Articles by Topic: Exfoliate

Many people don't realize it, but shaving is a form of exfoliation, too. Shaving the legs first became popular for women around World War II, when a shortage of nylon stockings kicked off a bare-legged trend. Today, shaving is still the easiest, cheapest, and most convenient way to get rid of unwanted hair—under the arms, on the legs, and around the bikini line. The downsides are stubbly regrowth in two to three days and cuts and irritation.

Soaps and cleansers scrub away everyday dirt, but exfoliation actually improves the health of the body's skin. It stimulates blood flow to the skin, helps the circulatory and lymphatic systems release waste, and gets rid of built-up skin scales that can clog pores and lead to ingrown hairs. Exfoliating softens and smoothes the skin, makes it easier to absorb moisturizer, gets rid of flakiness, relieves itchiness, and, over time, results in healthier-looking skin.