Over the years the skin care industry has effectively changed our relationship with our skin and how we care for it.  Rather than being viewed as a living and interdependent part of our bodies, our skin has come to be viewed as more of a shell that requires powerful cleaning, buffing, and polishing to keep it smooth and flawless.

One of the skin care world's favorite type of products are exfoliators!  Imagine- your skin can glow with the same deep clean as your kitchen counter and all you need to do is regularly scour it with a scrub or dissolve that build up with an acid treatment!  Only then can you achieve clear, even, soft skin.

At Grateful Body we believe it is this philosophy that is flawed, not your dear complexion.  Your skin is not a shell that requires constant exfoliation, it is simply the outermost vital organ in your body.  It is living, breathing, eating, and drinking every minute of the day.  Consequently, it will truly thrive when treated to the same loving care that you give to your body.

Symptoms of Over-Processed or Over-Exfoliated Skin:

- Skin that is oily yet dry at the same time.

- Feeling the need to exfoliate very frequently

- Flakiness, itchiness, and redness or red patches

- Excessive dryness or excessive oiliness

- Peeling and irritation

- Chronic acne breakouts

- Pore congestion accompanied by general inflammation

- Heightened sensitivity to the sun

- A feeling of thinned skin over time

Giving your skin a break from excessive exfoliation can yield a clear, plump, smooth complexion that maintains its natural balance and defies premature signs of aging.

Tips for Breaking the Cycle:

- Try backing off gradually.  If you exfoliate everyday, cut down to every other day, and then ease off to less and less frequent treatments.

- Massage instead.  Facial massage actually helps lift away build up, enhances circulation, stimulates the skin for increased collagen production, and improves pore function.  If you are using a Grateful Body cleanser, you can massage for a full minute or more while cleansing.  You can also massage with a light oil or an organic and very emollient cream or lotion.

- Drink enough water.  That feeling of needing to exfoliate to work through congested or rough skin is often a result of insufficient hydration.  At least 64 oz per day of pure water can do wonders for the skin.

- Resist the urge!  If your skin has become addicted to exfoliation, you may find yourself just dying to exfoliate.  During the process of allowing your skin to find its equilibrium, it may be very hard to abstain from your scrubs and peels at first.  But your skin will gradually come back into balance and feel healthy and calm.

Now, we're not saying exfoliation is a bad thing.  Every now and then our skin can benefit from a little extra help.  The key is moderation and the right exfoliator.  We recommend avoiding "chemical" exfoliants like retinoids, alpha and beta hydroxy acids (including lactic, glycolic, tartaric, and salicylic acids), as well as isolated enzymes like papain and bromelain unless they are literally in the form of a whole food such as yogurt, strawberries, papaya, etc.  These potent ingredients are too active and have a negative impact on healthy skin.  We also warn against aggressive "physical" exfoliants like scratchy scrubs (especially those with ground kernals or nut shells) as these can cause tiny tears in the skin that can spread acne infection or produce imperceptible scar tissue.  Even overzealous use of cotton balls or washcloths on the face can be a bit much.

As someone who has recovered from exfoliation addiction myself and has finally achieved my healthiest complexion while exfoliating just once a month, I love to recommend the method used by my holistic facialist (otherwise known as my skin savior):

Occasionally add a small amount of organic brown rice flour to your cream cleanser (including any Grateful Body cleanser) and very gently massage it onto the skin.  Rinse with warm water and continue with the rest of your topical regimen.

Over time, your skin will thank you for giving it what it needs in moderation.  You will notice that when you keep exfoliation to a minimum and emphasize nourishment with deeply nutritious products, your skin will become balanced enough to support itself more effectively and to communicate its needs more clearly so that you regain a healthy relationship with your beautiful complexion.

To learn more about Grateful Body skin care, go to www.gratefulbody.com and email us at skincare@gratefulbody.com for a skin consultation.