NIVEA Masks and Exfoliators

Exfoliating is just removing the dead skin cells from the surface of the skin on your face. Removing these dead skin cells comes with a number of advantages: It smooths and softens the skin, brightens up your complexion, and decreases breakouts by clearing out your pores.
Daily Essentials Gentle Exfoliating Scrub

The gentle exfoliating scrub removes your dead skin cells while exfoliating your skin and smooths its surface, for a more even complexion. The scrub also supports the skin's own moisture balance and is suitable for normal and combination skin. With vitamin E and Hydra IQ, this exfoliating scrub will leave your skin feeling fresh and looking radiant. Read our how to exfoliate guide for more tips.

Why Exfoliate?

Though there are a lot of products for exfoliating, i.e. exfoliating scrubs and gels, it's important to find the right products for your skin, as the wrong kind may irritate or inflame the skin, causing redness, dryness or peeling. You should research your options until you find the right exfoliating products. Reviews can be useful in determining the effectiveness of a specific exfoliating scrub or gel.

When conducting your research, you should know there are two types of exfoliants: Physical and chemical. Physical exfoliants manually remove dead skin cells using abrasion. A classic example would be an exfoliating scrub. However, it's important to note that if you have acne-prone skin, rough physical exfoliation may not be the best method for you, as the friction can irritate inflamed skin, causing redness or further inflammation. Chemical agents work without the abrasion and instead loosen/dissolve the bonds holding the dead skin cells to the surface of your skin. This is done using acid or enzymes. An example of a chemical exfoliant would be a chemical peel that you might enjoy at a spa. It's important to note that chemical exfoliants will dry out the skin and as such, an oil-free moisturiser like this should be incorporated into your skincare routine.