Exfoliating your skin is an important part of any skincare routine. It removes dead skin cells, evens out skin texture, reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and allows skincare products to better penetrate the skin.
One easy and effective way to exfoliate is by using exfoliating gloves, including popular Korean exfoliating gloves. In this article, we will explore what exfoliating gloves are, why you should use them, how they work, if they pose any risks when to avoid them, and more.
What Are Exfoliating Gloves?
Exfoliating gloves, also sometimes called body scrub gloves or exfoliation mitts, are gloves made of materials like sisal, loofah, or microfiber that are designed to slough off dead skin cells. Korean exfoliating gloves in particular use rough woven material to provide thorough exfoliation.
When you put on a pair of exfoliating gloves and rub your body with them, either dry or with soap/body wash, the material works to remove the top layer of dull, dead skin. This leaves smoother, glowing skin underneath. Exfoliating gloves provide gentle manual exfoliation without harsh chemicals or ingredients.
Why Should You Use Exfoliating Gloves?
There are many great reasons to use exfoliating gloves as part of your regular skincare. They effectively remove dead skin cells, dirt, oil, and other impurities from the skin’s surface.
- Exfoliation opens up clogged pores, clears blackheads and whiteheads, and allows your moisturizers and treatments to better absorb.
- Exfoliating also helps reduce ingrown hairs from shaving. Overall, regular use of exfoliating gloves leaves skin looking brighter, clearer, and more radiant. The manual exfoliation may also boost blood circulation.
- Additionally, using exfoliating gloves saves you money on costly chemical peels or microdermabrasion treatments at spas or dermatology offices. And it’s gentler on your skin than harsh scrubs with beads or crystals that can cause microtears.
- Exfoliating gloves also help moisturize your skin by unclogging pores and allowing better absorption of lotions.
How Do Exfoliating Gloves Work?
Exfoliating gloves work through both chemical and physical exfoliation. The glove material itself, like the rough woven fabric used in Korean exfoliating gloves, provides the physical exfoliation. Body washes containing chemical exfoliants can also enhance the effects.
Exfoliating gloves physically slough off dead skin through friction and pressure as you rub your body with the textured gloves. Materials like loofah and sisal contain rough, woven fibers that scrub the dead cells from your skin’s surface.
This process reveals the fresh new skin underneath. It’s like giving yourself a mini deep-cleaning facial all over your body.
Some exfoliating gloves also contain added chemical exfoliants like glycolic acid or salicylic acid. These ingredients help dissolve the “glue” holding dead skin to the surface. The combination of physical scrubbing and chemical dissolving provides very thorough exfoliation.
Using exfoliating gloves with a body wash containing alpha hydroxy acids or beta hydroxy acids boosts the exfoliating effects even more.
Some options to try are cleansers with lactic acid, glycolic acid, salicylic acid, gluconolactone, fruit enzymes, jojoba beads, or polyhydroxy acids. Start slowly with chemical exfoliation though, as too much can irritate sensitive skin.
Are There Risks to Using Exfoliating Gloves?
When used properly, exfoliating gloves pose little risk. However, overuse can cause skin irritation in some people. Using too much pressure or rubbing too aggressively damages the skin. Signs of irritation include redness, stinging, flaking, peeling, and increased sensitivity.
To avoid irritation, be gentle. Apply light to medium pressure in small circular rubbing motions. Work the gloves over your skin for 1 to 3 minutes per area of focus.
There’s no need to scrub hard or for more than a few minutes. Start by exfoliating once or twice a week and gradually increase frequency based on your skin’s tolerance, up to a max of about 5 times per week.
People with sensitive skin may tolerate exfoliating gloves less often, just once a week or so. Very sensitive skin likely won’t tolerate friction from exfoliating gloves at all without reacting.
When to Avoid Exfoliating Gloves?
While most skin types benefit from using exfoliating gloves, some conditions warrant avoiding them:
- Sunburn or windburn
- Skin infections like cold sores
- Severely dry, flaky, inflamed, or broken skin
- Skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, or dermatitis
- Accutane use (isotretinoin acne medication)
- Chemotherapy agents
For most skin, exfoliating gloves are safe when used properly and in moderation. But if you have any doubts, check with your dermatologist before adding exfoliating gloves to your skincare routine.
Exfoliating Gloves Benefits
Using exfoliating gloves as part of your regular skincare routine provides numerous benefits,
- Removes dead skin cells
- Unclogs pores
- Fades acne scars/dark spots
- Smooths skin texture
- Brightens and evens out skin tone
- Softens skin
- Allows better absorption of skincare products
- Boosts circulation
- Exposes new skin cells
- Exfoliating gloves- Reduces ingrown hairs
- Minimizes the appearance of fine lines/wrinkles
The thorough exfoliation from exfoliating gloves leaves you with skin that glows with health and radiance from head to toe. Your whole body reaps the rewards of softer, smoother, clearer skin.
Exfoliating Gloves for Body vs. Exfoliating Gloves for Face
You can find exfoliating gloves made specifically to use on the face. Facial exfoliating gloves feature super soft, gentler materials like microfiber versus the rougher, more durable fibers used on body gloves.
Always opt for delicate facial exfoliating gloves instead of standard body gloves to avoid irritation. Also, never use body exfoliating gloves on your face.
Proper exfoliating gloves use involves being gentle, using light to medium pressure, working in small circular motions, and limiting scrubbing time to 1-3 minutes per area. Start slowly and gradually increase frequency based on your skin’s tolerance.
Conclusion
Exfoliating gloves provide a simple, convenient way to polish away dead skin cells through gentle scrubbing. Using exfoliating gloves leaves skin looking fresher, smoother, clearer, and healthier. The thorough exfoliation helps minimize pores, fade dark spots, reduce acne, soften skin texture, and allow better absorption of serums and moisturizers too.
While exfoliating gloves pose little risk when used properly, those with very sensitive or compromised skin should check with a dermatologist first. Avoid overdoing it and causing damage by scrubbing too hard or long. Be gentle, yet thorough.
Hopefully, this article sheds some light on the exfoliating gloves basics. Now you know how exfoliating gloves work, their myriad benefits, plus some tips for safe, effective use. Why not order a pair of exfoliating gloves and add this handy skincare step to your routine?
