Celebrity Facialist Shani Darden Shares Her Exfoliation Tips
Exfoliating sounds simple: You take a recommended tool or scrub, apply it to your face, and voila—bye, bye dead skin.
But while the actual act of exfoliating is pretty straightforward, what comes after is a little more detailed, as you want to make sure your skin is properly cared for, following the process.
We enlisted the expertise of Lea Michele and Chrissy Teigen's facialist, Shani Darden—who actually gave us one of her specialty facials! For starters, she says if you plan to exfoliate using the Dermaflash or another dermaplaning tool, do it a day or two after getting a facial, as to not have the facial irritate the skin even more.
But that's not all Shani advised us to do. The renowned esthetician, who just opened a stunning studio in Beverly Hills, California, gave us the lowdown on her favorite products and best aftercare tips. Keep reading for everything she had to say!
Sweety High: How many times a week should the average person exfoliate their face?
Shani Darden: It's best to exfoliate 1-2 times a week, depending on your skin type and the other products you're using.
SH: Are there particular ingredients to look for in face exfoliants? And ingredients to avoid?
SD: I love chemical exfoliants like AHAs/BHAs because they're more effective yet less harsh than a scrub can be.
SH: What's the best way to integrate exfoliation into your skincare routine?
SD: Exfoliate 1-2 nights a week and limit the use of other actives on those nights.
SH: What are the best steps to follow immediately after exfoliating the face?
SD: After exfoliating, I love to use one of Garnier's Super Hydrating Sheet Masks to add moisture back into the skin!
SH: Are there any products you should avoid right after exfoliating the face?
SD: On nights when you're exfoliating, I recommend not using other active products like retinol or treatments containing AHAs/BHAs, as they could be too much for the skin.
SH: What are your favorite face exfoliant products and tools?
SD: The Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Peel Pads are one of my favorites because they combine several AHAs, like lactic acid, glycolic acid, malic acid, and citric acid, along with salicylic acid, to effectively remove the dead layer of skin on the surface.
If you've never had a facial, HERE are eight things you can expect your first time!