How to Exfoliate Like a Skin Care Pro

You can cleanse, moisturize and put on masks 'til the cows come home — but if you don't have a regular exfoliation routine, you're not doing your skin right.

Exfoliating — which is really just a fancy word for removing dead skin cells — helps expose the new and radiant skin underneath the surface. It's also an excellent way to prep your skin for any creams, serums or treatments you slap on. The truth is, if you're looking to give yourself a natural glow, exfoliating from head to toe is one of the easiest ways to achieve it.

And when we say head to toe, we mean head to toe! We so often pamper our faces, but forget to do the same for the rest of our skin below the neck. Whether you are seeking to rejuvenate winter skin, trying to get bikini ready or getting prepared to apply tanning products, proper exfoliation is key.

How to exfoliate

Supplies:

• Exfoliating cleanser
• Loofah, body brush or exfoliating gloves
• Pumice stone
• Body lotion

More: 5 Great Reasons to Exfoliate Your Face Tonight

Instructions:

1. Before stepping into the shower, brush your dry skin with your loofah, body brush or exfoliating gloves. This will help remove the loose skin and prepare your skin for the exfoliating process. Begin with the soles of your feet, working your way up your body.
2. Get into the shower and wet your body from head to toe. Don't exfoliate your skin if you are sunburned or have any open cuts or wounds.
3. Use a pumice stone on your feet to eliminate rough spots and calluses. If your feet are extremely rough, soak them in a basin of warm water mixed with a cup of milk for 30 minutes before getting into the shower.
4. Apply your exfoliating cleanser to your loofah or gloves. Begin scrubbing your body in a circular motion starting with the bottoms of your feet and working your way up. When you reach the bikini area, don't scrub too hard because the skin is very sensitive.
5. Use a body brush to exfoliate your back and other hard-to-reach places.
6. Be gentle on your face, particularly around your eyes and mouth. Use an exfoliating product especially formulated for the face, which is gentler than products designed to be used on the body.
7. Don't forget about your hands. You want them to look and feel soft and smooth too!
8. Rinse your body with lukewarm water, and follow with the coldest water you can stand.
9. After stepping out of the shower, apply a moisturizing body lotion all over. Body lotions and facial moisturizers containing alpha or beta hydroxy acids are ideal choices because these acids continue to remove dead skin cells.
10. Use body moisturizer once a day. Exfoliation is drying to the skin, so you must keep your skin hydrated.

Exfoliating products

Select exfoliating cleansers that contain sea salt and/or sugar. They key is to select an exfoliator with regular, round grains because exfoliating with square or irregular grains can cause skin lacerations. These abrasions may not be visible to the human eye, but they can cause serious damage.

More: Crazy-Easy DIY Exfoliating Scrubs Your Skin Will Thank You For

Karen Asquith, aesthetician and national director of education for G.M Collin Skin care, explains, "[When] they are damaging the skin, they activate the repair mechanisms. If the repair mechanisms are activated regularly for a long period of time, they are unable to keep up, they become exhausted... This 'burn-out' of the skin’s fundamental functioning causes pre-mature skin aging."

Exfoliating once or twice a week is usually enough to achieve silky skin. However, women with oily skin should exfoliate more often than those with dry skin. If your skin becomes excessively dry or irritated after exfoliation, don't scrub so hard. Cut back on how often you exfoliate, and explore the possibility that you may be allergic to the products you used.

"Over-exfoliating is also a concern," says Asquith. "The skin needs time to recuperate, therefore 2-3 times per week is sufficient. Following exfoliation, a body cream should be applied. Depending on the treatment, a slimming, firming, or hydrating cream will penetrate better following an exfoliation and the results will be increased."

So, it's not just about properly removing dead skin. It's about what the new skin gets to soak in. So, Asquith suggests exfoliants that contain other active ingredients.

"[Look for] hydrating, anti-septic, soothing and nourishing components thereby addressing more skin concerns and achieving multi-functional actions," she recommends.

Here are some of our favorite exfoliating products:

• Dermadoctor KP Duty Dermatologist Formulated Body Scrub with Chemical + Physical Exfoliation (Ulta, $46)
• Josie Maran Argan Sugar Balm Body Scrub (Sephora, $38)
• SheaMoisture Coconut and Hibiscus Hand and Body Scrub (Ulta, $11.99)
• The Body Shop Wild Argan Oil Body Scrub (The Body Shop, $15)
• S.W. Basics Body Scrub (Target, $21)

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.