The Secret to Glowing Skin - Elegant Nails & Beauty by Sue

Dry or Mature Skin

Oily or Congested Skin

Sensitive or Reactive Skin

Tips for Exfoliating Reactive Skin:

Combination Skin

If there’s one step in home skincare that gets routinely skipped, it’s exfoliation.

We often focus heavily on cleansers, serums, and rich moisturisers, but without regular exfoliation, those high-performance products can’t work their true magic.

Exfoliating is the secret to glowing skin, the key to shedding the buildup that dulls your complexion, unlocking fresh, radiant skin underneath.

Here is everything you need to know about why this step is essential and how to exfoliate safely for your specific skin type.

Why exfoliation is essential for glowing skin

Every day, your skin naturally sheds millions of dead skin cells.

However, as we age or deal with environmental stress, this natural turnover process slows down.

Dead cells accumulate on the surface, leading to dryness, congestion, and a tired, flat appearance.

Incorporating regular exfoliation into your routine delivers instant and long-term benefits:

1: Accelerates cell renewal

Sweeping away dead surface cells signals the deeper layers of skin to produce fresh, healthy new cells.

2: Maximises skincare absorption

By removing the top barrier of dead cells, your serums, oils, and moisturizers can penetrate deeper and work far more effectively.

3: Creates a smooth canvas for your makeup

Exfoliation refines skin texture, preventing foundation from settling into dry patches or fine lines so your makeup applies smoothly and lasts longer.

4: Boosts blood circulation

Gentle exfoliation stimulates microcirculation, bringing oxygen and vital nutrients to the surface for a natural, healthy flush.

5: Prevents clogged pores

Clearing out excess oil and dead cell build-up keeps pores clear, minimizing breakouts and blackheads.importantly, skin cancer.

How to exfoliate for your specific skin type

Exfoliation is not a one-size-fits-all treatment.

Using the wrong technique or over-exfoliating can strip the skin’s natural moisture barrier, leading to redness and irritation.

Tailoring your approach to your unique skin type ensures maximum radiance without compromise.

Dry or Mature Skin

The Goal: Remove flaky buildup while boosting moisture reserves and collagen production.

Best Method: Opt for gentle chemical exfoliants like Lactic Acid (an AHA that exfoliates while binding moisture to the skin) or gentle enzyme exfoliants (derived from papaya or pineapple).

Avoid harsh physical scrubs with large granules, as they can cause micro-tears on delicate skin.

Frequency: 1 to 2 times per week.

Follow immediately with a hydrating mist and a rich, replenishing moisturiser.

Try: Alpha-H Liquid Gold Exfoliating Treatment

Chemical exfoliants containing Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs)—particularly Glycolic Acid or Lactic Acid—are ideal. AHAs shed dead surface cells to restore a youthful glow and act as humectants, binding moisture to the skin to keep dry, delicate skin hydrated.

The Alpha-H Liquid Gold Exfoliating Treatment is an iconic, Australian-made leave-on liquid exfoliant formulated with 5% Glycolic Acid.

It accelerates cell turnover, brightens age spots, and smooths fine lines while using silk proteins and glycerine to boost moisture retention in dry, mature complexions.

Why AHAs (Glycolic & Lactic Acid) Work for Dry, Mature Skin:

Cell Turnover Boost: Mature skin has a slower natural shedding process; AHAs dissolve the “glue” holding dull, dead cells to reveal fresh skin.

Plumping & Hydration: Unlike physical scrubs that irritate thin skin, AHAs help plump fine lines by attracting water into the skin layers.

Improved Absorption: Clearing built-up dryness allows rich moisturisers and anti-aging serums to penetrate better.

Oily or Congested Skin

The Goal: Dissolve deep-seated oil, clear clogged pores, and refine texture.

Best Method: Look for Salicylic Acid (BHA).

Unlike AHAs, Salicylic Acid is oil-soluble, allowing it to penetrate deep within the pore lining to dissolve trapped sebum and dead skin.

A gentle facial scrub with fine jojoba beads can also be used periodically.

Frequency: 2 to 3 times per week, depending on how your skin tolerates it.

Try: Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant

Why BHA Works Best for Oily/Congested Skin:

• Deep Pore Cleansing: Salicylic Acid breaks down oil and dead skin trapped inside pores.

• Texture & Tone Smoothing: Regular use smooths rough skin, minimizes the appearance of enlarged pores, and helps prevent future breakouts.

• Gentle Leave-On Application: No harsh scrubbing or rinsing required—simply apply with a cotton pad or hands after cleansing.

Sensitive or Reactive Skin

The Goal: Gently refresh the skin without triggering redness or inflammation.

Best Method: Stick to mild fruit enzymes or PHAs (Polyhydroxy Acids). PHAs have larger molecule sizes, meaning they penetrate the skin more slowly and gently than traditional acids, providing smooth results without irritation.

Frequency: Once a week (or every 10–14 days). Always perform a patch test first.

Try: Paula’s Choice Calm 1% BHA Sensitive Skin Exfoliant

Traditional harsh scrubs and strong acids can easily cause redness, stinging, and barrier damage to sensitive or reactive skin. The best approach is a gentle chemical exfoliant using Polyhydroxy Acids (PHAs), enzyme powders, or a low-dose BHA paired with soothing botanicals.

Paula’s Choice Calm exfoliant is formulated specifically for redness-prone complexions. This gentle 1% BHA leave-on gel toner combines a lower concentration of Salicylic Acid with a milky, hydrating lotion base.

It works to clear pores, smooth texture, and calm visible redness—all while supporting and protecting your natural skin barrier.

1. Patch Test First: Always test new active products on your inner wrist or jawline before applying them to your entire face.

2. Frequency: Start by using the exfoliant just 1–2 times per week to test skin tolerance, gradually increasing only if your barrier remains calm and hydrated.

3. Avoid Physical Scrubs: Steer clear of facial scrubs containing walnut shells, sugar, or large gritty particles, as these create micro-tears that trigger flare-ups in delicate skin.

Combination Skin

For combination skin, the main challenge is managing two different needs at once: clearing oil and congestion in the T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin) while maintaining hydration on drier areas like the cheeks.

The ideal solution is a multi-acid blend that combines AHAs (to hydrate and resurface dry areas) with BHAs or PHAs (to penetrate and unclog oily pores).

Try: Paula’s Choice Daily Pore-Refining Treatment 2% BHA

A daily leave-on liquid exfoliant with 2% BHA that offers multiple benefits for those struggling with visible signs of sun damage, ageing, bumpy skin, and enlarged, clogged pores.

Paula’s Choice Resist Daily Pore-Refining Treatment 2% BHA is a water-light, leave-on liquid exfoliant specially designed to treat clogged pores, excess oil, and fine lines simultaneously without causing dryness or irritation.

Unlike the classic “Skin Perfecting” bottle, the Resist formula combines pore-clearing 2% Salicylic Acid (BHA) with an anti-aging complex of peptides, antioxidants, and skin-repairing ingredients to support skin structure while refining texture.

Key Benefits & Ingredients

2% Salicylic Acid (BHA): Penetrates oil inside the pore lining to dissolve blackheads, clear congestion, and minimize the appearance of enlarged pores.

Antioxidants & Peptides: Protects against environmental damage, soothes redness, and supports collagen production to target fine lines and wrinkles.

Water-Light Texture: Sinks in quickly with a non-greasy, weightless finish that layers smoothly under serums, moisturizers, or makeup.

Who Is It Best For?

Combination to Oily Skin: Ideal for managing T-zone shine and congestion without stripping drier areas.

Aging or Sun-Damaged Skin with Breakouts: Perfect for adult acne, bumpy texture, or enlarged pores combined with concerns like fine lines.

How to Use It

1. Apply: Use once or twice daily after cleansing and toning.

2. Technique: Dispense onto a cotton pad or into your hands and gently smooth over the face and neck (avoiding the immediate eye area).

3. No Rinsing Needed: Leave it on to absorb completely.

4. Daytime Protection: Always follow with a broad-spectrum SPF 30+ during the day when using chemical exfoliants.

Ready for the best skin of your life?

By adding regular exfoliation to your skin care routine, you can enjoy glowing skin all year round, without compromising your skin’s health and radiance.

Clearing out excess oil and dead cell build-up keeps pores clear, minimizing breakouts and blackheads.
importantly, skin cancer.