Our skin is the largest organ of our body. And it's impressively renewable, consistently shedding dead skin and producing a new supply of skin cells. However, it can sometimes take our skin cells longer to turnover due to sun exposure, aging, stress, hormones, and other factors. This slowdown can cause dead skin cells to remain on the skin’s surface and build up, making our skin feel dull, dry, rough, and congested.

That's where exfoliation comes into play.

Incorporating exfoliants into your skincare regimen can help remove the buildup of dead skin cells. If you're experiencing a lackluster complexion and wondering what exfoliating skin involves or how to exfoliate skin, here's what you need to know—starting with the basics.

Exfoliation is simply the process of removing dead skin cells from the surface layer of your skin. It typically uses one of two methods: physical or chemical.

Physical Exfoliation

Physical exfoliators use granular ingredients like sugars, salts, or coffee grounds to manually scrub away dead skin cells. If you’re looking for a tip on how to exfoliate your skin safely, it’s important to choose options that suit your skin type, especially for facial skin, which is more delicate than other areas.

Chemical Exfoliation

Chemical exfoliators work differently. They use ingredients to dissolve the bonds (or “glue”) that hold dead cells together. This encourages the skin to shed naturally. Chemical exfoliants are often gentle, and may be a suitable option for sensitive or blemish-prone skin. They also offer more even exfoliation because of their application method that doesn't depend on how hard or how much you scrub.

Using exfoliating acids might seem a little daunting at first, but they can also be quite gentle, helping boost cell turnover without scrubbing or abrasive materials. Let’s explore what exfoliating skin with acids means and how they can benefit your regimen.

Our skin is constantly renewing itself in a process called skin renewal or cell turnover, which occurs every month. This cycle involves the production of new cells in the basal layer of the epidermis, which then migrate to the surface, eventually replacing the old, dead skin cells. The final stage of this process, desquamation, is the natural shedding of dead cells from the outermost layer (stratum corneum).

However, several factors can impair this natural process, including age, stress, and dehydration. With age, the cycle slows down, leading to a buildup of dead cells that can make the skin appear dull and rough. Dehydrated skin further complicates the process as it lacks sufficient water in the epidermis to support desquamation effectively.

Hydration is vital to maintaining effective cell turnover. Water acts as a lubricant and allows the skin’s enzymes to function properly during desquamation. When the skin is dehydrated, these enzymes become less efficient, which can result in an uneven, flaky surface and clogged pores.

While hydration helps support the turnover process, exfoliators complement this by aiding in the removal of dead skin cells that natural processes may miss. Pairing hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid or glycerin with chemical exfoliants—e.g., alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) or beta hydroxy acids (BHAs)—supports smoother, healthier-looking skin. Together, they can assist in skin renewal and maintain a more radiant-looking complexion.

If you're wondering about the benefits of exfoliation, here’s what it can do for your skin:

• Reduce skin congestion


• Smooth skin texture


• Balance uneven skin tone


• Reveal radiant skin


• Support absorption of other products, like serums and moisturizers

Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) gently break down the ‘glue-like' bond that holds dead skin cells together. These water-soluble acids are known to improve texture and tone and reduce the appearance of dark spots. Many AHAs in skincare can also support skin hydration because of their humectant properties (aka their ability to hold onto water).

Because there are so many AHAs with varying origins, strengths, and benefits, you can choose the one that is most suited for your skin. Here's a look at three of the most common AHAs:

• Glycolic acid has the smallest molecule weight of the direct acids within The Ordinary’s offering, allowing for a quick delivery of the active. Formulas like our Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toner work by exfoliating the uppermost layers of the epidermis and revealing new skin underneath. This helps to smooth texture and reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles.
• Since it has a larger molecular weight than glycolic acid, lactic acid works at a slightly slower pace. Our Lactic Acid 10% + HA exfoliant, for example, is a great choice for dry skin types. It’s also supported with purified Tasmanian pepperberry extract, which has been known to reduce signs of irritation.
• Mandelic acid is gentler than lactic and glycolic acid as it has the largest molecular size out of the two, resulting in a slower, more balanced distribution. Take our Mandelic Acid 10% + HA serum, for example. This gentle exfoliant gently exfoliates the skin to target the appearance of textural irregularities, dullness, and uneven skin tone.

It’s important to note, however, that the higher the strength of an AHA doesn’t always mean better and faster results. Which one you choose will highly depend on your skin type and what you want to address.

Beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) also exfoliate skin but differ from AHAs in several ways. For starters, AHAs are water-soluble and work well on the skin's surface. BHAs, however, are oil-soluble, meaning they work both on your skin's surface and inside pores. This makes them particularly effective for oily, blemish-prone skin.

Salicylic acid is the most commonly used BHA in skincare and is well-known for its ability to deeply exfoliate clogged pores and dissolve the dead skin buildup that leads to congestion. At The Ordinary, we have a diverse portfolio of salicylic acid formulations, catering to various preferences and skin needs. Here’s a look at three of our salicylic acid-based products.

• Ideal for new users, our Salicylic Acid 2% Anhydrous Solution features a slow-release formula that offers a more balanced distribution over time. This helps gently decongest pores and reduce the appearance of redness and uneven skin tone.
• For those with blemish-prone skin, our Salicylic Acid 2% Solution removes dead skin cells that can clog pores, while exfoliating the skin’s surface. This multi-functional approach helps to target textural irregularities, while visibly reducing congestion, giving way to brighter, clearer looking skin.
• If you’re looking for a deep-cleansing weekly treatment, our Salicylic Acid 2% Masque combines the pore-clearing power of salicylic acid with the purifying effects of charcoal and kaolin clay. This formula absorbs facial impurities to boost radiance, leaving your skin feeling clean and refreshed. -

Polyhydroxy Acids (PHAs) are a third type of chemical exfoliant. Common PHAs that exist in skincare include gluconolactone, lactobionic acid, and galactose.

PHAs work similarly to AHAs and BHAs in that they dissolve the bonds between cells. The main difference is that PHAs:

• Have a larger molecular size.
• Are less likely to penetrate as deeply.
• Offer a gentler approach that is ideal for delicate skin.

For example, PHAs could be a great option for exfoliating lip skin, which is thinner and more fragile than the skin on other areas of the body. Our PHA 5% Lip Exfoliating Serum contains 5% gluconolactone and 1.5% AHAs to gently smooth and hydrate the lips. It also includes a high concentration of glycerin to retain moisture, while supporting the skin barrier for long-term hydration.

In a league of its own, azelaic acid is neither an AHA nor a BHA. Instead, it's a dicarboxylic acid, which is known to brighten skin tone and visibly improve skin texture.

Our Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% offers a cream-form suspension of azelaic acid to help target uneven skin. It also has a lower irritation potential than other direct acids, so it’s gentle enough for daily use.

Understanding how to exfoliate skin properly can help shed dead skin cells and enhance your skin’s radiance and texture. However, which type of exfoliant you choose will depend on your skin type and specific concerns. The Ordinary offers a range of exfoliators—from direct acids to gentle ferments. Discover how you can remove dead skin and impurities and reveal a smooth complexion today.

Take the guesswork out of skincare with The Ordinary’s Regimen Builder—a simple and efficient tool that provides personalized product recommendations tailored to your unique skin type and concerns.