What Is Exfoliation and Why Is It Important When Shaving with a Venus Razor?

If you’re new to this skincare essential, you may want to know exactly what is exfoliation? This process is simply clearing away dead skin cells to encourage the body’s turnover process which happens on a 30 day cycle.

Any skin that doesn’t shed naturally can quickly become dry and clogged patches. This is where exfoliating scrubs come in handy - making sure that your skin is regenerating is one of the best ways to avoid clogged pores, dull skin and a difficult shave!

We recommend the full Venus line-up according to your shaving needs. For example, Venus Extra Smooth Razor Blades feature Lubrastrip technology to help your razor glide over your skin’s surface but even with this feature, dry and bumpy skin is a whole lot harder to shave.

This means that whether you’re shaving legs before a beach day or unwanted neck hairs for an unbeatably smooth appearance, exfoliating skin is a great idea. Just like shaving gel makes the surface your razor moves over smoother, this step cuts down on work that your razor has to do.

In the same way that clogged skin cells can make shaving a difficult and irritating process for your skin, forceful exfoliation is never a good idea. Instead, we suggest keeping these tips in mind while scrubbing your face or body:

• Apply a gentle level of pressure
• Use a circular motion to work away dead skin
• Find gentle and skin sensitive formulations for post exfoliation care
• Rinse with warm water as hot water can dry out your skin

Wondering about the best way to prep for your beauty routine? Anyone unsure about whether to exfoliate before or after shaving should follow skincare expert advice and prep with a gentle scrub.

Making sure you scrub your face or body before your razor gets near them also gives you the closest possible shave. This lets you leave longer between each session and reduces possible strain on your skin!

Exfoliating scrub formulas that are designed for your body may be very different to ones that are made with your face in mind. As skin thickness can vary between different areas, we suggest you look out for products that are targeted to each area, like our pubic hair & skin exfoliant for the pubic area.

While clearing away dead skin cells is essential to any beauty routine, you can go too far.

Just like washing your hands constantly can lead to dry and chapped skin, using an exfoliating scrub too often can lead to a whole host of issues like:

• Irritation and a burning sensation
• Red and inflamed appearance to skin
• Frequent breakouts and pimples

A quick sign that you may have been scrubbing your face too often is a waxy, dry or tight look that can quickly develop. When your skin is robbed of its natural oils, these issues can often appear.

As over exfoliation is a major cause of dry skin, make sure you moisturise after exfoliating as this will help your repair process – alongside this we’ve got some more healthy habits to remember.

Make sure you’re keeping your skin happy with some more of our top tips! To avoid over exfoliation and unintentionally drying out your skin, we suggest that you keep this skincare step to twice a week at most.

Another awesome skincare tip to remember is to always apply UV protection – especially after exfoliating as your skin can be more vulnerable to sun damage.

A great way to stop skin irritation in its tracks is to try using exfoliators for sensitive skin and look for formulations that are free of artificial dyes and chemicals.

Heavily perfumed products are more likely to cause skin irritation and your skin’s surface may be particularly vulnerable immediately after you exfoliate.

One of our most important bits of advice for women shaving is to find a Venus razor that suits you as they are created for your body’s contours instead of a man’s beard.

On top of this we’d suggest using a different razor for your legs or intimate shaving and any facial trimming, like our pubic hair and skin razor. This will help to keep the best possible hygiene for hair removal and reduce your risk of irritation!

Along with using a nourishing moisturiser, staying on top of skin hydration should include limiting your showers to no more than ten minutes in lukewarm water.

Remembering to drink water throughout the day will also help to support all your hard work looking after your skin’s surface.

Our final tip’s especially important if you have sensitive skin or you’re prone to breakouts – remember that your skin’s barrier is always changing so watch for any changes.

If you’re following our exfoliation essentials and still seeing regular rashes and breakouts, this may be a sign that you need to see a dermatologist or scale back your exfoliation routine!

Now that you’ve got our Venus skin exfoliation essentials, you should be able to see exactly why this part of prep is a skincare must.

Be sure to try it for yourself before your next pamper session and remember everything you’ve learned – exfoliate before shaving for the optimal results that your skin will love!