Summer Step: Exfoliating Your Face

Why You Can Skip It: Too much exfoliation invites a sunburn. “Any method of exfoliation thins the skin—including abrasive sponges and topical vitamin A derivatives, like Retin-A, Differin, and Tazorac—and makes you more susceptible to sun damage,” says Barbara R. Reed, a clinical professor of dermatology at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, in Denver. By taking off the top layer of dead skin cells, you expose more delicate and sensitive skin underneath. Exfoliate only once (instead of two or three times) a week in the summer.
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