I know how hard it can be to find the perfect exfoliator. Especially if your skin is mature, sensitive, or acne prone. So, I’ve added powerhouse exfoliating face pads to my signature skincare line. I formulated this skincare product as a shortcut to brighter, smoother, and more radiant skin. Let’s dive into what makes these pads unique and their multi-tasking benefits.
WHAT ARE PRE-MOISTENED FACIAL EXFOLIATING PADS?
My new In the Clear Exfoliating Pads might look like cotton rounds, but they’re so much more! They have texture for mechanical exfoliation, a trio of acids for chemical exfoliation, and toning, calming, and nourishing actives. Similar products tend to be harsh, but this formulation is gentle enough for sensitive skin.
WHAT THEY’RE MOISTENED WITH?
This dynamic formulation of acids and botanicals promotes smooth, clear, and radiant skin.
- Mandelic Acid: A 5% concentration to gently exfoliate, reduce congestion, and improve acne.
- Lactic Acid: A 5% concentration promotes cellular turnover, brightens skin, and smooths texture.
- Salicylic Acid: A 0.5% concentration to decongest, clear, and smooth skin, while refining pores.
- Witch Hazel: Rebalances pH levels, minimizes oil, and soothes redness and inflammation.
- Chamomile: A mild natural astringent that calms skin while promoting healing and repair.
- Willow Bark: Soothes inflammation and irritation and helps skin retain moisture.
- Green Tea: Calms irritation while prompting the repair of dark spots and photoaging.
WHY ROUND PADS?
Rounds are the perfect shape and size to glide across the contours of your face. They’re also a skincare accessory you already know how to use. They’re thinner than cotton rounds, and the compact size is perfect for travel and popping in your gym bag. They make it so easy to get the important step of exfoliation into your routine.
DOES EVERYONE NEED CHEMICAL AND MECHANICAL EXFOLIATION?
If you’re 40+ and haven’t incorporated acids into your skincare routine, it’s time. Granular exfoliators and silicone cleansing brushes may be effective well into your 30s. As you mature, skin cell turnover slows down, rendering mechanical exfoliators less effective. Adding a chemical topical at least 2 days a week helps your skin dissolve stubborn buildup. As both a mechanical and chemical exfoliator, these pads keep your skin smooth and clear.
WHEN TO SWITCH TO MECHANICAL EXFOLIATORS?
I suggest adding mechanical exfoliators to your skincare routine no later than your mid-30s. If your skin is oily or acne-prone, you can add AHA or BHA products (including glycolic acid) to your routine in your teens or 20s.
DO I NEED TO ALTERNATE WITH OTHER EXFOLIANTS?
These gentle exfoliating pads are all you need! However, you may want to adjust use depending on your weekly anti-aging treatments. You may skip a treatment or two after a spa facial or after using an at-home exfoliating device. I share one of my favorite exfoliating devices in the Pro Tips below. The device is professional grade, but safe and easy enough to use at home.
CAN I USE IN THE CLEAR IF I HAVE SENSITIVE SKIN?
Yes! The texture is gentle enough to slough away dead cells without damaging the skin barrier, and the acids are a high enough concentration to be effective, but low enough to be gentle. That said, you can’t use these pads daily. Begin with 2 days a week, 3 days maximum, always on alternating evenings. If your skin is sensitive, 2 days a week may be enough. Be mindful of what you’re layering on top, as acids increase skin sensitivity when applied directly before or after retinol and Vitamin C. Or when 2 acid products are layered on top of each other.
When To Exfoliate?
I formulated these facial exfoliating pads to:
- Refresh skin when sweaty or after a workout.
- Support and maintain professional facial results.
- Prep skin for at-home masks and topical treatments.
- Improve the efficacy of at-home skincare devices.
- Improve stubborn acne, buildup, and congestion.
- Brighten dull skin and reduce hyperpigmentation.
- Smooth out uneven skin texture.
HOW TO USE IN THE CLEAR EXFOLIATING PADS?
Follow the steps below to release and dissolve dead skin buildup, unclog pores, and reveal fresh glowing skin.
Step 1
Cleanse your face with a gentle cleanser. Skip toner, as your pads include rebalancing actives.
Step 2
Glide 1 pad across your face, neck, and décolleté with gentle pressure. You can flip it over to use both sides. Avoid the eye area.
Step 3
Layer your preferred moisturize, or serum and moisturizer. If you use vitamin C or Retinols, skip use on the day you use your pads. Or exfoliate in the morning and use vitamin C or retinol in the evening.
Step 4
If the sun’s still out, apply broad-spectrum UV protection.
DON’T FORGET THAT AHAs INCREASE SUN SENSITIVITY
Few things damage the skin more than the sun, so I advise all clients to wear SPF protection 365 days a year. Even in the winter, and even when indoors. While it’s always important to protect your skin from UV rays, it’s essential to apply and reapply when using AHA products. AHAs increase sun sensitivity and the rate at which your skin burns.
ADJUSTING AHAs FOR VACATION
If you’ve scheduled some time off in a sunny location, or you’re staying locally but have a day or more of sunny activities, pause your AHA products 1 week before and after. Use a silicone brush or granular exfoliator during this time, scrubbing gently. You may also want to pause retinoids and other products that increase sun sensitivity before your vacation. Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours and sit in the shade when you can.
IS INEFFECTIVE EXFOLIATION WHY YOUR SKIN BRIGHTENER ISN’T WORKING?
I see this all the time. A client invests in a quality skin brightener, such as Brighten The Day, but their acne scars, sunspots, and other hyperpigmentation don’t fade. Or they can’t restore their glow. This is often because they aren’t effectively removing dead skin buildup. If you don’t remove this buildup before applying your brightener, the concentrated actives can’t penetrate deep enough in your skin to break down pigment. This is why your skin looks dull, and why all of your skincare products aren’t working to their full potential. They can’t penetrate your dead skin until the layer of dead cells is removed.
PRO TIP #1: EXFOLIATE AND BRIGHTEN WITH NANO CHANNELING
If you’re considering investing in a new at-home skincare device, the Skin Wand Pro is a top pick. This device is a dream for breaking down hyperpigmentation, and it deep exfoliates at the same time. It’s gentle enough to use daily on your whole face, or just on pigmented areas. If you use this device weekly, you may only need your exfoliating pads 1 or 2 times a week, at least 2 days apart.
The Skin Wand Pro is an advanced nano channeling device. It’s ultra-gentle, providing the benefits of microneedling with zero irritation or downtime. The exacting silicone tip creates tiny 0.15 mm channels in your skin. These channels drive your hydrating and brightening serum to the junction where dead tissue meets live tissue, activating your body’s natural healing process. Unlike microneedling, you’re not red after your treatment. In fact, quite the opposite, you have a “just out of a facial” glow after every treatment. Just don’t apply retinoids before nano channeling!
PRO TIP #2: CYCLING SKIN BRIGHTENERS
Switching between different skin brightening products keeps your skin guessing in a positive way. My signature skincare line contains a couple of brightening botanical tyrosinase inhibitors. Like prescription brighteners, they target hyperpigmentation by blocking melanin production. Unlike prescription brighteners, including hydroquinone, they’re gentle enough for long-term use. Applying botanical tyrosinase inhibitors while cycling acid and enzyme exfoliators targets the deep layers for faster and more effective results.
With the routine below, skip Vitamin C Oil 2 to 3 days a week so that you can use your skin exfoliating pads.
- Mornings: Alternate between Triple C + Gold Serum and Brighten The Day Serum. These multi-tasking serums nourish, calm, and restore your complexion.
- Evenings: Apply Vitamin C Oil formulated with tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, an ultra-gentle form of Vitamin C that absorbs into the skin without irritation.
LET’S DISCUSS YOUR SKIN BEYOND EXFOLIATING AND BRIGHTENING
It’s an honor to do what I love every day, serving clients in-person and clients from around the world through my website, YouTube channel, and Beauty Club. You can join the Christine Byer Beauty Club to learn exclusive anti-aging tips for your local climate, lifestyle, skin type, and skin conditions.
I offer a 14-Day FREE preview with full access to everything in the Club. This includes answers to your personal skincare questions and access to exclusive content and discounts. If you don’t find value in your membership, cancel within 14 days at no charge.
