Chemical Exfoliants vs. Physical Exfoliants — Which Is Best for Your Skin?

Many dermatologists will tell you that exfoliation is the single most important skin treatment you can give yourself at home for beautiful, healthy-looking skin. Exfoliation — clearing away old cells from skin’s surface — helps with everything from dull complexion and uneven skin tone to acne and rough texture.

When it comes to exfoliation, you have two choices: chemical exfoliators and physical exfoliators.

Before going any further, let’s be clear about what we mean when we say “chemical” exfoliators. We’re not talking about some toxic tonic boiled up in a lab. We are talking about alpha hydroxyl acids (AHAs) and beta hydroxyl acids (BHAs) — which are FRUIT extracts taken from non-toxic sources like citrus fruits, apples and sugar cane. So don’t get scared off by the word “chemical.”

Now that we’ve got that out of the way, here’s the top-line 411 on your choices. Chemical exfoliators, like AHAs and BHAs, dissolve dead skin cells from skin’s surface, while physical exfoliators — like loofas or cleansers with “micro scrubbing beads” — physically move the cells off skin’s surface.

With physical exfoliators, your results depend on how hard you scrub and for how long. Since physical exfoliators like “buff puffs” and abrasive cleansers are sort of like using sand paper on your skin, you can probably see where there would be obvious disadvantages. If you’ve ever seen a friend with raw, red skin due to a bad experience with physical exfoliation, now you know why.

On the other hand, chemical exfoliators provide precise results with FAR less potential for irritation and side effects.

The reason they achieve better results is because the AHAs in skin care products like Rx for Brown Skin Absolute Radiance Intensive Exfoliating Serum are pH adjusted and buffered; as a result, they provide consistent strength from the first application to the last. And they are gentler on skin because the compounds in the fruit extract do all the work, so they do not require excessive scrubbing.

So, there you have it. The choice is yours, and now you have the information to make an informed decision!