alliance, battling the stubborn congestion in my cheeks and the deep hormonal-driven cysts along my jaw. However, one thing I hadn’t anticipated once my facial acne finally began to clear up was that my battle against the blemishes from the neck down would a tougher one to win. Add in my susceptibility to pesky ingrown hairs, and my exfoliating habits have taken a southern focus in the last year.
‘A combination of physical and chemical exfoliation can help treat all these issues,’ Dr Howard Murad, dermatologist and founder of Murad skincare, tells me. ‘Use a body brush or exfoliating gloves to remove old dead and dying cells, while simultaneously stimulating the lymphatic system, increasing the blood flow to the affected areas and improving the body’s ability to remove built-up toxins that create congestion.’ He advises looking for products with glycolic and salicylic acids to gently remove dead skin cells, ‘helping to keep pores clean and clear from oil’.
I have found the best combination is to use coarse exfoliating gloves with my usual body wash while in the shower, then a few times a week adding a sugar scrub with added exfoliating enzymes, something with a modern, melt-away texture that tackles my textured zones without upsetting my skin’s natural barrier. I’ve also committed to nightly applications of a gentle acid-based body mist or cream. Now, my active breakouts and stubborn scars are visibly on their way out. And my body feels one step closer to that juicy glow I’m beginning to achieve on my face.
‘PHYSICAL
AND CHEMICAL EXFOLIATION CAN PAIR UP‘