Related Articles
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission.
Exfoliating is an important component to an effective skincare regimen. It just is, friends. Exfoliating scrubs away the dead skin, sweat, and bacteria that linger on your skin clogging your pores and creating blackheads and acne. As for method, we like exfoliating pads because they don’t aggravate the skin with aggressive scrubbing and they minimize the time and effort spent on an extra step.
Exfoliating pads use chemical exfoliants rather than abrasive agents like sea salt or microbeads you might find in an exfoliating scrub, and they don’t use a rough or motorized brush (which can often trap bacteria in its bristles). Perhaps counterintuitively, chemical exfoliants are often gentler on skin than physically exfoliating methods.
Dermatologists have long extolled the virtues of exfoliation, in both the short and long term. In the short term, exfoliating is just incredibly satisfying because you see the results immediately — like the morbid fascination with the gunk you extract from the surface of your nose with a pore strip. You’ll notice your skin appears brighter and clearer right away after exfoliating. Longer term, unclogging pores can help prevent future breakouts and improve the effectiveness of other products like moisturizer. It also improves collagen production, safeguarding your skin’s youthful bounce.
Exfoliating pads are mindless and convenient, adding nothing more onerous than a 30-second wipe to your daily routine, while producing effective results for acne reduction and general skin cleanliness.
What You Need to Know Before Buying Exfoliating Pads
If this is your first foray into the chemical exfoliant landscape, let us walk you through the basics.
Chemical vs. Physical: Physically clearing away dead skin with motorized brushes, gritty scrubs, or even just a rigorous rub with a facecloth are all methods of physical exfoliation. They can be effective, but used incorrectly, can also damage your skin.
Exfoliating pads are chemical exfoliants, which use alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs) to clear the skin. Glycolic acid, an AHA, is a common ingredient in exfoliating products. BHAs, like salicylic acid, penetrate the skin more deeply, and are therefore most commonly used to correct acne or sun damage. Retinol, known for its anti-aging properties, is another chemical exfoliant. It may seem illogical to apply anything with “acid” in its name to your face, but chemical exfoliants are often gentler and produce more dramatic results.
Skin Type: Particularly when you’re applying an acid, it’s important to take your own skin type into account. People with oily or acne-prone skin might benefit from salicylic acid, while people with dry skin will see the most benefit from glycolic acid.
How Often to Exfoliate: This also comes down to the particulars of your skin and the strength of the product you use. Oilier skin can take frequent exfoliation while sensitive types need less. Some products are specifically designed for daily use, but we encourage you to use your own discretion. If you feel your skin becoming irritated, take a break.
