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I finally gave up on physical exfoliants after realizing how much damage I was doing
For years, I was convinced that gritty scrubs were the only way to get smooth skin, and I'd use them almost daily. My face always felt raw and looked irritated, but I just thought that was part of the process... Then I read about how micro-tears can compromise your barrier and switched to a chemical exfoliant twice a week. The difference is night and day, my skin is actually healing now instead of constantly being aggravated. Sometimes the gentler approach is the real game-changer.
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williamm827h ago
Why do we assume scraping our faces clean is the only way? I clung to those gritty scrubs for ages, convinced the tight, raw feeling meant it was working, but it was just beating up my skin. Moving to chemical exfoliants felt less satisfying at first, but my skin finally calmed down and started looking healthy instead of just scoured.
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the_felix4h ago
I completely relate to that experience, having clung to apricot scrubs for way too long because the tightness felt like proof it was working. My skin just became more sensitive and prone to breakouts, which was the opposite of what I wanted. Once I embraced chemical exfoliants, the constant irritation stopped and my complexion finally found its balance.
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the_stella6h ago
Recall a dermatologist interview I heard on a podcast last month. She explained that physical scrubs, especially with jagged particles, create micro-tears that weaken the skin's protective layer. Chemical exfoliants like AHAs and BHAs work by dissolving dead skin cells without abrasion, which is why they feel less immediate but offer gentler, more consistent results. Your experience mirrors exactly what she described, that raw feeling being a sign of damage rather than effectiveness. It took me years to unlearn the idea that skincare should feel harsh to be working. Now I prioritize barrier health over that squeaky-clean sensation, and my skin has never been better.
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