Exfoliating cleanser, toner, peel? What's the difference?
I am new to skincare and am looking to introduce exfoliation into my oily skin routine. On Yesstyle, I'm mostly seeing exfoliating toners such as Cosrx AHA/BHA. Is that equivalent to an exfoliating cleanser that I could use once or twice a week? It seems odd to me that exfoliation removes dead skin and sebum, yet it would be left on the skin as a toner. Please help this noob to understand the difference.
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It depends on the cleanser. AHA/BHA are chemical exfoliants. They help dislodge dead cells that are stuck in your skin through chemical action. The cells will fall off through normal mechanisms: shedding, coming off when rubbing, etc.
Some cleansers are physically exfoliating meaning they have abrasives in them which help to physically remove the dead skin cells.
Cleansers can also have chemical exfoliants in them. However because chemical exfoliants work by longer exposure, it's better to keep them on by using a toner rather than a short exposure time with a face wash that you rinse away.
Great summary!
Just wanna add that the benefit of using a cleanser with actives instead of a leave-on product is that it's usually more gentle, with the obvious downside that it's less effective as you mention. Could be a good place to start if you have very sensitive skin. It's also a good option when using benzoyl peroxide since it can discolor textiles upon contact.
Thus is very helpful since I have sensitive skin. Thank you :)
If you want product recommendations then I would check out the CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser. If I remember correctly it contains 0,5% BHA which is a relatively low amount but enough to give you results. It's also not too expensive! Perhaps start by using it a couple of times per week and then working your way up to using it once per day if your skin can tolerate it, and if it can't then that's ok. You will still get some benefits.
You da bomb. Just what I was looking for.
Just remember to use a moisturizer in your routine to reduce the risk of any irritation ☺️ And although I'm not sure that BHA increases sun sensitivity, it's always a good idea to use SPF!
Thank you, this is very helpful. I've seen people online say that some of the toners don't have enough chemical exfoliants to do anything but is it fine because you're exposed to them for longer? Also, I'm assuming the frequency is similar, ie using the toner a couple times a week? Apologies for so many questions.