I seldom, if ever, make New Year resolutions. I figure if you want to accomplish something or make changes in your life, you don’t need an artificial start date. But this year, I was thinking there were a few small things that I would try to incorporate into my health and skincare routine. Here’s the first one.
Exfoliation. An easy thing to do, takes minutes, but I don’t do it often enough. And it yields big results. As you already know, exfoliation is the removal of dead skin cells that collect on the surface of your skin. Getting rid of them makes your skin feel softer and gives the skin a glow that results from stimulating circulation.
Another key benefit from exfoliation is cleaning your pores. Many women over 40 complain about blemishes and acne. Well after the teen years, pores tend to grow larger and get clogged. Exfoliating can make a big difference in preventing break-outs. And it can help your moisturizer do its job rather than sitting on top of a lot of dead skin cells.
There are many exfoliators available, and they use different abrasives. You can use an exfoliating cloth or glove that you wash out and use forever. Or you can use a liquid or cream with exfoliating particles. Here are a few brands to check out. 
On a budget? Try St. Ives tried-and-true apricot kernel exfoliator. It leaves your skin feeling super-clean. Olay’s Regenerist line has an exfoliating cream cleanser with “derma-beads” that does not feel drying so you can use it more often. I also use an exfoliator that I bought at Canyon Ranch spa from Aromatherapy Associates called Renew with rose oil. It makes me feel like I’m in a garden!
You can even make your own. Still in a holiday mood? Here’s the recipe for Sugar & Spice exfoliator made from ingredients in your own pantry:
If you don’t have almond oil, you can substitute another oil such as grapeseed oil, walnut or hazelnut oil or even olive oil, though the olive oil may not smell quite as good with the sugar & spices. What’s the vanilla for, you ask? I believe for its heavenly scent. And cinnamon has astringent properties in addition to its spicy scent. Mix all the ingredients together and apply using a circular motion. Wash off with warm, never hot, water. Apply moisturizer and smile!
So in this new year, make a promise to your face to exfoliate at least once a week and see the results for yourself.
Are there exfoliants available for men?
Yes, there are quite a few at all different price points. Mass market brands that you might want to check out include:
• Nivea for Men Invigorating Face Scrub: from the long-time European skincare company, cost $5-8, can be used 2-3 times/week
• L’Oreal men’s Expert Power Buff Anti-Roughness Exfoliator: contains aluminum oxide crystals that are used in microdermabrasion but can still be used 2-3 times/week
• Neutrogena Men Razor Defense Daily Face Scrub: deep cleans with the extra benefit of protection from the effects of shaving, for daily use