The dos and don'ts
• Don't exfoliate before you cleanse; doing so will remove makeup and dirt but not the dead skin cells responsible for pore blockage and dull tone.
• Do use an exfoliating cleanser, one that gently cleans away dirt and debris while simultaneously sloughing dead skin cells.
• Don't press hard; when using granular scrubs or exfoliating cloths, mild pressure is all that's required. "You want to let the product do the work," says Kellett.
• Don't double-dip. "If you're using a loofah, don't also use an exfoliating gel or cleanser," warns Kellett. "That's overdoing it." Similarly, if you use a cleansing scrub, don't follow it with a glycolic-acid-, retinol- or AHA-based moisturizer unless under the direction of a dermatologist.
• Do hydrate your skin immediately after exfoliation. Moisturizers are most effective after dead surface cells have been whisked away.
• Do wear sunscreen, particularly after exfoliating, a process that removes a protective layer of skin. "I tell all my patients to wear SPF 30 every day," says Kellett. (Click here to find out more about sunscreen.)
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