Ever wonder why some people's skin seems to glow and look super smooth? Chances are those are people that exfoliate on a regular basis. Exfoliating your skin has many benefits, and it is so easy to incorporate into your skin care routine.

Here are my Top 5 Reasons to Exfoliate:

1. Reduces fine lines and wrinkles and smooths and softens skin by revealing the newer skin underneath
2. Removes dead skin cells that can clog pores and make skin look dull.
   
3. Evens skin tone by gradually reducing the appearance of discolorations and scars
   
4. Makes your moisturizers more effective by preparing your skin to receive the hydration
5. Helps you look YOUNGER - for real. Exfoliating regularly is one of the best ways to help your skin look younger, fresher and rejuvenated.

You have 2 choices of methods - physical exfoliant (like Garden Girl's Starting Over) and chemical exfoliant (like Garden Girl's Break Free.) Both work well - it really comes down to personal preference. With a physical exfoliant, you are typically scrubbing (gently!) away the dead skin, while a chemical exfoliant typically uses some type of natural acid (fruit acids, salicylic acid, etc.) to "unglue" the dead skin from your skin's surface. Both will work on all skin types if used properly. And it's so easy to do! A good rule of thumb is to exfoliate twice a week for normal/combination or dry skin, up to 3 times per week for oily/acneic skin, and once per week for super sensitive skin. Also - if you do have acne, consult with your dermatologist before using a physical exfoliant as the scrubbing can irritate existing breakouts.Also - keep in mind that when you exfoliate you are making your skin more sensitive to the sun so always always always wear sunscreen!

One important thing to note - it is so important that you avoid plastic microbeads in whatever product you choose. They are commonly found in many face scrubs as well as body washes and even some toothpaste. These are literally polluting our fresh and salt water in staggering ways. If you want to read more (because I know, it sounds like I'm making that up!) - just Google "plastic microbeads pollution" - look at the many articles from multiple sources. It's crazy!