PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL EXFOLIANTS FOR FACE 101

Have you added an exfoliant for face to your skincare routine yet? If not, you are likely missing out on a plethora of men's skincare benefits. A healthy skincare routine consists of multiple steps, and one of the most important is a face scrub. It’s not just for purging deep-set impurities, a facial exfoliant is key to achieving a healthier glowing and clear complexion.

Our skin is the body’s largest organ, and it turns over skin cells at a rapid rate. This means there is always a buildup of dead skin cells clinging to the surface of our skin that can clog pores. This contributes to enlarged pores, blackheads, acne breakouts, and skin that just doesn’t look healthy.

A face scrub will physically remove the dead cells to uncover, smoother, younger and healthier looking skin. There are two types of exfoliants for face: chemical and physical exfoliant (a face scrub).

Chemical Exfoliants for Face

exfoliating face scrub for men, urth

Chemical exfoliation uses alpha hydroxy acids (AHA), beta hydroxy acids (BHA), or enzymes from fruits and vegetables to melt away dead surface impurities and unclog pores. AHA is made up of several types of acids, such as glycolic and lactic acids, which are the two most common ones used in skincare at various percentages and pH levels. BHA on the other hand, are oil-soluble and can melt away dead surface skin cells as well go deeper into the pores to keep pores clean. Salicylic acid is a hero ingredient for men because men tend to have thicker and oilier skin and for people who are prone to acne and blemishes.  I wish I had known when I was a teenager with troubled skin. 

Physical Face Exfoliants 

Physical exfoliation uses towels, brushes, or a face scrub for men to slough off the dead surface cells. Unlike chemical exfoliant, a men's face scrub can only works on the surface of the skin and does not penetrate below the skin’s surface into our pores. A face scrub can be formulated from a combination of clays, powders from grains and nuts that come in various sizes for different levels of exfoliation.  urth's Face Scrub for men is formulated with kaolin clay combined with pulverized walnut shell powder, wheat germ and rice powder for a gritty, invigorating and spa like treatment at home. It is a face scrub for men that is effective and gentle enough for all skin types, yes even the sensitive skin folks

Which Exfoliant is Right for Men?

There’s no right or wrong answer here. At urth, we believe both chemical exfoliants for face and a face scrub should be a part of men’s skincare routine, but it really comes down to preference and skin type. For those with sensitive skin, a gentle chemical exfoliant with acids at lower percentages with slightly higher pH might be the best option. Chemical exfoliant doesn’t have to be a your standalone exfoliant for face product. AHA and BHA are often infused into a cleanser, a toner, or a daily men's face moisturizer (urth’s Antioxidant Face Moisturizer) for gentle daily exfoliation. It’s important to take a slow, gradual approach to chemical exfoliants for face. Start with lower percentages, at less frequency, and then slowly increase the potency. We suggest using both a face scrub paired with chemical exfoliants for face as part of your weekly men’s skincare routine. We recommend exfoliating 2x weekly minimum for a clear complexion.

Key Benefits of Facial Exfoliants 

  • Improves skin texture
  • Improves uneven skin tone
  • Reduce clogged pores, fine lines, and wrinkles
  • Reduce blackheads on nose
  • Reduce acne and blemishes
  • Reduce reduce ingrown hairs
  • Helps men's face moisturizers and men's face serums penetrate deeper

Exfoliation is an essential part of men's skincare routine. By removing dead skin cells and promoting cell turnover, exfoliation can help to improve the appearance of your skin, reduce breakouts, and make it easier for products to penetrate deeper into your skin. If you’re looking for a face scrub for men, we recommend trying urth’s Face Scrub for Men. It’s formulated with natural ingredients and is suitable for all skin types, even the most sensitive skin. It has been a top selling men's face scrub for 10+ years. 

urth has curated skin care kits for men to simplify men's skincare routine. These plant powered men’s skin care products are formulated with non pore clogging ingredients like chamomile, green tea, ginseng and pure essential oils to cleanse, brighten and nourish skin for a healthy and clear complexion. Improved and better skin after every use. Perfect for all skin types - including men with sensitive, dry, combo, and oily skin.