The question keeps arising as to when is the correct time to apply chemical exfoliants, because there is a common misconception about how they work. A lot of people think the chemical exfoliants that they use at home work instantly, and dissolve the dead cells off instantly, so they’re afraid to put another ingredient on top of it, because they think it’s just going to fall right off with the dead cells that the exfoliant takes off, but that’s not the way it works. Certainly, in professional strength exfoliants, like the BHA’s and AHA’s that I use in my office for peels, they work in just a few minutes, but with home skin care products with exfoliants, they don’t have the strength to work that quickly, they work slowly and they work gradually. So, any ingredients that you put on just before or right after your exfoliants, are not going to be adversely effected, they’re not going to be destroyed. You should you use cleanser and toner before your chemical exfoliants, to prepare your skin so that the chemicals in the exfoliant can work their best. But there is no reason to use your cleanser and toner after your exfoliant, you don’t need to wash anything off, and, in fact, if you do that you are going to destroy the chemical exfoliant. The second question that arises is, “should you use in the morning, or should you use in the evening?”, and I usually suggest using chemical exfoliants in the evening for three reasons. First of all, if you use it in the evening, that is one less product that can possibly conflict with your sunscreen in the morning. Second, you are much less apt to sweat it off during the night, and third, most people just have more time for their skin care routine in the evening, then they do in the morning. So remember, chemical exfoliants are one of the three daily essential skin care compounds that you need to use every day, in addition to sunscreens and antioxidants.
Email
Twitter
Facebook
